Latest Wildfire Headlines
All the headlines from our Wildfire Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
Forest Service Orders Colorado Train to Halt Wildfire Mitigation
Jul 6 2020 // The U.S. Forest Service shut down an extensive fire mitigation project after raising concerns about the number of trees being cut down and sold to a logging company in southwestern Colorado. The Durango & Silverton...
PG&E Exits Bankruptcy, Pays $5B into California Wildfire Fund
Jul 6 2020 // Pacific Gas & Electric has emerged from a contentious bankruptcy saga that began after its long-neglected electrical grid ignited wildfires in California that killed more than 100 people. The nation’s largest...
Understanding Risk in a Decade of Natural Catastrophes
Jul 6 2020 // In the past 10 years, the U.S. has seen 121 events produce damage in excess of $1 billion. Globally, this escalates with many more events around the world. From major hurricanes and floods, to annual severe weather,...
Wildfire Burns 20 Homes in Southern California Desert Town
Jul 1 2020 // A wind-driven wildfire destroyed homes and forced evacuations as it tore through a rural Southern California desert town near the Salton Sea, authorities said. The fire erupted Sunday evening in Niland, a small and poor...
Fireworks Spark Utah Wildfire, Evacuations, Officials Say
Jun 29 2020 // Fireworks caused a wildfire in Utah that forced out residents of houses and an apartment building early on June 28 as the flames encroached on a residential area, officials said. A suspect was cooperating with law...
Insurtech MGA Delos, Canopius to Offer Wildfire Protection Coverage in California
Jun 29 2020 // Delos Insurance Solutions, a property insurtech managing general agent (MGA), has created a new insurance product with Canopius US Insurance designed to improve the homeowners insurance options for those living in wildfire...
Week Before Trump’s Visit, Wildfire Burns Near Mount Rushmore
Jun 26 2020 // South Dakota brought in more resources on June 25 to fight a wildfire burning near Mount Rushmore ahead of next week’s visit to the monument by President Donald Trump for Independence Day celebrations. The fire that...
Washington Firefighters Prep for Wildfire Season Amid Pandemic
Jun 26 2020 // Washington state firefighters are preparing for a season of potential summer wildfires while adopting new health safety measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new layer of...
Crews Battling 4 Wildfires in Arizona
Jun 22 2020 // Hundreds of firefighters continued to battle three major wildfires burning in forested mountains and desert hills across Arizona. Crews were fighting fires in the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest...
Second Lawsuit Filed Against Oregon Ranch Over Wildfire
Jun 22 2020 // A second lawsuit has been filed against an Oregon ranch accused of causing millions of dollars in damages by negligently igniting a 2018 wildfire. The federal government filed a complaint claiming that J-Spear Ranch of...
