Wildfires
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Fire

Wildfire doubles in size to 14 square miles in Southwest Idaho

wildfire
A wildfire burning in rugged terrain in southwest Idaho doubled to 14 square miles on Wednesday, and officials closed a state highway in an attempt to use it as a firebreak.

About 23 miles of State Highway 21 are closed from north of Idaho City to south of Lowman as firefighters remove trees and brush to reduce the potential for the fire to cross the road. "We're going to make a stand against the fire there," fire spokeswoman Rae Brooks said.

The highway is well-traveled route from southwest Idaho to vacation areas in central Idaho. Officials gave no timeline for when it will reopen.

"We don't know what the fire is going to do, and we don't know how successful we'll be with our stand there," Brooks said.

About 900 firefighters backed by 10 helicopters are fighting the blaze that's burning in timber. About 35 campers have been evacuated, and 10 structures are threatened.

It's not clear what the structures are, but at least some are yurts for campers. Officials also expanded a closure in the Boise National Forest.
Wildfire Idaho

Fire

State of emergency declared on Greek island of Chios due to raging wildfire

Dense smoke over Lithi village during a wildfire on Chios island, Greece
© EPADense smoke over Lithi village during a wildfire on Chios island, Greece
Greece has declared a state of emergency after the Aegean island of Chios has been engulfed by a wildfire raging out of control.

Dozens of firefighters and aircraft were deployed to fight the forest fire which broke out early on Monday.

The blaze destroyed olive groves and mastic trees, which are an important source of income for the island, which has a population of about 52,000.

At 30 miles long and 12 miles wide, Chios is a fair size for a Greek Island.

It's a popular holiday destination, positioned between Samos and Lesvos in the north east Aegean.


Fire

State of emergency declared for Southern California wildfires

California wildfire
© Nick Ut / APA hillside erupts in flame as a raging wildfire fire burns in Placerita Canyon in Santa Clarita, Calif., Monday, July 25, 2016.
The state of California declared a state of emergency Tuesday night, as firefighters feverishly tried to control a fast-moving wildfire that has scorched 37,473 acres near Los Angeles since Friday, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Fires in Monterey County, albeit more than half the size of the L.A.-area wildfire, also prompted the declaration.

"Acting Governor Tom Torlakson today issued emergency proclamations for Los Angeles and Monterey counties due to the effects of the Sand and Soberanes fires, which have burned tens of thousands of acres of land, threatened thousands of homes and other structures and caused the evacuation of residents," read a statement from the office of California governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

More than 3,000 firefighters have been deployed to halt the blaze in the Santa Clarita Valley, according to the department. About 25 percent of the fire has been contained.


Comment: Could 2016 be California's worst wildfire season?


Fire

Wildfire near Valencia, Spain spreading to nature reserve after laying waste to 1,400 hectares of land

wildfire castellon spain
A plane fights a wildfire burning in Artana, near Castellon, eastern Spain on July 26, 2016
Spanish troops intervened Tuesday as a wildfire near the eastern city of Valencia spread to a nature reserve after laying waste to some 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) of land, regional authorities said.

The fire, whose cause was unclear, broke out on Monday at Artana, some 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of Valencia, an emergency services spokeswoman said, adding it had not spread to residential areas.

Overnight, the fire reached Sierra d'Espadan, an ecoregion known for its cork oak forests and home to foxes as well as endangered species of bats.

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Residents begin returning home after 'almost unprecedented' California wildfire

California sand wildfire
© David McNew/Getty Images Firefighters are forced to retreat as flame close in on them in Placerita Canyon at the Sand Fire on Sunday Santa Clarita.

The Sand fire has burned about 10,000 acres per day since it began Friday in the hills north of Los Angeles


Thousands of evacuees have been allowed to return home as the nearly 55-square-mile Sand Fire continues to burn in Southern California's Santa Clarita Valley.

Firefighters announced that all evacuated residents would be allowed to return home at 7 p.m. Monday, with the exception of Placerita Canyon Road from Running Horse Lane to Pacy Street and Little Tujunga Canyon Road from the Wildlife Way Station to Sand Canyon Road and Placerita Canyon Road.

Large animals were to be allowed to return as well.

The fire has burned about 10,000 acres per day since it began Friday in the hills north of Los Angeles, growing at a rate firefighters described as "almost unprecedented."

"It has averaged about 10,000 acres per day," said Chief Mike Wakoski, incident commander. "An acre is a football field, so imagine that -- 10,000 football fields per day."

Shifting winds have fanned the flames, which raced through neighborhoods and destroyed homes. One death, a man whose burned body was found in a scorched vehicle, was reported in the fire zone.

"This fire, what we've seen in 72 hours, is almost unprecedented," said Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Dennis Cross. "We'd have to go back a long way to compare a fire to this. And, we're not through with this thing yet."

Fire

Wildfire grows to more than 10,000 acres in Monterey County, California; 10 wildfires burning in the state

The Soberanes Fire
© Cal Fire / California Department Of Forestry And Fire ProtectionThe Soberanes Fire
A wildfire burning south of Carmel in Monterey County grew to more than 11,000 acres Sunday, as residents were warned to be ready to flee while crews battle the stubborn blaze amid soaring temperatures.

The Soberanes Fire — one of about 10 wildfires burning around the state, including the Sand Fire in Los Angeles County — grew to 11,000 acres by Sunday night and remained only 5 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Six houses and two outbuildings were destroyed and 1,650 others are threatened by the fire that started Friday morning near Garrapata State Park between Carmel and Big Sur.

Residents in the community of Palo Colorado south of the fire were ordered to evacuate, while other residents, particularly those in Carmel Highlands, were told to get ready to flee in case the fire takes off, Cal Fire officials said.



Fire

Out-of-control California wildfire grows to more than 33,000 acres in Santa Clarita Valley

Santa Clarita wildfire
© YouTube/Associated Press (screen capture)
The brush fire raging in the rugged mountains of the Santa Clarita Valley grew by more than 10,000 acres on Sunday, scorching an estimated 33,172 acres by the late evening as the blaze continued to threaten hundreds of homes while firefighters battled to keep flames from spreading, authorities said.

Fueled by 20-mph winds and hillsides carpeted with tinder-like chaparral, the wildfire was burning in hills toward Acton by late Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of residents were ordered to evacuate.

Mandatory evacuations were still in place Sunday for about 1,500 residents in parts of Sand and Placerita canyons, as well as for others along Little Tujunga Canyon Road.

So far, at least 18 structures have been destroyed and one damaged in the Bear Divide and Sand Canyon areas, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. One fatality has been reported, but it is not yet clear if it is fire-related.

The 14 Freeway in the Santa Clarita Valley was closed in both directions late Sunday afternoon but was later reopened.

At least one drone was spotted over the fire near the Bear Divide area, about 2,000 feet above Lake View Terrace, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The sighting of a drone over a wildfire typically prompts officials to ground aircraft for 30 minutes. The Forest Service said that those caught flying private aircraft or drones could face criminal charges.


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Wildfire burns almost half of Antelope Island, Utah

Firefighters work to set a back fire as favorable winds allow for the strategy on Antelope Island, Saturday, July 23, 2016.
© Scott SommerdorfFirefighters work to set a back fire as favorable winds allow for the strategy on Antelope Island, Saturday, July 23, 2016.
Fanned by steady winds, a wildfire had burned 13,740 acres of Antelope Island by Saturday night — nearly half the acreage at one of Utah's best-known landmarks.

No injuries were reported Saturday, nor were there reports of fire consuming any of the island's iconic mammals.

"The total acreage for Antelope Island is 28,000," said Jeremy Shaw, manager of Antelope Island State Park. "We're approaching half the island pretty rapidly. The wind's not helping us right now."

The blaze has been dubbed the West Antelope Fire. It is spreading north and east, was 35 percent contained as of Saturday evening. Ground crews and aircraft battled the blaze throughout the day.

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Update: Charred corpse found at 'Sand Fire' site as raging flames consume 20k acres (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

California fire
© brian_obrien / InstagramFire fighters have 10 percent containment of the fire.
A charred corpse has been found in an area of Santa Clarita, California, under threat from wildfires that have consumed over 20,000 acres. Firefighters are struggling to contain the fire that has raged since Friday.

The body was found on Iron Canyon Road, an area of Santa Clarita that authorities had ordered to be evacuated. A resident in the area told KTLA that the deceased man was found burned in a car after being separated from his partner.

Comment: See also: Wildfires force mass evacuations north of Los Angeles,California, prompt warnings of extreme danger


Fire

Wildfires force mass evacuations north of Los Angeles,California, prompt warnings of extreme danger

Ca wildfire
© Noah Berger / ReutersThe Erskine Fire burns above South Lake, California.
Huge wildfires burning in the mountains north of Los Angeles and near Big Sur on California's Central Coast are posing a threat to more than 1,300 households and already caused forced evacuations of about 300 homes, according to local authorities.

A fire that erupted on Friday in the Sand Canyon area near Santa Clarita located north of Los Angeles has already incinerated some 4,450 hectares and has grown to more than eight and a half square miles.

Comment: See also: California wildfire nearly doubles in size to 20,000 acres