Category Archives: Wildfires

Travel firms flying tourists to Rhodes are ‘profiteering’, senior Tory says

Posted on by

Alicia Kearns backs calls for the government to advise against travel to the Greek island

Travel firms that continue to fly tourists to Rhodes have been accused of “profiteering” by a senior Conservative, as ministers faced pressure over official travel advice for the island, where 10,000 British tourists have been stranded.

As flights rescuing holidaymakers began arriving in the UK on Monday, calls continued for a change in the Foreign Office’s stance on the categorisation of Rhodes to enable tourists to get a refund for their trips through their travel insurance.

Continue reading...

‘A near-death experience’: UK tourists describe escape from Rhodes wildfires

Posted on by

Travellers say they faced ‘absolute chaos’ as they were forced to flee with luggage still at hotels

Dean Mason, 56, from Rothley in Leicestershire, described getting caught up in the Rhodes wildfires as a “near-death experience”.

Mason arrived at a hotel in Kiotari beach a week ago with his wife, daughter, and four-year-old granddaughter.

Continue reading...

Greece wildfires: climate crisis will ‘manifest itself everywhere with greater disasters’, says Greek PM – as it happened

Posted on by

Latest news: Kyriakos Mitsotakis tells parliament ‘we are at war’ as nearly 2,500 people evacuated from Corfu

Ludovica Gazze, an associate professor of economics at the University of Warwick, says the pollution from the wildfires is likely to have an effect throughout Greece – and beyond.

The economic costs of wildfires are substantial and widespread. There are the immediate and visible costs of healthcare and assistance, as well as forgone tourist income.

There are also the invisible costs of the pollution caused by wildfires, which can travel hundreds of miles as we saw in the case of the Canada wildfires in June. Pollution worsens health, cognition, and productivity.

There’s no coincidence at all that climate change has driven these higher temperatures, and the higher temperatures are causing the fires that are spreading.

The only way to tackle this is deep and rapid emissions reductions. In terms of greenhouse gases, we have virtually doubled the amount of greenhouse gases compared to the pre-industrial level.

Continue reading...

Algeria wildfires kill dozens of people including 10 soldiers

Posted on by

About 7,500 firefighters trying to bring blazes under control and 1,500 people evacuated as heatwave spreads

Thirty-four people including 10 soldiers have been killed by wildfires in the mountainous Béjaïa and Bouïra regions of Algeria, as a heatwave spreads across north Africa and southern Europe.

About 8,000 firefighters were trying to bring the flames under control, authorities said, adding that about 1,500 people had been evacuated.

Continue reading...

Greece: wildfires break out on Corfu and Evia as 19,000 flee Rhodes blazes

Posted on by

Boats ready to pick up evacuees on Corfu as heatwave continues and firefighters tackle blazes on Rhodes that sparked Greece’s largest wildfire evacuation

Firefighters in Greece were struggling to contain 82 wildfires burning across the country, 64 of which started on Sunday, the hottest day of the summer so far.

As well as huge blazes on the island of Rhodes, which forced 19,000 to flee, wildfires also broke out on the islands of Evia and Corfu.

Continue reading...

High winds expected to impede fight against wildfires in Rhodes

Posted on by

Thousands of people forced to evacuate on Greek island, including 3,000 who had to be ferried off beaches

Thousands of tourists and residents have been forced to evacuate several villages on the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires burned out of control and officials feared that high winds would hamper efforts to contain the flames on Sunday.

The fires have burned for nearly a week on part of the island, as Greece has been battered by an extended spell of extreme heat that has made it difficult to contain the spread of the blazes.

Continue reading...

Canada: crash kills pilot of helicopter fighting wildfires

Posted on by

Forestry workers unable to resuscitate unnamed pilot, 41, after helicopter went down near Haig Lake in north-western Alberta

A helicopter pilot has been killed in a crash in western Canada, in the third death in recent days connected with efforts to fight fires in the country’s worst wildfire season on record.

The pilot was the sole occupant of the helicopter when it crashed on Wednesday near Haig Lake in north-western Alberta province, and forestry workers were unable to resuscitate him, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. He was declared dead at a nearby airport.

Continue reading...

Firefighters battle California wildfires amid blistering heatwave

Posted on by

Three brush fires burning in rural areas across Riverside county, where 1,000 homes are under evacuation orders

Firefighters in southern California were battling three separate brush fires that started on Friday afternoon amid a blistering heatwave.

The fires were all within 40 miles (65km) of each other in mostly rural areas across Riverside county, south-east of Los Angeles.

Continue reading...

Hundreds evacuated from path of wildfire in Canary Islands

Posted on by

Fire started early hours of Saturday morning in wooded area in north-west of La Palma

Spanish authorities have evacuated about 500 people from the vicinity of a wildfire that has broken out on the island of La Palma.

The fire started in the early hours of Saturday morning in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north-west of the island in the Canaries.

Continue reading...

Trudeau pays tribute to firefighter, 19, killed battling Canada wildfires

Posted on by

Devyn Gale killed while tackling British Columbia blaze as wildfires continue to rage across country with little reprieve

Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has paid tribute to a young firefighter who was killed while battling a forest blaze in British Columbia, as wildfires continue to rage across the country and the western province requested an extra 1,000 international firefighters.

Devyn Gale, 19, was part of a team that was tackling a fire outside the town of Revelstoke, about 310 miles (500km) north-east of Vancouver. Revelstoke Royal Canadian Mounted Police said she had been clearing brush in a remote area where a small fire had started. She lost contact with her team and was discovered caught under a fallen tree.

Continue reading...

Warm temperatures return to California after cool spring bringing wildfire risk

Posted on by

Weather probably milder than previous summers but wet winter spurred growth in grasses and vegetation that is ‘ready to burn’

It’s been a slow start to the summer in California, where an extremely wet winter and unseasonably cool spring have left the landscapes lush. But a timely spike in temperatures is forecast for the holiday weekend, providing both ideal weather for revelry and the return of high risks.

State officials have issued strong warnings to residents and visitors alike: California has been spared a ferocious fire so far this year – but the dangers still loom large.

Continue reading...

US temperatures continue to rise as millions affected by extreme heat and wildfire smoke – as it happened

Posted on by

East coast cities under air quality alerts while southern states grapple with record-breaking deadly heatwave

Here are some pictures coming across the newswires of the heatwave in Texas:

The National Weather Service has issued a fireworks warning as the country heads into next week and Independence Day with record-breaking temperatures across the country.

“In addition to the increasing temperatures, fire danger will also be increasing as we head into next week and Independence Day. Please be safe with fireworks and review any and all burn bans in your area,” it said.

Continue reading...

Extreme heatwaves continue to grip US as millions under heat and air quality alerts – as it happened

Posted on by

Smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts south into US cities as Texas grapples with record-breaking temperatures

Here are some air and heat safety tips from Dr Nasim Rahman, an indoor air quality expert at Lennox International, a provider of climate control products.

Keep windows and doors closed: When outdoor air quality is at its worst, keep the entry points to your home closed to preserve the air in your home – without unsafely blocking your ability to exit the home.

Keep your system in “on” or “circulate” mode: When avoiding opening doors and windows in your home you should opt to turn your thermostat fan to “on”. In this setting, the air in your home will continuously move through the furnace filter and improve the quality of the air in your home. If you have a smart thermostat in your home, you should utilize the “circulate” option, which will cycle your air for a few minutes every hour, using less energy than the traditional “on” setting.

Avoid activities that increase unhealthy air quality: Avoid activities that create or contribute to smoke or other pollutants in your home. You should avoid smoking, burning candles, or frying foods as these types of activities can significantly decrease the air quality in your home.

Install a high efficiency carbon filter or air purifier: Carbon activated filters can filter out fumes, smoke (up to 99% efficiency), and other chemicals you want to avoid having in the home. While regular filters are capable of removing dust and other similar allergens, a carbon filter is the upgrade you need to keep your home’s air the best it can be during wildfire season.

Maintain seasonal maintenance to keep your unit at top performance: Contacting your trusted HVAC dealer for seasonal maintenance will ensure that your unit is in top condition and ready to perform at maximum efficiency.

Continue reading...

Canada’s wildfire carbon emissions hit record high in first six months of 2023

Posted on by

This year’s wildfire season is already worst on record as nearly 600m tonnes of carbon has been released since early May

Wildfires raging across Canada, made more intense by global warming, have released more planet-warming carbon dioxide in the first six months of 2023 than in any full year on record, according to the EU’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service.

This year’s wildfire season is the worst on record in Canada, with some 76,000sq km (29,000sq miles) burning across eastern and western Canada. That is already greater than the combined area burned in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2022, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

Continue reading...

Biden’s efforts to clear wildfire fuel in US forests are falling short

Posted on by

Mixed early results from administration initiative as federal land managers skip at-risk communities for less threatened areas

Using chainsaws, heavy machinery and controlled burns, the Biden administration is trying to turn the tide on worsening wildfires in the US west through a multibillion-dollar cleanup of forests choked with dead trees and undergrowth.

Yet one year into what is envisioned as a decade-long effort, federal land managers are scrambling to catch up after falling behind on several of their priority forests for thinning even as they exceeded goals elsewhere. And they’ve skipped over some highly at-risk communities to work in less threatened areas, according to data obtained by the Associated Press, public records and congressional testimony.

Continue reading...

More than 50m Americans under severe storm threat after at least five people die in southern states – as it happened

Posted on by

Extreme weather warnings issued across the US as more storms are expected; millions also warned of heatwave

Across the world this month, temperatures have accelerated to record-setting levels, an ominous sign in the climate crisis ahead of a gathering El Niño that could potentially propel 2023 to become the hottest year ever recorded.

Preliminary global average temperatures taken so far in June are nearly 1C (1.8F) above levels previously recorded for the same month, going back to 1979.

Continue reading...

US midwest braces for smoky skies as Canadian wildfires rage on

Posted on by

Air quality alerts issued in Minnesota and Wisconsin with winds expected to blow airborne pollution from Ontario blazes south

The smoke-filled skies seen across US cities last week are set to make another appearance, as Canadian wildfires rage on and winds are bringing the airborne pollution south and again triggered fears over risks to health.

Air quality alerts were issued on Wednesday for the entire state of Minnesota and large parts of Wisconsin. This time, the culprit is a series of wildfires from the Canadian province of Ontario.

Continue reading...

Quebec fires weakened by rain as blazes in western Canada force many to flee

Posted on by

More than 14,000 remain under evacuation as nearly 450 fires burned across the country on Sunday, with 220 out of control

Overdue rains and cooler temperatures have given Quebec fire crews a chance to launch their assault on dozens of wildfires, but the reprieve for one part of Canada comes as fires in the west of the country have once again forced residents to flee their homes.

The country has been struggling with an “unprecedented” wildfire season, with nearly 450 forest fires across the country on Sunday, 220 of which were burning out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

Continue reading...

Poor air quality returns to US north-east from Canada wildfires

Posted on by

New York City, parts of Pennsylvania and Baltimore all issued warnings as 421 wildfires continue to burn up north

Poor air quality returned to the north-east US on Sunday, although it was nowhere near as bad as the heavy haze that recently shrouded the region and triggered global headlines as wind-borne smoke from raging Canadian wildfires caused orange skies, thick smog and record-setting pollutant levels.

On Sunday morning, a smoke plume moved across New York City, leaving the air quality index in the city at 103 and categorized as “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, particularly for those with heart or lung problems.

Continue reading...

Exhausted crews battle Canadian wildfires as experts issue climate warning

Posted on by

Global heating and human changes to the landscape have invited more destructive fires, making fire season worse

Weeks of unprecedented wildfires in Canada have burned millions of hectares, displaced more than 100,000 residents and plunged the country into a nationwide crisis as exhausted crews battle hundreds of blazes. But experts caution that a changing climate and human actions on the landscape will probably make fire seasons worse in the coming years.

Hundreds of firefighters from across the world have flown to Canada to aid a nation stretched thin with a spring fire season that has shattered records on both sides of the country, with warmer and drier months still to come.

Continue reading...