wildfires

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Obama to Visit 'Epic' Fire Devastation

Governor declares fire season worst in state history

(Newser) - President Obama plans to jet to Colorado tomorrow to view the devastation of an "epic" rampaging wildfire near Colorado Springs that has gutted hundreds of homes, sent some 35,000 residents fleeing, and destroyed 19,000 acres. Rich Brown, fire chief of Colorado Springs, the state's second largest...

Thousands Must Fight Wildfires Uninsured

...because they're 'temporary workers'

(Newser) - As if fighting an "epic" and "apocalyptic" wildfire doesn't sound bad enough, try doing it without health insurance. That's actually what an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 federal firefighters do, writes Sarah Kliff for the Washington Post . "Of all the jobs where you might...

Tens of Thousands Flee Colorado Fires

Waldo Canyon fire breaches Colorado Springs fire lines

(Newser) - At least 32,000 people have been evacuated from the Colorado Springs area as the monster Waldo Springs wildfire continues to burn out of control. Witnesses described "apocalyptic" scenes as the fire, which has breached fire lines and destroyed an unknown number of homes, unleashed waves of flame and...

Colorado Wildfires Destroy 250 Homes, Ravage Parkland

Worst fire season in decade

(Newser) - More than 11,000 Colorado residents—and tourists—have been ordered to evacuate as eight wildfires burn across the state, destroying homes and threatening popular sightseeing spots. Vacation cabins in Estes Park have already been destroyed and the main entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park has been closed. Smoke threatens...

As Guns Spark Fires, Utah Gov Pleads With Shooters

But Utah, other states banned from emergency gun restrictions

(Newser) - With 20 wildfires around Utah this year believed to be caused by target shooters firing in bone-dry conditions, states are urging gun owners not to shoot in high-risk locations. “Now is not a good time to take your gun outside and start shooting in cheat grass that’s tinder...

Colorado Wildfire Causing Record Damage

High Park fire has destroyed 181 homes

(Newser) - The wildfire that has been raging in Colorado for more than a week has now scorched more than 85 square miles of land and destroyed 181 homes, making it the most destructive wildfire in the state's history. The High Park fire has also been blamed for the death of...

Colorado Fires Claim 1st Victim
 Colorado Fires Claim 1st Victim 
Jun 12, 2012 8:41 AM CDT

Colorado Fires Claim 1st Victim

Fire now 3rd-largest in Colorado history

(Newser) - The northern Colorado wildfires that have been raging through the state have claimed a 62-year-old woman as their first victim, reports the Denver Post . Linda Steadman lived alone and apparently missed two evacuation phone notices on Saturday. A firefighter and a deputy stopped by Steadman's home, but were blocked...

Residents Flee 20,000-Acre Colorado Wildfire

Smoke-eaters also battling fires in Wyoming, New Mexico

(Newser) - Some 2,000 families are fleeing the 20,000-acre High Park wildfire in northern Colorado. “The burning pattern could potentially cut off exit routes for residents in this area and they should leave now,” authorities reiterated on a website. Some 18 buildings have already been damaged or destroyed...

Giant New Mexico Fire Could Be First of Many

And it's just getting bigger

(Newser) - New Mexico's biggest-ever wildfire may herald an onslaught of giant blazes in the western US, experts say. "We've been in a long drought cycle for the last 20 years, and conditions now are great for these type of fires," says an Arizona science professor. "Everything...

Fire Now Largest in New Mexico's History

Has burned 265 square miles in Gila National Forest

(Newser) - A massive wildfire that has burned more than 265 square miles in the Gila National Forest has become the largest fire in New Mexico state history, fire officials confirmed today. The erratic blaze grew overnight to more than 170,000 acres, surpassing a blaze last year that burned 156,593...

Michigan Wildfire Torches 21K Acres

6 buildings destroyed so far

(Newser) - A wildfire in Michigan's Upper Peninsula grew by 17% to more than 21,000 acres today as officials warned of tough conditions and welcomed help from water-dumping aircraft from the Michigan National Guard. Wind gusts were predicted at 15 mph and high temperatures were in the 60s in a...

Uncontrolled Colorado Wildfire Kills One

Lower North Fork Fire has burned more than 3K acres

(Newser) - A wildfire in Colorado was still burning uncontrolled this morning after claiming the life of one person, the Denver Post reports. The 3,050-acre Lower North Fork Fire has also destroyed as many as 25 structures in the mountains west of Denver, and winds of up to 45mph will likely...

Thousands Flee Reno Wildfire
 Thousands Flee Reno Wildfire 
Jan 19, 2012 11:14 PM CST

Thousands Flee Reno Wildfire

10K evacuated from homes as hundreds battle blaze

(Newser) - A fast-moving brush fire south of Reno has burned several homes and forced around 10,000 people to be evacuated from their neighborhoods. More than 200 firefighters are tackling the blaze, which grew to more than 5 square miles after starting yesterday afternoon and has not yet been contained, CNN...

Texas Wildfire Toll: 1,386 Homes, 2 Lives

Bastrop fire just 30% contained

(Newser) - Texas’ Bastrop Wildfire has already been named the state’s worst ever , and it continues to rage: Now 1,386 homes have been destroyed, and the fire is just 30% contained. Two people have died, one of them a city of Austin employee found inside his home. The fire has...

Texas Fires' Toll: 1,000 Homes and Counting

Firefighters still trying to contain blazes fed by Tropical Storm Lee

(Newser) - More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in at least 57 wildfires across rain-starved Texas, most of them in one devastating blaze near Austin that is still raging out of control, officials said today. Gov. Rick Perry, who cut short a presidential campaign trip to South Carolina to return...

Texas Bastrop Wildfire Burns 500 Homes
 Texas Wildfire Is 'Worst Ever' 
Sep 6, 2011 7:48 AM CDT

Texas Wildfire Is 'Worst Ever'

Nearly 500 homes destroyed; 3.5M acres charred this year

(Newser) - Wildfires continued to ravage Central Texas yesterday as firefighters battled the most devastating single fire in Texas history, the Los Angeles Times reports. As of yesterday, 476 homes had been destroyed in Bastrop County, east of Austin; firefighters battled the flames as they tore through thousands of acres. With 40...

Yosemite Fire Scorches 5K Acres

Skies still blue over park despite huge blaze

(Newser) - After five days of hard work, firefighters are making good progress against a wildfire raging near Yosemite National Park. The fire—started when a propane tank on a motor home traveling on one the main roads into the park exploded—has burned more than 5,000 acres and forced the...

2 Charged With Biggest-Ever Arizona Wildfire

Pair accused of leaving campfire when hiking

(Newser) - Two Arizona cousins who allegedly left a campfire unattended have been charged with starting the biggest wildfire in the state's history . The Wallow fire, which burned more than 800 square miles of wilderness in June, began after Caleb and David Wayne Malboeuf left their fire—which they believed to...

Arizona Fire Season Worst in History

Almost 1M acres charred

(Newser) - In terms of sheer acreage, it’s been the worst year on record for Arizona wildfires: Some 981,748 acres were charred in the flames, surpassing the 2005 record of 975,178. Driving the flames were dry weather and heavy winds early in the summer, reports the Arizona Republic . But...

Los Alamos Officials Still Confident Lab Is Safe

But thousands of experiments remain idle during shutdown

(Newser) - Los Alamos nuclear laboratory officials say it could be a few days before they'll know the extent of how experiments at the facility that created the first atomic bomb have been affected by a shutdown caused by a 125-square-mile wildfire . The lab has been shut down since Monday, when...

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