California wildfires

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Violent Offenders May Join Inmate Firefighting Teams

Arsonists still barred from Calif. program

(Newser) - California officials are considering allowing inmates with violent backgrounds to work outside prison walls fighting wildfires, and the idea is generating concerns about public safety. The state has about 3,800 inmate firefighters with no history of violent crimes. But that's down from about 4,400 in previous years,...

Cali Wildfires Kill 1, Destroy 1.4K Homes

And thousands more homes are being threatened

(Newser) - A new wildfire in Northern California has killed one person and destroyed or damaged 10 homes in Monterey County, a week after two other blazes killed five people and destroyed at least 1,400 homes, fire officials said today. The blaze burning about 2 miles north of the community of...

Calif. Fires Claim 2 More Lives
 Calif. Fires Claim 2 More Lives 
Sep 17, 2015 3:58 AM CDT

Calif. Fires Claim 2 More Lives

Power lines may have caused deadly blaze

(Newser) - Officials searched the burned-out remains of homes in northern California yesterday, looking for a former police reporter and several other people who authorities fear were killed in a fast-moving blaze in that part of the state. About 170 miles southeast, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, two bodies were found inside...

This 'Garden of Eden' Is Now Blackened Dust

Harbin Hot Springs among businesses torched by Valley Fire

(Newser) - The hot springs resort that fell victim to a raging wildfire was among the oldest hot springs of its kind in California—and just happened to have a clothing-optional policy, reports USA Today . Footage of the nonprofit holistic center Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown—which one visitor compared to the...

Wildfire Aftermath: 'That I Left Her There, It Haunts Me'

Barbara McWilliams had MS, told caretaker she didn't want to leave

(Newser) - Barbara McWilliams told her caretaker she didn't want to leave her home near Middletown, Calif., despite a nearby wildfire . The world traveler and sharp-minded woman with advanced multiple sclerosis said she would be fine. The decision ended up costing the 72-year-old her life . Her body was found late Sunday...

Family Videos Crazy Escape Through Wildfire

They flee Anderson Springs in California

(Newser) - As firefighters battle three wildfires in California, a video posted to YouTube provides a sense of what it's like to drive through that craziness. It shows a family from Anderson Springs in Lake County fleeing at night and is downright "apocalyptic" in parts, notes KTLA5 . They made it...

'Mind-Boggling' Calif. Wildfire Turns Deadly

One dead, at least 400 homes destroyed in Lake, Napa counties

(Newser) - Fire officials say one person is dead as California's fastest wildfire in recent history continues to race across the north end of the state. It's the blaze experts had feared all summer: At least 400 homes have been destroyed in Lake and Napa counties, with flames initially ripping...

Thousands Flee as Wildfires Sprint Across California

State of emergency declared

(Newser) - An explosive wildfire raced across several rural communities in Northern California, charring more than 60 square miles over a matter of hours, chasing thousands of people from their homes and sending four firefighters to the hospital with second-degree burns. The fire erupted in Lake County, about 100 miles north of...

US Quietly Working on Ways to Commandeer Drones

A test was even attempted on New Year's Eve, says a source

(Newser) - Federal regulations state that drones fly no higher than 400 feet and keep at least five miles from an airport. But violations abound , and police and federal agencies fear their potential for a nefarious use—against an airplane, or on a Times Square crowd, for instance. Sources tell Reuters those...

That Huge Calif. Wildfire Just Jumped a Barrier

It's 'moving at an extremely high rate of speed,' says fire chief

(Newser) - As firefighters battled a massive Northern California Northern California wildfire threatening numerous homes, some of the 13,000 people urged to flee were spending what may be just one of many nights in evacuation shelters. The blaze, which has charred nearly 97 square miles of brush and timber, jumped a...

'Jaw-Dropping' Fire Prompts Calif. Evacuations

It's just one of 21 fires burning in the state

(Newser) - Fire officials called for thousands of evacuations as numerous homes remained threatened by Northern California wildfires today, while more than 9,000 firefighters battled 21 major fires in the state, officials say. Wildfires are also burning in Washington and Oregon as the West Coast suffers the effects of drought and...

Firefighter Killed When Winds Whip Up Wildfire

He had volunteered to work in California

(Newser) - A firefighter killed by a wildfire in Northern California was scouting the area exploring for ways to attack it when he became trapped after erratic winds stoked the blaze, officials said today. Forest Service firefighter David Ruhl was driving down a Modoc National Forest road in a vehicle Thursday when...

Recreational Drones Hindered Air Drops on Freeway Wildfire

It's becoming a familiar refrain

(Newser) - California's Interstate 15 was looking a little "post-apocalyptic" today in the aftermath of a wildfire that swept across the road yesterday and left burnt-out cars in its wake, notes Gizmodo . Nobody was hurt, fortunately, but those drivers will be thrilled to learn that firefighters were once again stymied...

Crazy Scene on Freeway: Wildfire Burns Cars

20 vehicles were destroyed

(Newser) - By now, we're used to seeing images of California wildfires destroying homes. But cars on the freeway? That was the case in San Bernardino County today as fast-moving fire swept across Freeway 15, reports KTLA . The fire destroyed 20 cars that had been abandoned on the road and damaged...

Plane Fighting Yosemite Fire Crashes, Killing Pilot

Officials don't know yet what caused the air tanker to go down

(Newser) - An air tanker fighting a wildfire at Yosemite National Park mysteriously crashed yesterday, killing the pilot, the Los Angeles Times reports. A spokesman for the state's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says it's believed the pilot was alone in the plane and that he worked for DynCorp...

Man Accused of Arson in California's Raging Wildfire

37-year-old allegedly set fast-growing King Fire

(Newser) - A 37-year-old man is being held on $10 million bail and accused of deliberately setting a California wildfire that is now rapidly growing in size. Authorities aren't saying what led them to Wayne Huntsman or how he allegedly started the fire, only that an investigator followed up on several...

100 Airlifted Away From Yosemite Wildfire

Hikers taken out by helicopter as blaze spreads

(Newser) - About 100 Yosemite National Park visitors were evacuated by helicopter yesterday when a wildfire that started weeks ago in the park's backcountry grew unexpectedly to at least 700 acres, officials say. Some of the evacuees included hikers who had climbed the park's iconic Half Dome peak, rising nearly...

Cops: 2 Teens Tried to Set Fresh Calif. Fires

As wildfires continue to rage across San Diego County

(Newser) - Firefighters are still trying to contain several wildfires consuming San Diego County, and two teenagers have been arrested and accused of trying to make things a lot worse. Police nabbed two males, ages 19 and 17, who are suspected of trying to set two brush fires in Escondido, reports the...

It's 'Like Armageddon' in San Diego County

A state of emergency has been declared over 9 wildfires

(Newser) - A state of emergency has been declared in San Diego County after nine wildfires scorched at least 14 square miles, with more dry winds and soaring temperatures due today. Gov. Jerry Brown issued the emergency order after the series of fires broke out yesterday, forcing thousands to flee their homes,...

California in 'Worst Drought in 100 Years': Governor

Meteorologists predict drought will last at least 3 more months

(Newser) - Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for California today, over what the governor called "perhaps the worst drought that California has ever seen" in the roughly 100 years the state has been keeping records. Brown asked all residents to voluntarily cut back their water usage by 20%. "...

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