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☆ Worst drought in decades develops after one of driest months in US history
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —One of the driest months in United States history is coming to a close after causing the worst drought in more than 20 years in parts of the East as temperatures soar well above average there. As of October 25, the average precipitation across the Lower 48 was less than an inch. Only five months in the 129 years of records have ended with less than an inch of average precipitation over the Lower 48. Flash drought happens when drought conditions increase quickly, rather than over a multi-month or yearly timeframe, according to NOAA. It’s the state’s worst drought level since 2002.

Persons: haven’t, hadn’t, hasn’t, Hurricane Helene, Milton Organizations: CNN, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, New, York, East, NOAA, Associated Press, New Jersey Forest Fire, National Interagency Fire Center Locations: United States, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Central, Hurricane, Florida, Hurricane Milton, Tampa, Midwest, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Ohio, Essex County , New Jersey, Michigan , New Jersey, Massachusetts, West Coast

And if the worst were to happen and Bridger defaulted on the debt, Gallatin County wouldn’t be on the hook. The second item that wasn’t publicly discussed involved collateral damage to Gallatin County if Bridger’s bonds, known as conduits, went bad. Neither did former commissioner Skinner, whom NBC News called to talk about his vote on the Bridger bond. “Gallatin County should expect that Bridger will not cover any of the costs to unwind this transaction,” he said. At the 2020 meeting about the bond issue, Sean Bowen, a deputy county attorney, was asked whether the county was comfortable approving it.

Persons: Tim Sheehy, Bridger, Gallatin, ”, Joe Skinner, Sheehy vies, Sheehy, Donald Trump, Democratic Sen, Jon Tester, Blackstone, Louise Johns, Justin Marlowe, ” Marlowe, ” Sheehy, didn’t, Sam Davis, Bridger’s, Nathan Bilyeu, wasn’t, Marlowe, ‘, ’ ”, “, Zach Brown, ” Brown, Bilyeu, Skinner, Brown, it’s, Sean Bowen, Bowen, hadn’t Organizations: Bridger Aerospace Group, Navy SEAL, U.S . Senate, Democratic, New, Blackstone Group, Republican, Bridger Aerospace, Bloomberg, Getty, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, Municipal Finance, National Interagency Fire Center, Pilatus, Bridger, wasn’t, University of Chicago, Poor’s, NBC Locations: Montana, it’s, Gallatin County, Bozeman, U.S, Washington, Gallatin, New York City, Bridger, Mont, Helena, Chicago, Bolingbrook, ”

☆ California wildfire forecast: Season primed for action in the months to come
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It’s been a typical fire season in California so far based on overall statistics. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty ImagesTo have a fire like the Bridge Fire grow so rapidly without Santa Ana winds is “fairly significant and unusual,” Chavez remarked. In early June, abnormally dry conditions only existed in about 1% of California, according to the US Drought Monitor. Where peak fire danger could still be to comeFall marks a critical inflection point for fire season in California given typical weather conditions. Chavez is “always” concerned about what Santa Ana winds could unleash on the fire season in Southern California.

Persons: It’s, Tim Chavez, Chavez, Josh Edelson, ” Chavez, it’s what’s, Daniel Swain, Swain, ” Swain, Joshua Tree, “, David Swanson, ” Organizations: CNN, CAL FIRE, Getty, Santa Ana, University of California, US Drought Monitor, National Interagency Fire Center Locations: California, Northern California, San Diego, Santa Ana, Tehama County , California, AFP, Santa, Los Angeles, Southern California, Southern, Running Springs , California

☆ Park Fire more than 400,000 acres, 4th-largest in Calif. history
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Raja Razek | Jay Croft | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The fourth-largest wildfire in California’s history has grown to 400,956 acres, destroying 564 structures and damaging 50 as of Saturday morning, according to an update from Cal Fire. “The Park Fire has been extremely active over the last 24 hours,” Cal Fire said. However, firefighters are still actively engaging in fire suppression to an area spanning 175-miles,” the update read. As of Friday, 94 large wildfires raged across multiple states, and 28 had evacuation orders, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Fires are also burning in Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Utah, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming and Nevada.

Persons: “ Crews Organizations: CNN, Cal Fire, National Interagency Fire Center Locations: Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Tehama, Area, Northern San Joaquin, Oregon , Idaho, Washington , Utah , Montana , Arizona, New Mexico , Wyoming, Nevada

☆ With a fire burning just miles away, residents of a Washington town dig in
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“There’s a lot of mistrust going on there.”As fire behavior grows intense because of climate change and overgrown forests, doubts can fester in rural communities as fire managers operate more conservatively than in the past. “Now, we’re seeing fires act more radically, make their own weather and be more unpredictable.”This dynamic is playing out in rural communities elsewhere. Stasiewicz said that based on her own focus groups, surveys and interviews, sentiments like Courtney’s are becoming more common in rural communities. Evacuation often carries a stiff financial cost, she said, and some rural residents worry their properties won’t be prioritized. “We can sometimes see rural communities lose compared to more developed areas.

Persons: we’ve, ”, Amanda Stasiewicz, “, ” Stasiewicz, they’d, Brad Bramlett, ’ ” Courtney, Courtney, Johnston, Magnussen, Stehekin, Stasiewicz Organizations: University of Oregon, “, San Francisco Chronicle, National Interagency Fire Center, National Weather Service, ”, Tourists Locations: West, Northern California, Pacific, Oregon , Washington and Idaho, Lake Chelan, North, Stehekin, U.S

☆ Park Fire in California burns nearly 125,000 acres as Oregon firefighters battle nation’s largest active fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Dalia Faheid | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The largest active wildfire in the US has scorched more than 280,000 acres in eastern Oregon and another blaze has exploded to nearly 125,000 acres in California. • Park Fire explodes in size: By Thursday morning, the wildfire had burned an average of nearly 50 football fields per minute since starting Wednesday afternoon. • Firefighters battle massive Oregon fire: The Durkee Fire, which has burned an area larger than the city of Indianapolis, started on July 17 near the Oregon-Idaho state line. • Oregon wildfire destroys buildings: Three people were injured and two homes and 12 other structures were destroyed as the fire spread, according to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. In this image provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation, shows an area burned by the Durkee fire near Interstate 84 close to Huntington, Oregon, on July 23, 2024.

Persons: Tina Kotek, Justin Trudeau, ” Julia Yarbough, Yarbough, Ronnie Dean Stout, Mike Ramsey, “, ” Stout, Ramsey, Stout, CNN Stout, Noah Berger, ’, Danielle Smith, Mike Ellis, ” Ellis, ” Smith, Jasper, Richard Ireland, ” Organizations: CNN, Western, Cal Fire, • Firefighters, Oregon -, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Oregon Gov, National Guard, Northern Rockies, National Interagency Fire Center, Oregon Department of Transportation, KOVR, DA, “, ’ ”, ”, Public Safety, Emergency, Jasper National, Facebook Locations: Western United States, Canada, Oregon, California, Atlanta, Butte County, Indianapolis, Oregon - Idaho, Baker County, Boise, Colorado , Idaho , Oregon, Washington, Jasper, Alberta, Western, Northwest, Huntington , Oregon, Chico, Butte, Bidwell, Butte County , California, ’ ” Alberta, “, ” Alberta, ” Ireland

☆ Largest active wildfire in the US burns in Oregon, forcing evacuations and creating its own weather
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Dalia Faheid | Robert Shackelford | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A lightning-sparked wildfire raging in eastern Oregon has scorched nearly 270,000 acres, making it the largest active wildfire in the United States. The massive blaze is the largest of 31 large wildfires currently burning across Oregon, which has been the hardest hit by fires in recent days. Over the weekend and earlier this week, the Durkee Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior, even creating it’s own weather in the form of pyrocumulus clouds. Wildfire smoke, including from the Durkee Fire in Oregon, was spreading into Boise and beyond. A cold front has moved through the area Thursday morning, bringing high temperatures to the 80s on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Persons: Indianapolis –, Tina Kotek, ” Kotek, Sarah Sherman, Patrick Nauman, ” Nauman Organizations: CNN, Oregon -, Nationwide, National Interagency Fire Center . Oregon Gov, National Guard, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Land Management, Oregon State Fire, Weiser, Associated Press, National Weather Service Locations: Oregon, United States, Indianapolis, Oregon - Idaho, Eastern Oregon, Malheur County, Baker, Boise, Colorado , Idaho , Oregon, Washington, Weiser , Idaho

The wildfires burning in the northwestern United States and western Canada triggered air quality warnings across both countries on Wednesday, as smoke spread over a region thousands of people have fled from. Thousands of firefighters and emergency personnel have been deployed in the region. The growing blazes have raised fears of a repeat of last year, when record wildfires in Canada blanketed cities as far south as Florida with dangerous smoke and haze. There were 40 active wildfires, none of which were under control, in Oregon and Washington covering more than 870,000 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Many fires are exhibiting “extreme fire behavior,” the center said.

Organizations: National Interagency Fire Center Locations: United States, Canada, Florida, Oregon, Washington

☆ A California wildfire has destroyed 6 homes and caused $10 million in damage. Authorities believe fireworks started it
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Chris Boyette | Lauren Mascarenhas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A 500-acre fire in Riverside, California, that has burned homes and caused $10 million in damage was sparked by fireworks, according to local officials. The Hawarden Fire, which started Sunday, has destroyed six homes and damaged seven others, officials said. “In just over 24 hours, a moment of fireworks has an estimated cost of over $11 million. The blaze destroyed six homes in Riverside, California, officials said. As much as 90% of wildfires are started by humans, according to the group.

Persons: Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, ” Lock Dawson, “, Dawson, Jon Putman, CNN’s Raja Razek Organizations: CNN, Riverside Mayor, “, National Interagency Fire Center, Western Fire Chiefs Association Locations: Riverside , California, Hawarden, Oregon, California, Air, Riverside, Utah, Northern California, Southern California

☆ Live updates: US heat wave as record temperatures across central and Eastern US bring natural disasters
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Antoinette Radford Elise Hammond Maureen Chowdhury Mary Gilbert Eric Zerkel | Antoinette Radford | Elise Hammond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Advocacy groups are petitioning Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to include extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters in the same way they do for hurricanes and other major disasters and emergencies. Extreme heat is by far the most deadly kind of weather, killing on average more than twice as many people each year as hurricanes and tornadoes combined, according to data tracked by the National Weather Service. But as CNN as previously reported, FEMA’s hands are tied by congress and the Stafford Act — the federal law that gives FEMA the power to respond to emergencies and determines what qualifies as one. The petition notes that the Stafford Act can be easily amended as it was just a few years ago to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other side of the country, a dangerous, long-duration heat wave is tightening its grip on the Northeast and parts of the Midwest.

Persons: Stafford, Ella Nilsen, Rob Shackelford Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, National Weather Service, CNN, Tribal, National Interagency Fire Center

☆ US wildland firefighter pay threatened by Republican feud in Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Firefighters cannot be held hostage to congressional infighting," said Lucas Mayfield, president of the advocacy group Grassroots Wildland Firefighters. More than 10 million acres were affected in 2015 and 2017. Last year, the cost of suppressing wildfires across 7.6 million acres surpassed $3.5 billion, according to the center. "Now is not the time ... to be engaging in this kind of the political gamesmanship around something as important as the livelihood of our wildland firefighters," he told Reuters. Neguse and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an independent from Arizona, have introduced legislation in their respective chambers that would avoid the pay cliff and authorize future pay increases for wildland firefighters.

Persons: Matthew A, Foster, Handout, Mike Simpson, Joe Biden, Lucas Mayfield, Mayfield, Joe Neguse, Kyrsten Sinema, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell Organizations: Force, U.S . Army National Guard, Staff, REUTERS, Rights, Interagency Fire, Idaho Republican, Reuters, Republicans, Democrats, Democratic, Biden, Grassroots, Firefighters, Republican, National Interagency Fire Center, Colorado Democrat, House, Thomson Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, U.S, Washington, West, British Columbia, Idaho, United States, Neguse, Arizona

☆ Maui wildfires: What are the deadliest wildfires in US history?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The causes of the Hawaii wildfires, which started on Tuesday night, have not yet been determined. Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Sunday called a part of the island of Maui that was devastated by wildfires a "war zone". Reuters GraphicsHOW MANY DIED IN THE CLOQUET AND GREAT HINCKLEY FIRES? Since 2018, wildfires in the United States have destroyed nearly 63,000 structures, the majority of which were homes. In 2022, there were 66,255 wildfires in the United States, compared with 18,229 in 1983, when record keeping began, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Persons: Josh Green, Peshtigo, Partridge, Hinckley, Stephen Culp, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: National Fire Protection Association, Historical Society, Reuters, HINCKLEY, Library of Congress, NFPA, Federal Emergency Management Association, FEMA, Environmental Protection Agency, Interagency Fire Center, Fire, Hinckley, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Thomson Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Hinckley, Mission, Miller, United States, California

It began Friday in the New York Mountains of California’s Mojave National Preserve and crossed state lines into Nevada on Sunday. The fire is burning through and threatening groves of Joshua trees – the branching, spiky plants of the Mojave Desert that can live more than 150 years. The Mojave National Preserve is a significant hotspot for biodiversity, with one conservationist calling it the “crown jewel” of the deserts of Southern California. But rain in the Mojave Desert, which is seasonal and scarce, “poses a unique challenge to firefighters,” the Mojave National Preserve said. They will be on the lookout for desert tortoises, making sure to avoid burrows and active individuals,” the Mojave National Preserve said.

Persons: Joshua, Joshua trees, Marc Peebles, Cody Hanford, “, ” Hanford, David Swanson, ” Laura Cunningham, ” Cunningham Organizations: CNN, York, Land Trust, Getty, Mojave, KVVU, National Park Service, Park Service Mojave National, Firefighters, National Interagency Fire Center, Preserve, “ Locations: California, Nevada, New York, Southern California, Mexico, AFP, Cima

☆ York Fire in Nevada and California spawns 'fire whirls'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Nouran Salahieh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A massive, out-of-control fire burning across both California and Nevada is generating extreme fire behavior, spawning “fire whirls” and creating dangerous conditions for firefighters, authorities said. Firefighters battling the blaze have seen fire whirls – “a vortex of flames and smoke that forms when intense heat and turbulent winds combine, creating a spinning column of fire,” the Mojave National Preserve said Sunday. Crews battlling the York Fire faced "fire whirls" Sunday in the Mojave National Preserve, California. Ty O'Neil/AP“These fire whirls are similar to dust devils but are specifically associated with the heat and energy released by a wildfire,” the Mojave National Preserve said. The struggle to control the York Fire has allowed smoke to reach into Nevada and southern Utah, the fire incident overview noted.

Persons: Crews, Ty O'Neil, “, Carr, Jesse Winter, Jeffrey Todd, Erick Thompson, SpokanSector, Hayden Organizations: CNN, York, US, California -, Firefighters, Preserve, National Interagency Fire Center, National Interagency, Center, Reuters, British Columbia Wildfire Service, Regional, of, US Border Patrol Spokane Sector, Facebook, Forest, US Forest Service Locations: California, Nevada, New, Canadian, California - Nevada, , California, Redding , California, Utah, East Las Vegas , Boulder City, Henderson, Clark County , Nevada, Canada, Washington, Washington’s Okanogan County, Bluff, British, Osoyoos, of Okanagan, Oroville, ”, Challis, Leadore , Idaho

☆ BC wildfires: Explosive Washington fire burns across Canadian border and forces evacuations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —An out-of-control blaze burning in northern Washington state exploded in size, crossed the Canadian border and set off a cascade of evacuations over the weekend. Evacuations were ordered on Saturday for more than 700 properties in the Canadian town of Osoyoos, British Columbia, after the fire crossed the border. The fire remains completely uncontained in both countries, according to Washington and Canadian fire officials. The United States’ fire season has been pacing below average in terms of acres burned so far this year. The US wildfire season may pick up pace as August arrives.

Persons: ”, Jesse Winter, “, ” Bruce Ralston Organizations: CNN, National Interagency Fire, York, United, National Interagency, Center, Environment Canada, Forests, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Locations: Washington, Washington’s Okanogan County, Canadian, Osoyoos, British Columbia, Okanogan County , Washington, Canada, Southern, California, Nevada, United States, Pacific Northwest, Mississippi

☆ Biden sends firefighters, aid to Canada as wildfire smoke blankets much of the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A view from the top of the Rockefeller Center, as haze and smoke caused by wildfires in Canada hang over the Manhattan skyline, in New York City, New York, June 7, 2023. WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday assured Americans the government was aiding Canada in fighting the wildfires that have cloaked the East Coast and Midwest in unhealthy levels of smoke and haze. In a statement, Trudeau thanked Biden for the aid, adding that the countries must "work together to address the devastating impacts of climate change." There were 437 active wildfires across Canada early Thursday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. "It's very important that affected communities listen to the guidance of their state and local officials from this point forward," Biden said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Bill Blair Organizations: Rockefeller Center, WASHINGTON, Canadian, National Interagency Fire Center, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Emergency, Major League Baseball, White House Locations: Canada, Manhattan, New York City , New York, Coast, Midwest, U.S, United States, Quebec

☆ Mast Reforestation is using drones, nurseries and carbon offsets to revitalize land after wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

All that burnt land means the country is in need of a dramatic increase in reforestation. But there's not a big enough supply of native seeds and seedlings to meet the regrowth demands. That's where a Seattle startup called Mast Reforestation sees an opportunity. Mast still provides aerial seeding, but drones are just one piece of its growing "reforestation as a service" business, said founder and CEO Grant Canary. Mast now has 130 full-time employees, including 45 from Cal Forest.

☆ Why California’s 2022 Wildfire Season Was Unexpectedly Quiet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Elena Shao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Maps of California show the perimeters of wildfire burns for every year between 2018 and 2022 (desktop version) or 2017 and 2022 (mobile version). The extent of acreage burned in 2022 is far less than what burned in 2021 and 2022, and looks more similar to what burned in 2019. 2018 2017 Camp fire 2022 2021 2020 McKinney fire 2020 was the state’s worst fire year on record. Wildfires have burned about 362,000 acres this year, compared to 2.5 million acres last year and a historic 4.3 million acres in 2020. Acres Burned by Wildfires in California A bar chart showing the total acres burned by California wildfires since 1987.

☆ In the Pacific Northwest, summer-like vibes give rise to fire-weather fears
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dennis-Romero-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Dennis Romero | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Pacific Northwest, known for its dreary, wet weather much of the year, is seeing summer-like weather as a high pressure system has pumped up temperatures and put first responders on alert for fires. A line of red flag warnings extends along the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains, from the California border with Oregon to the U.S. Border with Canada, according to the National Weather Service. “A lot of wildfire smoke is impacting air quality in the region,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Michalski. A Pacific trough could bring a chance of drizzle to the Portland area Monday and Tuesday, but summer-like weather could return Wednesday. Traditionally wet weather from offshore was possible next weekend for the Pacific Northwest, said Michalski, who’s based at the Seattle-area forecast office.

☆ Photos: Wildfires burn in Colorado and Texas
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-29 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Helen H. Richardson/Denver Post/Getty Images An air tanker drops water on the NCAR Fire on March 26 as it burns in the foothills south of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. In pictures: Wildfires burn in Colorado and TexasHelen H. Richardson/Denver Post/Getty Images An air tanker drops water on the NCAR Fire on March 26 as it burns in the foothills south of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. It has already been a dreadful year for wildfires. But many of these recent fires haven't been igniting in California or the Pacific Northwest, which have endured several devastating fire seasons in a row. They've been popping up in places like Colorado and Texas, and they have burned hundreds of thousands of acres in the past few weeks alone.

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