Latest Wildfire Headlines

All the headlines from our Wildfire Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Progress Made on California Central Coast Wildfires

Oct 2 2017 // Firefighters made progress on trio of wildfires on California’s Central Coast. Santa Barbara County fire spokesman Mike Eliason said that a marine layer of cooler, wetter air helped fire crews contain 60 percent of...

Cost of Fighting Montana Wildfires Approach $400M

Oct 2 2017 // The cost of fighting wildfires in Montana is approaching $400 million at the tail end of the state’s worst wildfire season in two decades. To date, wildfires have burned almost 1,900 square miles, slightly more than...

California Commissioner High on Marijuana Insurance, Sums up Trump Battle

Oct 2 2017 // It’s David vs. Goliath. That about sums up California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones’ feelings on his efforts to keep the remnants of Obamacare up and running in his state while President Trump does his best...

Climate Researchers Warn of Hotter Summers, More Wildfires, in Southern Europe

Sep 29 2017 // Climate researchers are warning that Europeans should prepare for the return of “Lucifer,” saying the hellishly named heat wave that hit parts of the continent this summer could become a regular occurrence due...

2 Wildfires In Northern California Destroy or Damage Multiple Homes

Sep 25 2017 // Authorities say multiple homes and other structures have been destroyed or damaged in two wildfires that broke out over the weekend in Northern California. Fire officials in Auburn northeast of Sacramento said flames that...

How Home Values Track with High, Low Risk of Natural Hazards: ATTOM Data

Sep 22 2017 // Americans are still buying homes in areas with high risk of natural hazards and the homes in those cities continue to appreciate in value far faster than homes in low natural hazard locales. However, the effect on home...

California Commissioner Sums up Trump Battle, High on Cannabis Insurance

Sep 19 2017 // It’s David vs. Goliath. That about sums up California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones’ feelings on his efforts to keep the remnants of Obamacare up and running in his state while President Trump does his best...

Rain and Snow Help Montana Wildfires But Won’t End Season

Sep 19 2017 // Rain snow and cold have replaced heat and smoke after about two dry months on Montana’s fire lines, leaving crews scrambling for extra sleeping bags, heaters, coats and long underwear. While the change in weather is...

Western U.S. Wildfires Force Evacuations of Thousands

Sep 5 2017 // Wildfires forced thousands to flee their homes across the U.S. West during a sweltering, smoke-shrouded holiday weekend of record heat. The fires caused evacuations in Glacier National Park in Montana and many other parts...

Official Blames Humans for Utah’s Wildfire Cost Doubling

Sep 4 2017 // Utah State Forester Brian Cottam said “stupid human tricks” have led to the states’ wildfire bill being double what it usually is. Cottam says the cost to Utah for this year’s wildfires is projected...

Failed Communications Impacted Tennessee Wildfire Response

Sep 4 2017 // Records show failed communication systems hampered the response to last fall’s deadly Tennessee fires. Records that Sevier County began to release in August show that wind and fire on Nov. 28 combined to disable cell...

4,500 Evacuated as Oregon Wildfires Burn

Aug 31 2017 // Wildfires in Oregon are burning an area roughly equivalent to half the state of Rhode Island, affecting air quality throughout the state and forcing the evacuations of more than 4,500 people, fire authorities said on Aug....

Man Arrested, Suspected of Igniting Fire Near Hard-Hit California Town

Aug 31 2017 // Authorities on Aug. 30 arrested a man suspected of starting an illegal campfire believed to have ignited a growing Northern California blaze that destroyed 10 homes, damaged five others and threatened hundreds more. The...

Montana Town Threatened by Wildfire; Hundreds Evacuate

Aug 31 2017 // Authorities in Montana ordered the evacuation of nearly 600 homes after a fire burning on a mountain ridge suddenly changed direction and threatened a popular destination for boaters, anglers and hikers. The fire near...

Oregon Wildfires Have Cost Taxpayers More Than $100M in 2017

Aug 30 2017 // Oregon wildfires already have burned nearly 500 square miles this year, as one of the state’s many multimillion-dollar forest fires this season smolders and flares away. The Register-Guard reported the blaze, started...

Official Blames Humans for Utah’s Wildfire Cost Doubling

Aug 25 2017 // Utah State Forester Brian Cottam said “stupid human tricks” have led to the states’ wildfire bill being double what it usually is. Cottam says the cost to Utah for this year’s wildfires is projected...

Wildfire in Yosemite National Park Grows, Evacuations Remain in California Town

Aug 22 2017 // Weather conditions have halped crews batttle a blaze in Yosemite National Park that has forced the evacuation of the tiny California community of Wawona. The blaze is now 3,820 acres and is now 17 percent contained. Singh...

Officials: Failed Communications Hampered Tennessee Wildfire Response

Aug 14 2017 // Newly released records show failed communication systems hampered the response to deadly wildfires in Tennessee last fall. Records that Sevier County began to release Wednesday show that wind and fire on Nov. 28 combined...

Tennesee Mountain Community Getting Back on Its Feet After Devastating Wildfire

Aug 9 2017 // Burned structures are seen from aboard a National Guard helicopter near Gatlinburg, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. Thousands of people raced through a hell-like landscape to escape wildfires that killed several people and...

Investigators Say Gunfire Caused Wildfire Near California’s Yosemite

Aug 7 2017 // Fire investigators say gunfire caused a wildfire near Yosemite National Park that destroyed 131 structures, including 63 homes, last month. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that a gun fired on...