A freak lightning storm across northeast California has resulted in nine more wildfires for an overworked California firefighting team.
The new blazes are in Lassen, Modoc and Shasta counties and are in rural areas that are not threatening any homes or outbuildings. A spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said crews are trying to contain them quickly so they can “concentrate on the large ones we still have.”
The main fire is a wildfire sparked by lightning on July 30th that has burned 13 ½ square miles of land in Mendocino County. Six communities north of San Francisco are dealing with various evacuation orders as at least 60 homes are considered in severe danger from the flames.
More than 2,000 firefighters are working in what spokeswoman Lynne Tolmachoff said are “steep, rugged terrain.” Only 35% of the Mendocino County fire has been contained by the fire crews.
On Friday, 8 firefighters were reported injured in an incident connected to that fire. The fire has injured through burns or injuries eleven firefighters since the start.
“While we’ve been making some progress, this is a very stubborn fire,” Tolmachoff told Fox News. “And we’re not even close to our peak fire season.”
A California wildfire is raging out of control, burning homes and forcing the cancellation of a Fourth of July parade and celebration.
The fire near Julian, California is one of several in the state that has been hampered by a major drought. The Julian fire has forced 200 families out of their homes and is covering six square miles.
Firefighters had the flames 40 percent contained but the fire increased to 217 acres from 150. The growth of the fire forced Julian to force it’s Fourth of July celebration that brings up to 5,000 tourists a year.
Another fire near Napa that’s burned more than 4,300 acres raced up a steep hillside so fast that firefighters were forced to build containment lines without the help of heavy equipment. The fire was burning north, saving the county’s famous vineyards from the flames.
The causes of the fires remain unknown.
The Navajo Reservation in New Mexico is facing down a huge wildfire that is raging into its fourth day.
The blaze, called the Assayii Lake Fire, has burned more than 11,000 acres of land and is still uncontained despite hundreds of firefighters on the scene and multiple passes by aircraft dumping water and fire retardant on the area.
The fire is believed to have been caused by humans and has been driven by winds of at least 42 miles per hour according to Navajo Nation officials. Sheep herding residents of the Chuska mountains were forced to evacuate from the area because of the uncontrolled blaze.
Navajo Nation officials told Reuters that the fire has burned out some of the reservation’s premiere grazing lands. The authorities are trying to “protest culturally significant lands and historic sites” that are in the path of the fire.
Several communities have been ordered to evacuate and at least 50 residences have been destroyed or damaged by the flames. More firefighters are being called to the site to try and control the flames.
A popular scenic canyon in Arizona is burning bright as a wind-driven wildfire is threatening to destroy hundreds of homes.
The “Slide Fire” in Oak Creek Canyon 120 miles north of Phoenix is being fought by over 500 firefighters trying to stop the flames from consuming more than the 4,500 acres already burning.
Over 3,000 residents of the area are on alert for immediate evacuation should the winds continue to drive the flames into their housing developments. Officials say that residents along a two-mile stretch along the canyon have already been forced to leave and it’s likely they will lose their homes to the flames.
“The fire has really been active and very aggressive,” Coconino Forest Service spokesman Brady Smith told Reuters. “We really have a big job on our hands.”
Firefighters say the fire is zero percent contained and at one point covered the entire rim of the canyon. Sustained winds of 35 miles per hour are driving the flames.
The fire is believed to have been human-caused but they do not know if the fire was arson. The Red Cross has set up shelters in anticipation of major evacuations.
Southern California emergency officials are dealing with a rash of wildfires that should not be happening this time of year.
“This is May, this is unbelievable. This is something we should see in October,” said Carlsbad fire chief Michael Davies told the BBC.
The wildfires have caused disruptions and evacuations all over southern California. Nine wildfires have broken out around San Diego and have caused evacuations of as many as 20,000 people because of the flames. San Marcos officials evacuated students from the California State University campus.
“The fire was right above campus. I could see it reaching over part of the hill, this really dark smoke. It was almost like an explosion,” said 19-year-old Grant Rapoza.
A 6,000 acre fire at Camp Pendleton Marine Base forced the evacuation of weapons stations for both the Marines and Navy.
“The common theme statewide this year is unprecedented number of fires and fire activity across the state, in many cases two to three months earlier than normal,” Ken Pimlott, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the Christian Post.
A wildfire in the Texas panhandle has destroyed at least 100 homes and caused hundreds to flee the flames.
Fire officials say the fire began around 4 p.m. near Fritch, Texas.
The fire raged through the night and destroyed the homes despite the fact firefighters had the flames over 75% contained. The fire has not hit the main part of Fritch but has left many homes in the area without power as the flames took out power lines.
The Texas Forestry Service has been flying aircraft over the site dropping flame retardant chemicals in an attempt to keep containing the fire.
Over 1,500 acres were confirmed to have been burned in the blaze whose origin is still not known by fire officials. A spokesman with the Hutchinson County emergency services said that it could be days before people can return to their homes or check to see if their home survived the fire.
The Texas panhandle has been in emergency drought conditions for months.
A campfire fanned by the Santa Ana winds caused a 1,700 acre brush fire that forced the evacuation of thousands of residents in the foothills near Los Angeles.
Three men were being held by Los Angeles County deputies under suspicion of starting the blaze.
At least five homes were completely destroyed and another 17 damaged by the blaze. A historic retreat that was once the home of the Singer sewing machine family had rental homes burned to the ground although statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary were completely unharmed.
Authorities said the wind faded during the day allowing them to bring the fire under control.
According to Glendora Fire Chief Tim Staab the men in custody were trying to keep a campfire going to stay warm.
Drought conditions are fueling a late fall forest fire raging in the Big Sur region of California.
Fire officials say the slow-moving blaze in Los Padres National Forest had burned around 770 acres by late Tuesday night and destroyed at least 14 homes. The fire was reported to be 20 percent contained.
Up to 650 firefighters are on site fighting the blaze and the weather has been favorable for stopping the fire’s spread. However, officials say a weather front moving in Wednesday could tip the scales in favor of the fire.
“It could possibly help us,” Los Padres National Forest spokesman Lynn Olson said. “It could possibly hurt us.”
The popular tourist area has been hit by wildfires in the past. A summer 2008 blaze forced the evacuation of the area and burned 250 square miles before it was contained including the destruction of a dozen homes.
Among the homes destroyed since Monday was the home of the Big Sur Fire Chief, Martha Karstens. She had lived in her home for 23 years when it was destroyed Monday night. Karstens said she was focusing on fighting the fire and functioning as a chief without thinking about her now destroyed home.
Uncontrolled wildfires continue to rage across Australia and officials say there is a chance the flames could threaten the country’s largest city.
The government of New South Wales, the largest state in Australia, declared a state of emergency as forecasters are calling for high winds and temperatures to continue. The early start for the Australian bushfire season has already killed one person and have caused thousands to flee their homes and property.
While cooler weather had allowed firefighters to get the total amount of blazes down to 60 by Thursday, rural fire service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the conditions are rapidly deteriorating. Other officials told the BBC that these fires are the biggest threat they’ve seen in over 40 years.
The Blue Mountains and Hawksbury communities west and north of Sydney are facing “unparalleled risk” according to local officials and embers from the flames have jumped the Nepean River from the foot of the mountains near Sydney’s suburban outskirts.
Police are preparing for mandatory evacuations.
“At the end of the day we hope to have buildings standing,” state police commissioner Alan Clarke told the London Daily Telegraph, “but if we don’t have buildings standing we don’t want bodies in them.”
The Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, now the 6th largest in state history, has firefighters using a new method to help fight the flames: a National Guard Predator drone.
The drone will fly over the fire 22 hours a day and provide real time photos to fire commanders about the fire’s progress and possible hot spots. Continue reading →
