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☆ I live in Valencia, Spain, where flooding has taken over 100 lives. I can hardly believe what's happened here.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jesús Lucero Ezquerro, who lives in Valencia, was in disbelief when he saw the damage from floods. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jesús Lucero Ezquerro, 28, who lives in the Poblats Marítims district of Valencia, Spain. AdvertisementCars were on top of each other, says Jesús Lucero Ezquerro, as he discovered the damage left by the storm in Valencia. Jesús Lucero Ezquerro said he and his friends helped clear the streets of Valencia. Courtesy of Jesús Lucero EzquerroLeft behindI am frustrated and angry.

Persons: Jesús Lucero Ezquerro, Ezquerro, —, I've, Jesús Lucero, Milton, Hurricane Milton, it's Organizations: Service, Hurricane Milton, Hurricane, Spanish Meteorological Agency Locations: Valencia, Marítims, Spain, Florida, Tampa

But a series of data points showing worsening economic conditions has made some analysts believe a 0.5% cut is more likely — and perhaps even necessary. “We do not seek or welcome further cooling in labor market conditions,” Fed Chair Jay Powell said in a speech last month. “A (0.5%) cut is usually done in emergencies,” like the Covid-19 pandemic, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s financial group. Mortgage interest rates have hit their lowest level since February 2023, while auto loan rates are also falling. A 0.5% cut would more directly affect rates tied to the fed funds rate, including credit cards, home equity lines of credit and small-business loans.

Persons: Steve Liesman, Jay Powell, Bill Dudley, ” Dudley, Preston Mui, Mui, ”, “, Mark Zandi, Greg McBride, ” McBride Organizations: Federal, CNBC, Wall, Minneapolis Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Bloomberg News, Fed, Bankrate Locations: Minneapolis, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, America

Two former high-ranking New York City Fire Department chiefs were indicted by federal prosecutors Monday on charges of pocketing bribes to expedite fire safety reviews. The charges come as Mayor Eric Adams' administration has been under scrutiny from prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan. "New Yorkers deserve better," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a press conference where he announced the charges against the former chiefs, Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco. Jocelyn Strauber, head of the New York City Department of Investigation, told reporters all the sites have since been re-inspected. Both are no longer with the FDNY — Saccavino retired in March and Cordasco retired in June.

Persons: Eric Adams, Edward Caban, Damian Williams, Anthony Saccavino, Brian Cordasco, Cordasco, Williams, Jocelyn Strauber, Saccavino, Robert Tucker, Adams, Caban’s, Sheena Wright, Public Safety Philip Banks III, “, ” Williams Organizations: New York, New York City Fire Department, Police, U.S, FDNY, department's, of Fire Prevention, New York City Department of Investigation, Department, FBI, Public Safety Locations: New York City, Manhattan

☆ Report finds ‘no evidence’ Hawaii officials prepared for Maui wildfire that killed 102 despite warnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Honolulu (AP) — Investigators reviewing the emergency response to last year’s wildfire that killed 102 people on Maui said in a report released Friday they found “no evidence” Hawaii officials made preparations for it, despite days of warnings that critical fire weather was coming. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency didn’t immediately respond with comment. Maui fire commanders discussed the forecast, but “no evidence of pre-event preparedness plans by the MFD were produced,” the report said. Maui County and the state use private contractors to help fight fires with water tankers and heavy equipment. And despite the warnings, the heads of the county emergency management agency and the Maui Fire Department were off-island that day, attending conferences in Honolulu.

Persons: —, Anne Lopez, Maui’s, Richard Bissen, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency didn’t, weren’t, Firefighters, ” Derek Alkonis Organizations: — Investigators, National Weather Service, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Maui Fire Department, Maui Police, Hawaiian Electric Co, Firefighters, Fire Safety Research Institute, Maui Police Department Locations: Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, State, Maui County, West Maui

☆ Unprotected at the margins of the rental market
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Cecilia Reyes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

Officers interviewed two motel residents who called 911; they said they did not want to leave their homes. Alyssa Pointer for Business InsiderIn Georgia, an eviction requires a court order, but the law doesn't explicitly make lockouts illegal. In this case, an officer classified the incident as a "crime against property" — a crime committed by the residents themselves. In unincorporated Clark County, where the property is located, operating a short-term rental without a license is illegal. Matthew Main is an attorney who has represented residents in similarly precarious housing situations in New York City, where state law also grants residents tenants' rights after 30 days.

Persons: they'd, Alyssa Pointer, doesn't, Eric Tars, Marshall Rancifer, Rancifer, Larry Johnson, Johnson, Lindsey Siegel, Freddie Mac, Rausch, Bridget Bennett, Harrison Bohn, Charlie Bliss, Andrew Cauthen, Brandon Turner, Darlene DeLaRoca, she'd, Mike Rausch, Harry Reid, DeLaRoca, Luis Barraza, Barraza, haven't, Stacey Welling, David Brown, Eric Dunn, Neason, Lynetrice Preston, Altonese Weaver, that's, Bliss, Roy Barnes, Barnes, Tera Strawter, Khari Varner, Strawter, Varner, Puentes, Guy Girardin, Girardin, Brown, Brian Michael Schwalbe, Schwalbe, you've, Natalie Bergevin, Bergevin, Matthew Main, gamesmanship, Main, Paul Panusky, Sara Heymann, I've, Michael Duckworth, Duckworth, he'd, Abel Uribe, Matthew Walberg Organizations: Labor, Business, National Homelessness Law, Justice, All Coalition, for Disease Control, Police, Housing Justice League, Atlanta, Atlanta Legal, US Department of Education, Pratt Center for Community Development, UCLA, Legal, Center of Southern, Natson, Facebook, Harry, Walmart, BI, Las Vegas Justice Court, National Housing Law, Atlanta Legal Aid, Atlanta . Tenants, DeKalb County Police Department, Georgia Supreme, Lutheran Social Services of, Las Vegas, Regional Justice Center, Go Locations: Dekalb County, Panthersville, Atlanta, Dekalb, Georgia, United States, Florida , Kentucky, DeKalb County, DeKalb, New York City, Los Angeles, Clark County , Nevada, Center of Southern Nevada, Nevada, California, Las Vegas, Clark County, Clark, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada, Las Vegas . Nevada, Chicago, Chicago's Roseland, Cook, City, DeLaRoca, Vegas

☆ PG&E Seeks Approval to Sell Stake in Its Power Operations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ivan Penn | More About Ivan Penn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pacific Gas & Electric announced plans on Tuesday to sell a minority stake in its power-generation business, part of its strategy to reduce electricity rates, continue wildfire prevention and further develop clean energy. The exclusive deal with the global investment firm KKR is part of PG&E’s plan to transfer its nonnuclear power generation to a newly formed subsidiary, Pacific Generation. The proposals for the subsidiary and the KKR stake require approval by the California Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. KKR, which manages $59 billion in assets, operates a global infrastructure business with expertise in the utility and renewable energy industry. PG&E said in a statement that the investment firm’s access to capital gave it the ability to take a long-term approach in its strategies.

Persons: ” Carolyn Burke Organizations: Gas & Electric, KKR, Pacific, California Public Utilities Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

☆ As California wildfire season nears, startup BurnBot is working on a high-tech approach to prevention
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Lora Kolodny | In Lorakolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In South San Francisco, a small startup is working on a high-tech approach to wildfire prevention. Anukool Lakhina and Waleed "Lee" Haddad founded BurnBot in 2022 to develop robotics and remote-controlled vehicles that can munch up and burn away invasive plants or other dry vegetation that can fuel fires if left fallow. Like other agricultural and construction equipment, the RX rolls forward on tank-like tracks and wheels, which enable it to maneuver through rough fields. The chambers of the BurnBot RX also trap and torch away the smoke that comes from burning vegetation, so it doesn't pollute the air in surrounding communities. When the torching is done, the RX sprays water repeatedly to extinguish any remaining embers.

Persons: Lakhina, Waleed, Lee, Haddad, BurnBot, munch Organizations: Ventures Locations: California, South San Francisco, BurnBot

It's a story increasingly familiar in the energy industry: Some utility companies don't properly assess the risks wildfires pose to their operations. The primary purpose is to prevent power lines from igniting a wildfire during periods of high fire danger. The lawsuit also alleges the company "inexcusably kept their power lines energized during the forecasted high-fire danger conditions." A PG&E utility worker locates a gas main line in the rubble of a home burned down by wildfire in Paradise, California, Nov. 13, 2018. Several of those agencies track statewide wildfire information, but most did not keep track of the names of utility companies associated with wildfire incidents.

Persons: Michelle Glogovac, Glogovac, Laurie Allen, Brent Jones, Allen, Jones, inexcusably, Michael Wara, Shelee Kimura, Yuki Iwamura, David Pomerantz, Pomerantz, Patti Poppe, It's, JOSH EDELSON, Warren Buffett's, Stanford's, CNBC's Brian Sullivan, David Paul Morris, Institute's Pomerantz, Tama Organizations: CNBC, Electric, Energy, Stanford University, Hawaiian Electric, AFP, Getty, Policy, Policy Institute, NV Energy, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Bloomberg, Getty Images Locations: Paradise , California, Lahaina , Hawaii, Hawaii, Maui, Maui County, Lahaina, California, Nevada, Warren, — Arizona, California , Colorado, Hawaii , Montana , Nevada , New Mexico , Oregon , Utah, Washington, Arizona , New Mexico, Utah

West Maui's tight housing market, which is heavily populated by expensive vacation rentals, is one reason. Lawmakers said solutions to these problems are badly needed for Maui but would also help communities across the state. Fire mitigation would a top Senate priority, Senate President Ron Kouchi, a Democrat, said. Hashimoto said lawmakers know Lahaina Strong wants stable housing for the people of Lahaina. Last year lawmakers didn't increase funding for behavioral health care but she hopes they will this year.

Persons: Ron Kouchi, ” Kouchi, Scott Saiki, Saiki, “ It’s, ” Saiki, “, haven’t, Nadine Nakamura, Sen, Troy Hashimoto, “ We've, ” Hashimoto, ”, Jordan Ruidas, ” Ruidas, Hashimoto, Joy San Organizations: Wednesday, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, University of Hawaii, Democrat, Protesters, Capitol Locations: HONOLULU, Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, West Maui, Honolulu, Oahu, Joy San Buenaventura

Now, fighting and preventing wildfires and helping the island of Maui recover from the flames top the agenda as Hawaii's Legislature returns for a new session this week. The Senate majority said in a news release it was committed to forming a fire risk task force and seeking permanent funding for the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, which is a hub for wildfire prevention and mitigation. Josh Green, a Democrat, in December asked lawmakers to appropriate $425 million for the Maui cleanup and emergency housing, and millions more to reduce statewide wildfire risk. Nakamura said the Maui fires exacerbated a problem that existed long before: the proliferation of vacation rentals around the state. “If they can’t find an affordable rental and use their skills in Hawaii, then we all lose out,” she said.

Persons: ”, Nadine Nakamura, Nakamura, Josh Green, Colin Moore, Moore, “, ” Moore Organizations: Democrat, Democrats, of Land, Natural Resources, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, Senate, Gov, University of Hawaii Locations: HONOLULU, Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, Kula

“There has been no indication that I’ve seen that the mayor is a target,” added his chief legal counsel at City Hall, Lisa Zornberg. The federal investigation burst into public view on Nov. 2 when agents searched the home of Adams' chief fundraiser during his 2021 mayoral campaign, Briana Suggs. Four days later, FBI agents stopped Adams as he was leaving a public event, asked his police security detail to step away and took his electronic devices. Political Cartoons View All 1247 ImagesThe U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, which is overseeing the probe, has declined to comment. “This is what we do as elected officials,” Adams said, adding that he was thinking of Turkish constituents in the city.

Persons: Eric Adams, ”, Lisa Zornberg, Adams, Briana Suggs, Suggs, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Daniel Nigro, “, Nigro, ” Adams, “ I’m Organizations: —, — New York City, City Hall, FBI, The New York Times, Turkevi, city's Fire Department, Democratic Locations: — New York, Manhattan, The

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy burying power lines for wildfire prevention is effective but so costlyBurying power lines is an expensive but sure-fire way to practically eliminate the risk of utility-caused wildfires, which have devastated towns across California. PG&E, the nation's largest utility, has been found liable for numerous wildfires in the state, and has a plan to underground 10,000 miles of distribution lines in fire-prone areas. But this plan would cost tens of billions of dollars and would be paid for by customers, causing some to advocate for cheaper, alternate options.

Locations: California

The battle against junk fees is part of President Joe Biden's administration's effort to ease strains on voter pocketbooks as an election year approaches. Taking on "junk fees" gives Biden and his allies fodder to show they are helping people tackle costs as many Americans are dissatisfied with his economic stewardship. The administration has previously proposed a rule to require airlines to disclose fees upfront. The agency estimated the fees cost consumers tens of billions of dollars annually on items such as hotel resort fees. "These junk fees function as an invisible tax that quietly inflates prices across the economy," FTC Chair Lina Khan told reporters on a conference call.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Joe Biden's, Lina Khan, Diane Bartz, Jeff Mason, Douglas Gillison, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S, Fire Prevention, Eisenhower, White, REUTERS, Companies United, Democrat, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Consumer Financial, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Companies United States, America

☆ Fact Check: Gates-backed venture will not chop down 70 million acres of trees
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Rather, it is developing a project that handles throwaway biomass from forest thinning for the U.S. Forest Service. The article, entitled “Bill Gates Pushes Plan to Chop Down 70 Million Acres of Trees to ‘Fight Global Warming,’” was published on a website called Slay on Aug. 31. “Our company is developing technology to help public agencies like the US Forest Service, stewardship non-profits, and private landowners meet their wildfire mitigation and forest thinning goals," he said. Kodama Systems, a company that received funding from a fund owned by Bill Gates, is not planning to cut down millions of acres of U.S. forests. The company has received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service for a project to handle throwaway biomass from forest thinning.

Persons: Bill Gates, ”, Slay, Scott Owen, Owen, ” Owen, Robert York, KODAMA, James Sedlak, Read Organizations: Systems, U.S . Forest Service, Kodama Systems, Microsoft, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Western, U.S . Department of Agriculture, USFS, Department of Interior, Berkeley Forests, UC Berkeley, Oregon State University, University of Melbourne, Kodama, US Forest Service, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, Western United States, California

☆ California Escapes Fire Season Mostly Unharmed, but Danger Could Lie Ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

After disastrous years in 2020 and 2021, wildfire damage this season has been largely limited to the sparsely populated northwest corner of the state. Cal Fire has reported 5,474 wildfires burning 257,407 acres (104,169 hectares) in 2023, similar to the same period of 2022. The five-year average over the same interval is 6,142 fires and 1.2 million acres burned. "We're really only a prolonged heatwave followed by a windstorm away from having major fires," Chavez said. UCLA meteorologist Daniel Swain said climate change is going to result in more extreme dry years periodically interspersed with more extreme wet years.

Persons: Daniel Trotta, California's, Tim Chavez, Nick Schuler, Michele Steinberg, Chavez, Daniel Swain, we'll, Swain, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: of Water Resources, Labor, California Department of Forestry, Fire Protection, Cal Fire, National Fire Prevention, UCLA, YouTube Locations: California, Western Canada, United States, Hawaii, Lahaina, Southern California

Riverside Animal Control looks for stray dogs as as the Fairview Fire smoulders near Hemet, California, U.S., September 9, 2022. After disastrous years in 2020 and 2021, wildfire damage this season has been largely limited to the sparsely populated northwest corner of the state. The five-year average over the same interval is 6,142 fires and 1.2 million acres burned. "We're really only a prolonged heatwave followed by a windstorm away from having major fires," Chavez said. UCLA meteorologist Daniel Swain said climate change is going to result in more extreme dry years periodically interspersed with more extreme wet years.

Persons: David Swanson, California's, Tim Chavez, Nick Schuler, Michele Steinberg, Chavez, Daniel Swain, we'll, Swain, Daniel Trotta, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Riverside, REUTERS, of Water Resources, Labor, California Department of Forestry, Fire Protection, Cal Fire, National Fire Prevention, UCLA, YouTube, Thomson Locations: Fairview, Hemet , California, U.S, California, Western Canada, United States, Hawaii, Lahaina, Southern California

David Minkin, an attorney for Maui County, told Reuters that only a small portion, if any, of its land was involved in the blaze. Wildfire victims have struggled over the years to hold landowners liable, even for fires ignited on their property. Rick Linkert, a California attorney who specializes in defending wildfire cases, said it may not be easy for Wells' legal team to show negligence. They would have to demonstrate there was an accepted standard for managing grasslands and that the landowners ignored it, he said. Maui County has filed its own lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric, which it blames for the fire.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Harold Wells, Rebecca Rans, Wells, Bishop, David Minkin, Rans, Jim Bickerton, Bickerton, Rick Linkert, Linkert, Pauahi Paki, Kamehameha, Tom Hals, Amy Stevens, Noeleen Walder, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Kamehameha Schools, Reuters, Honolulu Star, U.S . Forest Service, Hawaiian Electric, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Rights WILMINGTON , Delaware, Harold Wells of Arizona, Maui County, Wailuku, Guinea, California, Hawaiian, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ 20,000 people feared dead in Libyan city destroyed by floods
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Patrick Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"The situation is very large and surprising for the city of Derna. A view shows a damaged car, following a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hitting the country, in Derna, Libya September 13, 2023. A government official estimated Wednesday that 25% of the city was completely destroyed or washed away. People look at the dead bodies outside the hospital, after a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Libya, in Derna, Libya September 12, 2023. A view of devastation in disaster zones after the floods caused by the Storm Daniel ravaged the region, on September 11, 2023, in Derna, Libya.

Persons: Hassan El Salheen, Aly, Storm Daniel, Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Daniel, Abdel Moneim Al, Ghaithi, Esam Omran, Hunter Biden, Elie Abouaoun, Reuters Othman Abduljaleel Organizations: Reuters, Sky News Arabia, fetori, United Nations, World Meteorological Organization, AFP, WMO, NBC, FBI, Social Security, International Rescue, International Organization for Migration, United Arab, Fetori, Tripoli Public Services Company, Libyan News Agency, Storm, Anadolu Agency, Getty Locations: Libya, Al Sharief, Bani Swief, Egypt, Derna, Geneva, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Tripoli, Derna's

☆ House passes bill to improve wildfire prevention accountability after NBC News report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Adiel Kaplan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A wildfire burns on the island of Maui near an intersection in Lahaina, Hawaii, August 9, 2023. A bill to improve how the federal government tracks wildfire prevention work passed the House in a near-unanimous 406-4 vote on Wednesday, a month after the nation's deadliest wildfire in over 100 years killed at least 115 people in Hawaii. A 2022 NBC News investigation found that the United States Forest Service had overstated how much land it treats to reduce wildfire risk by an estimated 21% over a 15-year period. Tiffany, chairman of the House Natural Resources committee's federal lands subcommittee, cited NBC News' reporting when he introduced the bill. The bill applies to hazardous fuel reduction done by federal land management agencies, which mostly work on federally owned land.

Persons: Tom Tiffany, I'm, Tiffany, Sen, Joe Manchin, John Barrasso Organizations: NBC, United States Forest Service, Natural Resources, Service, Interior Department, Senate Energy, Natural Resources Committee Locations: Maui, Lahaina , Hawaii, Hawaii, Lahaina, California, Paradise

☆ Greece to launch drones, temperature sensors to better fight wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Cows stand in front of a burned hill as a wildfire burns at Dadia National Park in the region of Evros, Greece, August 29, 2023. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis Acquire Licensing RightsATHENS, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Greece's prime minister said on Thursday it would launch drones and install forest temperature sensors to improve preventive firefighting after criticism from climate activists over a devastating wildfire burning for almost two weeks. He said authorities had initiated steps to acquire more than 100 drones to monitor wildfires in real time. Mitsotakis said tens of millions of euros were spent in wildfire prevention this year but that was still not enough. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said at least 30% of Greece's protected Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest had been lost.

Persons: Alexandros Avramidis, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, it's, Angeliki, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Greece's, Emergency Management Service, New York City's, Wildlife Fund, Thomson Locations: Evros, Greece, New York, Soufli

☆ Nearly 400 people still missing after Maui fires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Deon J. Hampton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A general view shows damage in the fire ravaged town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 15, 2023. MAUI, Hawaii — The County of Maui on Thursday night released the names of nearly 400 people who remain officially unaccounted for, two weeks after a devastating wildfire swept through the island. The 388 names were compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and deemed validated with first and last names, county officials said. In a statement Thursday, Hawaiian Electric said its focus in the aftermath of the fires has been to support the people of Maui and Maui County. "We are very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding," it said.

Persons: John Pelletier Organizations: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Police, Authorities, Hawaiian Electric Co, Hawaiian Electric, Electric, EPA, NBC Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, MAUI, The County, West Maui, Maui County

A utility pole on Friday that had been damaged in the high winds this week in Lahaina, Hawaii. But Hawaiian Electric, the state’s largest utility and the parent company of the power provider on Maui, made wildfire prevention its lowest priority in a state regulatory filing in April. In fact, the utility had no plan to cut power to prevent further ignitions even after flames began consuming the island. The recent devastation on Maui served as a reminder that climate-driven disaster can strike anywhere. “From what we’ve learned, we believe the Lahaina fires could have been prevented had proper safety precautions been taken,” said Gerald Singleton, one lawyer who issued a release about potential lawsuits.

Persons: ”, Jennifer Potter, Potter, Jim Kelly, we’ve, Gerald Singleton, Nicole Lowen, Ms, ” Ms, “ Organizations: Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas &, Hawaiian Electric, Energy, Hawaii State Legislature Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, Maui, California, Lahaina, “, Hawaii

Hawaii Army National Guard CH47 Chinook helicopters perform aerial water bucket drops on the island of Maui to assist with fight of wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, August 9, 2023. An out-of-control wildfire that began along a major Central Maui highway burns Thursday July 11, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii. “Especially when you have severe drought conditions like we have.”Despite these growing dangers, Hawaii state budgets for fire management have not kept pace with worsening conditions, according to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, a nonprofit. Hawaii is hardly unique: As climate change is exacerbating natural disasters, state officials across the country are also struggling to respond to new threats. And it’s unclear how significantly additional preparedness and mitigation efforts could have reduced the destruction of a blaze with the intensity and speed of the Lahaina wildfire.

Persons: Pamela Brown’s, ”, Hurricane Dora, didn’t, Clay Trauernicht, Matthew Thayer, Abby Frazier, ” Nani Barretto, Gov, Sylvia Luke, “, Josh Stanbro, Josh Green, Frazier, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Maui News, Clark University, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, ” Locations: Hawaii, ”, Maui, Lahaina, Maui County, Central Maui, Massachusetts

☆ PG&E Scraps Tree-Trimming Program Once Seen as Key to Fire Prevention
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Katherine Blunt | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Greek wildfires die down after burning for nearly two weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Alexandros AvramidisATHENS, July 28 (Reuters) - Wildfires in Greece abated on Friday after burning for nearly two weeks but emergency services worked to prevent new flare-ups in the central part of the country, where people had fled massive explosions at an ammunition depot the day before. In the hard-hit area of Magnesia, wildfires reached an air force ammunition depot close to the coastal town of Nea Aghialos on Thursday. Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said on Friday he had ordered an investigation into the incident. The labour ministry urged employers in an industrial zone of Volos to suspend operations for a second day on Friday. But teams operated at several sites for an 11th day in an effort to fully tame all the fronts.

Persons: Alexandros Avramidis ATHENS, Dina Angeli, Nikos Dendias, Firefighters, Ioannis Artopoios, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Angeliki Koutantou, Alexandros Avramidis, Stamos Prousalis, Angeliki, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Fighter, Reuters, Greek Defence, Thomson Locations: Volos, Greece, Magnesia, Nea Aghialos, Aghialos, Rhodes

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