Latest Wildfire Headlines
All the headlines from our Wildfire Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Is California’s Prop 103 System ‘Democratic’?
Aug 18 2020 // Defining the term “democracy” has long been a challenging proposition. Nearly all agree that a democracy is a government that reflects the will of the people, but questions about the particulars, of what...
Oregon Wildfire in Mop-up Phase, 36 Structures Destroyed and 660 Threatened
Aug 18 2020 // A wildfire burning in the scenic Columbia River Gorge that has destroyed dozens of structures is 65% contained, according to authorities. Some evacuation orders were downgraded as of Monday because of the containment...
Texas Forest Service Warns of Increased Wildfire Activity, Fuel Dryness
Aug 17 2020 // Continued hot and dry conditions across much of the state have resulted in increased wildfire activity, particularly in north central Texas and in areas along the Interstate-35 corridor, the Texas A&M Forest Service...
Heatwaves Raising California’s Wildfire Risk
Aug 17 2020 // The current heatwave broiling Californians like no event in decades is also elevating the risk for another potential disaster in the weeks ahead: wildfires. While heat and dry conditions have contributed to the Lake and...
California Wildfires Burning Amid High Risk of Large Blazes
Aug 14 2020 // Dry vegetation fueled three wildfires near Los Angeles amid warnings Friday that the risk of new blazes erupting was high as temperatures spike and humidity levels drop during a statewide heat wave. A huge forest fire that...
Crews Continue to Battle Massive California Fire, Evacuations Ordered
Aug 13 2020 // Crews struggled to reign in a Southern California wildfire that exploded in size in a matter of hours north of Los Angeles, prompting evacuation orders for about 100 homes and other buildings as it tore through forest...
California Bill Addressing Property Rates in Wildfire-Prone Areas Awaits Hearing
Aug 11 2020 // The stage has been set for a major battle over a California bill due to be heard in the next few weeks in a key committee that opponents say is a direct attack on insurance consumer protections and proponents say is the...
Homes Evacuated by Growing Wildfire in Western Colorado
Aug 10 2020 // Several residents near a western Colorado wildfire were ordered to evacuate as the blaze continues to expand. The fire about 18 miles north of Grand Junction was started more than a week ago by lightning in remote and...
Judge Orders PG&E in California to Beef up Safety
Aug 10 2020 // A federal judge has ordered Pacific Gas and Electric to better inspect high-voltage power lines, hire more tree-trimming supervisors and upgrade records regarding the age of electrical equipment as part of efforts to...
World’s Three Hottest Julys on Record Occurred During Last Five Years
Aug 7 2020 // Last month was the world’s third-hottest July on record, new data show — the latest milestone in a global warming trend that has seen the three hottest Julys within the last five years. With the heat has come a...
Officials: Vehicle Malfunction Sparked Southern California Wildfire
Aug 4 2020 // A wildfire in mountains east of Los Angeles that has forced thousands of people from their homes was sparked by a malfunctioning diesel vehicle, fire officials said Monday. The vehicle spewed burning carbon from its...
Thousands Evacuated in Wake of Growing Southern California Wildfire
Aug 3 2020 // Evacuation orders remained in place early Monday for thousands of people after a wildfire in mountains east of Los Angeles exploded in size and forced crews to battle flames in triple-digit heat. The Apple Fire in...
PG&E Finds Fire Insurance Tough to Get and Costly After Bankruptcy, Fires
Jul 31 2020 // PG&E Corp. is finding it very costly to buy fire insurance after wildfires triggered by its power lines sent the company into bankruptcy and left it paying $25.5 billion for claims. It’s hoping customers will...
Global Natural Catastrophe Losses During H1 Ranged from $68B to $75B: Munich Re, Aon
Jul 24 2020 // Munich Re and Aon both issued reports this week on the economic and insurance costs of global natural catastrophes during the first half, which varied in magnitude by $7 billion. While Munich Re estimated that natural...
Northern California Wildfire Growing, 2 Firefighters Injured
Jul 22 2020 // Firefighters and aircraft are working to halt the spread of two forest fires in rural northeastern California as unstable weather brought the risk of gusty winds, thunderstorms and lightning strikes that could start new...
Crews Battle Central California Blaze as State Fire Danger Grows
Jul 21 2020 // A wildfire in rural central California grew larger but firefighters also increased containment, authorities said. Low humidity and hot temperatures have raised fire danger in large portions of the state. The Mineral Fire...
Damage Analysis of 2017-2018 California Wildfires Keys on Mitigation
Jul 15 2020 // New findings point to need for home improvements that resist embers, the cause of up to 90 percent of wildfire ignitions Researchers identified key factors influencing the survivability of structures during a wildfire...
Fed Warns Climate, COVID Worsen Western States’ Economic Risk From Wildfires
Jul 14 2020 // Wildfires threaten the economy of the western United States to a greater extent than the rest of the country, and the coronavirus pandemic and climate change will only make that worse, according to research from the San...
Wyoming Wildfire Destroys Home, Burns Other Buildings
Jul 10 2020 // A wildfire in eastern Wyoming burned at least one home and closed a highway. The fire on Tuesday burned through rolling plains and trees north of Interstate 25 and south of the North Platte River near Glenrock. The flames...
Arctic Temperatures Soar to Record Levels in June, Stoking Wildfires: EU Data
Jul 7 2020 // GENEVA/MOSCOW – Temperatures in Arctic Siberia soared to a record average for June amid a heat wave that is stoking some of the worst wildfires the region has ever known, European Union (EU) data showed on...
