Violent thunderstorms brought rain bursts that modestly helped firefighting efforts Sunday, but the downpours also triggered mudslides that complicated California's unfolding wildfire disaster.
Moist air and calmer winds helped firefighters make progress Saturday on a deadly wildfire in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the latest hot spot in an unprecedented fire season that has made much of California a disaster area.
Firefighting officials said Friday that one person died when a wildfire swept through a rural area of Northern California, a rare human casualty among the hundreds of blazes that have tormented the state for weeks
Sweat rolled down Lisa Mirander's forehead as she hacked a tangle of saplings and brush down to bare dirt to prevent a wildfire from spreading. It was a tough job, but no harder than the 13 months she served in Afghanistan.
Firefighters were making progress Thursday battling wildfires that charred 49,000 acres in Northern California and caused thousands to evacuate, a state fire official said.
Authorities overseeing the battle against hundreds of wildfires in California had a mixed assessment as the weather forecast for Sunday stirred both hope and concern across the state.
Violent thunderstorms brought rain bursts that modestly helped firefighting efforts Sunday, but the downpours also triggered mudslides that complicated California's unfolding wildfire disaster.
Moist air and calmer winds helped firefighters make progress Saturday on a deadly wildfire in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the latest hot spot in an unprecedented fire season that has made much of California a disaster area.
Firefighting officials said Friday that one person died when a wildfire swept through a rural area of Northern California, a rare human casualty among the hundreds of blazes that have tormented the state for weeks
Sweat rolled down Lisa Mirander's forehead as she hacked a tangle of saplings and brush down to bare dirt to prevent a wildfire from spreading. It was a tough job, but no harder than the 13 months she served in Afghanistan.
Firefighters were making progress Thursday battling wildfires that charred 49,000 acres in Northern California and caused thousands to evacuate, a state fire official said.
Authorities overseeing the battle against hundreds of wildfires in California had a mixed assessment as the weather forecast for Sunday stirred both hope and concern across the state.
A wildfire threatening thousands of homes in Southern California spread slowly through scenic canyonlands Saturday, straining resources as crews struggled to contain hundreds of other blazes around the state.
No new major fires had broken out as fire crews inched closer to getting some of the largest of 1,420 blazes surrounded, according to the state Office of Emergency Services
Firefighters in Northern California battled more than a thousand wildfires to a stalemate by Sunday, but forecasters said dangerous conditions would not relent anytime soon.
Hundreds of lightning-sparked wildfires have turned the air of Northern California into an unhealthy stew of smoke and ash, forcing the cancellation of athletic events and other outdoor activities.
Smoke climbed high into the sky Friday as firefighters struggled to contain two wildfires that combined near Big Sur in California, a fire official said.
Hundreds of firefighters worked Thursday to protect the scenic community of Big Sur from a lightning-sparked wildfire that inched closer to historic structures after burning 16 homes and threatening another 500 houses.
Hundreds of firefighters worked Thursday to protect the scenic community of Big Sur from a lightning-sparked wildfire that inched closer to historic structures after burning 16 homes
Fire crews from Nevada and Oregon have arrived to help California firefighters battle hundreds of blazes that have darkened skies over the San Francisco Bay area and the Central Valley.
In less than a day, an electrical storm unleashed nearly 8,000 lightning strikes that set more than 800 wildfires across Northern California, a rare example of "dry lightning" that brought little or no rain but plenty of sparks to the state's parched forests and grasslands.
Firefighters from neighboring states arrived to help Monday after an "unprecedented" lightning storm sparked more than 800 wildfires, from Big Sur to wine country to Humboldt County.
Hundreds of wildfires sparked by lightning flared Sunday across the heart of wine country and remote forests in Northern California, the latest batch of destructive blazes in the bone-dry state.
Wildfires were scattered around Northern California on Sunday as crews farther south were close to containing a blaze that had forced thousands to evacuate
Thunderstorms sparked as many as 75 wildfires in a wilderness area in far Northern California on Saturday as officials farther south got close to containing a blaze that destroyed several homes and forced thousands to evacuate.
Almost 33,000 acres of the Everglades National Park were burning Sunday, fire officials said, the latest in a series of wildfires that have scorched parts of Florida in May.
Firefighters were hoping rain and snow Wednesday would help them quell blazes that scorched thousands of acres, forced hundreds of residents to evacuate, and killed three
Firefighters expected to fully contain on Monday a fire that tore through Malibu's canyons and hills over the weekend, destroying more than 50 homes, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
Favorable weather and an aerial assault early helped firefighters nearly contain a blaze Monday that destroyed dozens of homes along winding canyon roads
A rapidly growing wildfire engulfed dozens of homes near Malibu, California, early Saturday morning and officials said the 2,000-acre blaze was completely out of control.
A boy playing with matches started a Southern California wildfire that scorched more than 38,000 acres, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday.
Officials are searching for the driver of a white truck seen on Santiago Canyon Road on Sunday, near the time the Santiago fire started, Orange County authorities said Friday.
Huge wildfires, such as the ones that have charred more than 460,000 acres this week in Southern California, are becoming more common in the Western United States, and scientists say warming trends and other climate factors may be responsible.
The hot, dry Santa Ana winds were waning Wednesday, a boon for firefighters and Southern Californians who hope the lull in "devil winds" is more than a respite.
More than a dozen uncontained wildfires raged Monday across Southern California, threatening thousands of structures and forcing people to flee homes from San Diego to Malibu to Lake Arrowhead.
The dog days of summer bring arid conditions and heat, creating conditions ripe for wildfires in some areas. With many fires cropping up in the West, I-Reporters have been photographing the flames in their area.
Here are some facts from tonight's broadcast that you might find interesting. Wildfires • Nearly 1,500 new U.S. wildfires since Monday • Wildfires in 17 states this month Source: National Interagency Fire Center 60% of continental US in drought Source: U.S. Drought Monitor Employee Verification Defense Department non-work Social Security numbers (pdf file) Immigration Congress granted local police immigration authority under section 287(g) of the immigration law of 1996 Florida was the first to take advantage of the program in 2001 Now 24 law enforcement agencies in 11 states with 416 officers are trained in 287(g) There are at least 75 law enforcement agencies with requests pending with Immigration and Customs Enforcement which runs the program Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Representative David Price of North Carolina is proposing a bill that would mandate 287(g) use in all local and state prisons
Wildfires have long been feared for their potentially devastating impact on the landscape and people's lives. Technology, improved firefighting techniques and better coordination among agencies have reduced the number of lives lost, but the blazes can still cause widespread destruction.
Much as wildfires spread, so has the knowledge of their causes, role in shaping the landscape, and the methods used to control them, especially in developed areas.
Fed by drought, wildfires continue to move across parts of the the Western United States, devouring acreage in New Mexico, Colorado, California and Arizona.
A persistent drought, coupled with unseasonably high temperatures and gusty winds, have led to a record number of wildfires this year, and weather and fire officials say conditions are ripe for more activity this spring.
At least six forest fires are continuing to burn in northern Spain, but authorities say only one was considered a "level 1" fire that seriously threatens people or structures.
At least 10 fires are burning across Spain -- although numerous others have been under control or extinguished -- and the Civil Guard announced it had arrested 99 people since June on suspicion of starting forest fires.
An army of firefighters and aircraft in Spain is continuing to battle a forest fire that authorities believe was started by a barbecue, with hopes of bringing it under control later Tuesday, government officials said.
Weather forecasters predicted little relief Monday for firefighters battling wildfires that have scorched thousands of acres and forced hundreds of people to leave their homes in California.
Good weather is helping firefighters make progress against six Southern California blazes that have scorched nearly 20,000 acres this week in what officials fear could portend a brutal fire season.
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