Fires around the world
- Thread starter casper
- Start date
angelburst29
The Living Force
Villages evacuated as wildfire rages on Greek island of Zakynthos
September 15, 2019 - A large wildfire on the Greek island of Zakynthos fanned by strong winds forced the evacuation of two villages on Sunday.
No fatalities were reported and the winds were not expected to subside before Tuesday. “We evacuated about 300 residents and tourists from the villages of Keri and Agalas as a precaution,” a fire service spokesman told Reuters. “The fire is near homes.”
Zakynthos island is about 300 kilometers (186.41 miles) west of Athens.
More than 100 firefighters were battling the blaze backed by 28 fire trucks. Two water-bombing helicopters and four planes participated in the operation earlier on Sunday.
Another wildfire raged in Loutraki region, 80 kilometers from Athens, and the fire brigade said it had been called to put out more than 70 fires in the last 24 hours.
September 15, 2019 - A large wildfire on the Greek island of Zakynthos fanned by strong winds forced the evacuation of two villages on Sunday.
No fatalities were reported and the winds were not expected to subside before Tuesday. “We evacuated about 300 residents and tourists from the villages of Keri and Agalas as a precaution,” a fire service spokesman told Reuters. “The fire is near homes.”
Zakynthos island is about 300 kilometers (186.41 miles) west of Athens.
More than 100 firefighters were battling the blaze backed by 28 fire trucks. Two water-bombing helicopters and four planes participated in the operation earlier on Sunday.
Another wildfire raged in Loutraki region, 80 kilometers from Athens, and the fire brigade said it had been called to put out more than 70 fires in the last 24 hours.
angelburst29
The Living Force
Firefighters in Bolivia lose hope of taming blazes as burned area doubles
A firefighter of Argentina's army works to control the fire near Santa Monica community in Concepcion, Bolivia, September 20, 2019. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
September 22, 2019 - Bolivian volunteer firefighters, exhausted from battling blazes sweeping rapidly across the country’s lowlands, are starting to lose hope and retreat from the front lines of some infernos in the drought-stricken region.
The fires this year are Bolivia’s worst in at least two decades, with the size of burned land across the country nearly doubling in under three weeks, destroying swaths of bio-diverse forest and ranches and farms that sustain thousands of people.
Slideshow (11 Images)
Firefighters in Bolivia lose hope of taming blazes as burned area doubles
A firefighter of Argentina's army works to control the fire near Santa Monica community in Concepcion, Bolivia, September 20, 2019. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
September 22, 2019 - Bolivian volunteer firefighters, exhausted from battling blazes sweeping rapidly across the country’s lowlands, are starting to lose hope and retreat from the front lines of some infernos in the drought-stricken region.
The fires this year are Bolivia’s worst in at least two decades, with the size of burned land across the country nearly doubling in under three weeks, destroying swaths of bio-diverse forest and ranches and farms that sustain thousands of people.
Slideshow (11 Images)
Firefighters in Bolivia lose hope of taming blazes as burned area doubles
In St. Petersburg, localized fire in the warehouse https://ria.ru/20191004/15594
MOSCOW, October 4 - RIA News. Rescuers localized a fire in a warehouse in southeastern St. Petersburg, which collapsed over the entire area, according to the press service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry.
Earlier it was reported that on 5.11 there was information about a fire at a warehouse in the village of Petro-Slavyanka at 96 Sofiyskaya Street. The fire was assigned the third rank. The blazing warehouse collapsed, additional firefighters sent forces to the place. No injuries were reported. The collapse of the roof occurred on an area of 1.4 thousand square meters. In total, 125 people and 31 units of equipment were involved in the elimination of the fire.
"The fire is localized at 06.58," the report said
MOSCOW, October 4 - RIA News. Rescuers localized a fire in a warehouse in southeastern St. Petersburg, which collapsed over the entire area, according to the press service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry.
Earlier it was reported that on 5.11 there was information about a fire at a warehouse in the village of Petro-Slavyanka at 96 Sofiyskaya Street. The fire was assigned the third rank. The blazing warehouse collapsed, additional firefighters sent forces to the place. No injuries were reported. The collapse of the roof occurred on an area of 1.4 thousand square meters. In total, 125 people and 31 units of equipment were involved in the elimination of the fire.
"The fire is localized at 06.58," the report said
angelburst29
The Living Force
Australian homes destroyed by spring fires in 'horrible' warning
More than 20 homes have been destroyed by spring fires in Australia, officials said on Wednesday, straining communities already suffering under the region's worst drought conditions in living memory.
Rains, military response help curb fires in Brazil's Amazon in September
The number of fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has receded, falling 36% in September from August to well below a 20-year historic average for the month, amid improved weather conditions and containment efforts by the country's military.
More than 20 homes have been destroyed by spring fires in Australia, officials said on Wednesday, straining communities already suffering under the region's worst drought conditions in living memory.
Rains, military response help curb fires in Brazil's Amazon in September
The number of fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has receded, falling 36% in September from August to well below a 20-year historic average for the month, amid improved weather conditions and containment efforts by the country's military.
SYLMAR, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Mandatory evacuation orders were issued after an aggressive brush fire broke out in Sylmar late Thursday night, quickly scorching over 60 acres and burning right up to homes and power lines.
The wind-driven fire, deemed the Saddleridge Fire, broke out shortly before 10 p.m. near the westbound 210 Freeway near Yarnell Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Traffic on the freeway was stopped as flames jumped from the westbound side to the eastbound side, though it was not clear if authorities shut the lanes or if drivers simply stopped ahead of the fire.
Evacuation orders were issued for the Oakridge Estates community north of the 210 Freeway.
Over 280 personnel were on scene battling the blaze, deemed a "Major Emergency" incident by LAFD, the highest classification there is for a fire emergency. Los Angeles and Kern county crews were in unified command for the incident.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power shut down power along major transmission lines. However, power lines were rerouted to a different source to avoid any power outages.
DEVELOPING: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
This is a good analysis of the long term land use policy / forestry / electric utility / wildfire nightmare that's playing out in Northern California right now: The Lights Went Out in California: That Was the Plan All Along .
angelburst29
The Living Force
Homes gutted by huge forest fires in Lebanon’s Shouf mountains
Homes gutted by huge forest fires in Lebanon’s Shouf mountains
1 / 5
A massive blaze rips through the Shouf mountain range. (Twitter: @michaeltabbal)
2 / 5
Above, a picture of the huge forest fire posted on Twitter by the Lebanese civil defense.
3 / 5
A fire engine drives past the burnt remains of a van on the side of a road lined with scorched trees. (Supplied)
4 / 5
Residential areas have been evacuated in some places as the flame and smoke makes them too dangerous for people to stay. (Supplied)
5 / 5
In some areas the flames are lapping up the sides of mountains. (Supplied)
October 15, 2019 - DUBAI: Homes were gutted by huge forest fires that have ripped through the Shouf mountains in the center of the country, the Lebanese civil defense said on Tuesday.
More than 100 firefighters from 20 civil defense stations were working with the Lebanese army to to battle the massive fire, civil defense said.
Firefighters managed to earlier control the forest fire, but strong winds and high temperatures rekindled the blaze. Firefighters are also battling forest fires in Akkar district, after extinguishing fires on the outskirts of Ain Tinta and Qobeiyat. A large fire continues to swallow up parts of an oak forest on the outskirts of Ain Yaacoub, civil defense said.
Interior Minister Raya El Hassan, who visited the Shouf blaze site that started two days ago, said that it is currently “fire season.”
There have been no reports of casualties, civil defense stated.
Homes gutted by huge forest fires in Lebanon’s Shouf mountains
1 / 5
A massive blaze rips through the Shouf mountain range. (Twitter: @michaeltabbal)
2 / 5
Above, a picture of the huge forest fire posted on Twitter by the Lebanese civil defense.
3 / 5
A fire engine drives past the burnt remains of a van on the side of a road lined with scorched trees. (Supplied)
4 / 5
Residential areas have been evacuated in some places as the flame and smoke makes them too dangerous for people to stay. (Supplied)
5 / 5
In some areas the flames are lapping up the sides of mountains. (Supplied)
October 15, 2019 - DUBAI: Homes were gutted by huge forest fires that have ripped through the Shouf mountains in the center of the country, the Lebanese civil defense said on Tuesday.
More than 100 firefighters from 20 civil defense stations were working with the Lebanese army to to battle the massive fire, civil defense said.
Firefighters managed to earlier control the forest fire, but strong winds and high temperatures rekindled the blaze. Firefighters are also battling forest fires in Akkar district, after extinguishing fires on the outskirts of Ain Tinta and Qobeiyat. A large fire continues to swallow up parts of an oak forest on the outskirts of Ain Yaacoub, civil defense said.
Interior Minister Raya El Hassan, who visited the Shouf blaze site that started two days ago, said that it is currently “fire season.”
There have been no reports of casualties, civil defense stated.
Yes, that that was good - it is over at SoTT too:
California: Lights are out, the plan all along
The power is out in Northern California. More than 1 million Californians are now without electricity, one of modern life's essentials that is frequently taken for granted. The blackout was done on purpose — to prevent sparks from powerlines that...
www.sott.net
As for fire statistics, Tony Heller reminds people with this data (screen shot below). The small graph to the right in orange is overlaid on the truer historical record and shows what is now the published
In the article above, note the side by side photo of forest density at Yosemite (1899/1994), which is similar as a growth cycle in many places, including Canada. So, many reading were either born in the mid, mature or over-mature periods of this current forest stand cycle and have seen no other cycles, and the fuel now in many of these stands is over-mature and primed for wildfire. Drought, winds, lightning and carelessness does the rest.
Grass/brush fire is a contributor.
3 Bay Area counties brace for potential planned PG&E outages due to extreme weather
3 Bay Area counties brace for more potential power outages as weather conditions will favor wildfires by mid-week.
SAULSALITO, Calif. - PG&E has notified approximately 201,000 customers that they may be impacted begninning late Wednesday by another planned power shutoff because of extreme weather conditions in the Sierra Foothills and the North Bay.
Officials said on Monday that portions of 16 California counties may be affected. If you don't receive a phone call, email or text message from the utility, your power will likely not be shutoff, PG&E President and CEO Bill Johnson said at the 5:30 p.m. news conference. The outages could come as soon as 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
However, PG&E said the beginning of the shutoff times would vary. Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, San Mateo, Sierra, Sonoma, Sutter, and Yuba are all of the counties on the list.
The announcement is not likely something people want to hear, but this time PG&E said the shut off would be significantly smaller than the outages from two weekes ago.
Notifications to customers began Monday afternoon, approximately 48 hours before the potential de-energization, officials said.
At this point, PG&E has not officially called for a public safety power shut off, but they want people to know they’re considering it for later this week.
PG&E activated its emergency operations center Sunday night.
The utility is watching strong and dry offshore winds that are expected to last between Wednesday night to Thursday afternoon in the North Bay and Sierra foothills. Winds could exceed 55 mph gusts in the Foothills. In the North Bay the wind gusts are predicted to to be 35-45 mph.
PG&E said the state's high-risk areas for wildfires have tripled in seven years.
"We don't want to turn off power," Johnson said on Monday. However, he reiterated that the conditions are favorable for fire and the shutoffs are to prevent sparking from their electrical equipment, which can lead to catastrophic wildfires.
In the Bay Area, just under 10,000 customers in Napa County would be affected. In Sonoma County the total customers who could be affected is 33,613. In San Mateo the number is nearly 6,500 customers.
PG&E's Wildfire Safety Operations Center, a 24/7 effort to determine if the pending weather will be dangerousis staffed by 26 crews that practice the three "S's": Safety, including suppression of fires, switching, because sparks can happen and they're often on standby to put those fires out if they finally happen. And finally seeing, or reporting on the actual conditions on the ground.
“We learned a lot from the form the last public safety power shutoff and we're committed to making improvements," said PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland. "One of the things we're doing" we're shoring up our contact centers and our web site. We're making those stronger so they can handle the larger volume of inquiries.”
They're also working on improving the speed at which inspections are conducted. The utility is trying to obtain infrared goggles and scopes to conduct their inspections at night.
“Normally, during a public safety power shutoff, we have to wait till daybreak to have our crews do the inspections. But allowing the inspections to take place at night could potentially speed up the restoration time,” said McFarland.
The utility is in the process of finding community resource centers that would be established in the event of a power shutoff, where residents could find air conditioning and charge their electrical devices such as laptops and cell phones.
PG&E will be providing updates over the next few days.
A fire broke out on the roof of the SkyCity High-rise Conference Center in downtown Auckland. Police and emergency services completely blocked the area. No injuries reported: http://go.tass.ru/qfVT
Wind-whipped wildfire forcing evacuations near wineries, casino in Sonoma County
Cal Fire Batallion Chief Will Powers simply said, "Get out!" when asked what residents should do if they are told to leave the area.
Update:
Kincade Fire in Sonoma County chars 16,000 acres with 5% containment
Video's Tweets / Published 16 hours ago
A wildfire in Sonoma County that has 2,000 people under evacuation orders started near where Pacific Gas & Electric shut down power amid dangerous weather conditions, the utility giant said Thursday.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, but 49 structures have been destroyed.
The fire started about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and by Thursday evening had spread to 16,000 acres and is at 5% containment Cal Fire said. The cause was not yet known, but strong, dry winds with gusts of up to 70 mph have affected much of the state, including that area.
Cal Fire Chief Thom Porter said at a press conference alongside Gov. Gavin Newsom that the fire has posed a lot of challenges and crews have a long way to go in the firefight.
"We have deployed one of our incident management teams on that fire. And I expect by nightfall we’ll start to see some containment numbers coming up," Porter said. "Still, a lot of challenges are there. Six hundred homes were evacuated, and an additional 200 are precautionary."
Cal Fire Div. Chief Johnathan Cox said additional resources were ready to go even before the Kincade Fire began, something that's become customary under high fire danger with dry weather and gusty winds.
There were 15 fire engines on standby, provided by local government agencies and Cal OES. Porter said those engines in addition to Cal Fire resources have helped minimize some of the damage.
Cox echoed Porter in saying the fight to bring the Kincade Fire under control has been a difficult one.
Gov. Newsom announced Thursday that he secured federal aid to support the Kincade Fire response saying, "We are grateful for the swift approval of our request to ensure all resources are available to support the heroic work of our firefighters and first responders working to contain this fire and keep local communities safe."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Interactive:
www.latimes.com
Video's Tweets / Published 16 hours ago
A wildfire in Sonoma County that has 2,000 people under evacuation orders started near where Pacific Gas & Electric shut down power amid dangerous weather conditions, the utility giant said Thursday.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, but 49 structures have been destroyed.
The fire started about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and by Thursday evening had spread to 16,000 acres and is at 5% containment Cal Fire said. The cause was not yet known, but strong, dry winds with gusts of up to 70 mph have affected much of the state, including that area.
Cal Fire Chief Thom Porter said at a press conference alongside Gov. Gavin Newsom that the fire has posed a lot of challenges and crews have a long way to go in the firefight.
"We have deployed one of our incident management teams on that fire. And I expect by nightfall we’ll start to see some containment numbers coming up," Porter said. "Still, a lot of challenges are there. Six hundred homes were evacuated, and an additional 200 are precautionary."
Cal Fire Div. Chief Johnathan Cox said additional resources were ready to go even before the Kincade Fire began, something that's become customary under high fire danger with dry weather and gusty winds.
There were 15 fire engines on standby, provided by local government agencies and Cal OES. Porter said those engines in addition to Cal Fire resources have helped minimize some of the damage.
Cox echoed Porter in saying the fight to bring the Kincade Fire under control has been a difficult one.
Gov. Newsom announced Thursday that he secured federal aid to support the Kincade Fire response saying, "We are grateful for the swift approval of our request to ensure all resources are available to support the heroic work of our firefighters and first responders working to contain this fire and keep local communities safe."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Interactive:
California Fire Map: Active Wildfires
A map of wildfires currently burning in California
www.latimes.com
angelburst29
The Living Force
Three dead in Mexican forest fires
Aerial view of palms and brush burning at Real Del Mar residential outskirts Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on October 25, 2019. (File/AFP)
MEXICO CITY: Three people were killed and hundreds evacuated from their homes as fires spread through forests in northern Mexico near ths US border on Friday, officials said.
A fire near the town of Tecate, about 30 miles (50 km) east of the border city of Tijuana, was first detected Friday afternoon and was about 35 percent contained, according to national forest commission CONAFOR.
The blaze covered about 14,000 hectares (34,600 acres) and was being battled by about 150 fire fighters.
Additional fires have been spotted southwest of Tijuana, as well as along the Pacific coast northwest of the city of Ensenada, all located near the northern tip of Baja California state.
More than 1,600 residents have been evacuated from their homes, authorities said, and several highways have been temporarily closed.
Four people were reported injured.
Three dead in Mexican forest fires
Three people were killed and hundreds evacuated from their homes as fires spread through forests in northern Mexico near the U.S. border on Friday, officials said.
Wind-whipped fires rage across California as lights go dark
Fire firefighter hops over a locked gate while working the Tick Fire on October 24, 2019 in Canyon Country, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
GEYSERVILLE, California: Fast-growing fires throughout California forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes Thursday as dry winds and high heat fed both the flames and fears in a state still jittery from devastating wildfires in the last two years.
Officials said they did not yet know how many homes had burned and that no immediate injuries were reported. It’s not clear how any of the blazes began.
Thousands ordered to flee California wine country blaze
Vehicles travel South along Highway 101 as residents evacuate towns and cities in anticipation of the expected wind event on October 26, 2019 in Windsor, California. (AFP)
The more than 2,000 firefighters battling the Kincade Fire, which officials said was 10% contained and has destroyed nearly 50 structures, faced a more immediate threat from weather than crews battling the Tick Fire.
Aerial view of palms and brush burning at Real Del Mar residential outskirts Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on October 25, 2019. (File/AFP)
MEXICO CITY: Three people were killed and hundreds evacuated from their homes as fires spread through forests in northern Mexico near ths US border on Friday, officials said.
A fire near the town of Tecate, about 30 miles (50 km) east of the border city of Tijuana, was first detected Friday afternoon and was about 35 percent contained, according to national forest commission CONAFOR.
The blaze covered about 14,000 hectares (34,600 acres) and was being battled by about 150 fire fighters.
Additional fires have been spotted southwest of Tijuana, as well as along the Pacific coast northwest of the city of Ensenada, all located near the northern tip of Baja California state.
More than 1,600 residents have been evacuated from their homes, authorities said, and several highways have been temporarily closed.
Four people were reported injured.
Three dead in Mexican forest fires
Three people were killed and hundreds evacuated from their homes as fires spread through forests in northern Mexico near the U.S. border on Friday, officials said.
Wind-whipped fires rage across California as lights go dark
Fire firefighter hops over a locked gate while working the Tick Fire on October 24, 2019 in Canyon Country, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
GEYSERVILLE, California: Fast-growing fires throughout California forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes Thursday as dry winds and high heat fed both the flames and fears in a state still jittery from devastating wildfires in the last two years.
Officials said they did not yet know how many homes had burned and that no immediate injuries were reported. It’s not clear how any of the blazes began.
Thousands ordered to flee California wine country blaze
Vehicles travel South along Highway 101 as residents evacuate towns and cities in anticipation of the expected wind event on October 26, 2019 in Windsor, California. (AFP)
The more than 2,000 firefighters battling the Kincade Fire, which officials said was 10% contained and has destroyed nearly 50 structures, faced a more immediate threat from weather than crews battling the Tick Fire.
HEALDSBURG EVACUATION: Residents of Healdsburg join evacuation from the advancing Kincade Fire
Oct 26, 2019 / 5:39
Power out at gas stations in Orinda Village neighborhood. Lights went out at 10 pm. Residents tell me the last #psps was about 2 days.
Oct 26, 2019 / 5:39
Power out at gas stations in Orinda Village neighborhood. Lights went out at 10 pm. Residents tell me the last #psps was about 2 days.
