wildfires

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In France, the Biggest Wildfire in Decades

A 'catastrophe on an unprecedented scale'

(Newser) - A fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon in southern France has quickly burst into the biggest blaze the country has seen in 76 years, reports the New York Times , with the country's prime minister, François Bayrou, calling it a "catastrophe on an unprecedented scale." A look...

Massive Wildfire Burns 129 Square Miles in California

Gifford Fire was 7% contained on Tuesday

(Newser) - More than 800 structures are threatened by a massive wildfire in central California that left at least three people injured as it burned through Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire has scorched more than 129 square miles of coastal Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with 7% containment,...

Falling Fish Causes Wildfire
Falling Fish Causes Wildfire
Aug 4, 2025 5:23 PM CDT

Falling Fish Causes Wildfire

Fire department in Canada says 'rather tired' bird dropped it onto power line, igniting brush fire

(Newser) - It's not every day that a fish starts a wildfire, but that's what authorities say happened in British Columbia last week. In a Facebook post , Ashcroft Fire Rescue said a small brush fire was ignited when a fish fell onto a power line around two miles from the...

Grand Canyon Megafire Spawns Own Weather

Dragon Bravo Fire has destroyed Grand Canyon Lodge, created 'fire clouds'

(Newser) - A wildfire burning along the Grand Canyon's North Rim escalated dramatically this week, crossing the 100,000-acre mark and earning the designation of a "megafire"—a status held by only about 3% of US wildfires but responsible for most of the acreage burned each year, per...

Survived a Fire or Flood? There May Be Mortgage Help Arriving

Senate bill offers pause on mortgage payments for federally backed loans for natural-disaster victims

(Newser) - New Senate legislation aims to give natural disaster survivors a bit more breathing room when it comes to paying their mortgages. The Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act, introduced Thursday by Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Michael Bennet of Colorado, would allow homeowners with federally backed loans in...

Report: LA Wildfire Damages Top $50B
It's Another Year
of Costly Disasters
Jul 29, 2025 10:25 AM CDT

It's Another Year of Costly Disasters

Global disaster losses in the first half of 2025 total more than $131B: Munich Re

(Newser) - A surge of wildfires and powerful storms has already driven global natural-disaster losses to more than $131 billion in just the first half of 2025. While that figure is down from the $155 billion tallied over the same period last year, it remains well above the long-term averages, reflecting...

Turkey Sets New All-Time Heat Record

Wildfires spread and hospitals fill as region faces extreme heat

(Newser) - Turkey has shattered its all-time heat record with a scorching 122.9 degrees Fahrenheit, or 50.5 degrees Celsius, as relentless heat waves and wildfires grip much of southern Europe. The new high—surpassing the previous record of 121.1 degrees F (49.5 degrees C) set just last...

Wildfires Are Raging Bigger, but the Backup Is Shrinking

Firefighting crews in the Pacific Northwest are missing nearly 40% of their personnel

(Newser) - Wildfire season is heating up in the US, and crews are getting thin. The Guardian reports the US is facing a firefighter shortage, with more than a quarter of Forest Service positions currently unfilled. That's more than 5,100 missing roles—roughly 15% of its workforce, per Reuters —...

'70s Band Cans Entire Tour: 'Blame It on the Weather'
'70s Band Cans
Entire Tour:
'Blame It on
the Weather'
in case you missed it
Jul 20, 2025 11:30 AM CDT

'70s Band Cans Entire Tour: 'Blame It on the Weather'

Steve Miller Band may be first group to cancel slate of shows over climate change

(Newser) - The Steve Miller Band has checked out the meteorological forecast for its upcoming concert tour around North America and cancelled shows because of it—dozens of them, making up the entire 2025 itinerary that was set to kick off in mid-August, reports People . "You can blame it on the...

NPS Responds to Scrutiny Over Grand Canyon Fire

Says a dramatic wind shift had the fire off and running

(Newser) - The National Park Service is defending its handling of a lightning-sparked wildfire that destroyed the nearly century-old Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of historic cabins, saying containment lines had been built around the blaze and crews were prepared to conduct defensive firing operations. But then came a sudden and extreme...

Governor After Grand Canyon Fire: Why Didn't You Stop It?

Katie Hobbs questions strategy of letting it burn after destruction of famous North Rim lodge

(Newser) - Arizona's governor and its two senators have a question for federal officials after a devastating Grand Canyon wildfire: Why did you let it burn? The Dragon Bravo fire ended up destroying a historic lodge in the North Rim and several other decades-old structures when it burned out of control....

Manitoba Official Blasts US 'Ambulance Chasers'

Thousands evacuated as out-of-control fires threaten multiple communities

(Newser) - Manitoba is grappling with its worst wildfire season in decades, forcing officials to declare a second state of emergency this year as more than 100 wildfires rage across the province. Provincial authorities say 2.5 million acres have already burned in 2024, putting Manitoba on track for its largest...

Wildfires Force Evacuations at 2 National Parks

National Park Service says Grand Canyon's North Rim will be closed until further notice

(Newser) - Visitors and staff at two national parks in the US West have been evacuated because of wildfires. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, about 260 miles southwest of Denver, closed Thursday morning after lightning sparked blazes on both rims, the park said. According to an early Friday update from...

GOP Lawmakers to Canada: Do Something About the Smoke

Republicans claim a 'lack of active forest management' amid wildfires

(Newser) - Six Republican members of Congress from Wisconsin and Minnesota have sent a letter to Canada's ambassador, complaining that smoke from Canadian wildfires is drifting south and spoiling outdoor summer activities for their constituents. The lawmakers, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, say residents are dealing with...

Teen Suspected of Starting Wildfire With Fireworks

13-year-old could face charges including felony reckless burning of forest land

(Newser) - A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of setting off fireworks that sparked a wildfire this week in coastal Southern California, forcing the evacuations of about a hundred canyon homes, authorities said. Crews with air support protected residences from the Rancho Fire as flames raced through dry brush Monday afternoon...

Military Chief Wants National Guard Fighting Fires, Not in LA

US Northern Command leader asks Hegseth to return 200 troops after migrant protests

(Newser) - The top military commander in charge of troops deployed to Los Angeles to respond to protests against immigration raids has asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if 200 of those forces could be returned to wildfire fighting duty, two US officials told the AP on Monday. President Trump ordered the deployment...

Tourist Paradise Is Now a Tinderbox
Tourist Paradise Is
Now a Tinderbox
Jun 23, 2025 10:40 AM CDT

Tourist Paradise Is Now a Tinderbox

Extreme heat and wind challenge firefighting efforts on Greek island of Chios

(Newser) - Flames forced entire villages to flee on the Greek island of Chios this weekend, as relentless wildfires swept through the popular summer destination. According to state media, three separate fires broke out Sunday in the areas of Kofina, Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios Vrontadon, per the New York Times...

One Stat Speaks Volumes About Canada's Wildfires

It's June, and the country has already topped its annual average for land burned

(Newser) - Not yet halfway through the year, Canada has already surpassed its annual average for land burned. With numerous wildfires burning across five provinces , more than 7.8 million acres have gone up in flames so far this year, according to Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre data, topping the 25-year annual...

Smoke From Canada Wildfires Has Crossed the Atlantic

The UK's skies are painted orange

(Newser) - One small benefit to the devastating wildfires ripping through Canada? "Captivating sunset and sunrise" some 4,000 miles away. As the BBC reports, smoke from the Canadian wildfires made its way to the UK over the weekend, scattering the blue wavelengths of sunlight in the atmosphere to give the...

Half of Canada's Wildfires Are 'Out of Control'

In some cases, officials are simply watching the land go up in smoke

(Newser) - The equivalent of 4 million football fields have been consumed by fire in Canada, where 203 wildfires were active Wednesday. About 68 are contained and another 24 are likely to be contained, but half are considered "out of control." Most are expected to keep growing even as firefighters...

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