Wildfires
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Fire

5,500-acre fire spreading rapidly in Southern California, evacuations underway


RT
Tue, 16 Aug 2016 22:58 UTC
Southern California fire
© CAL_FIRE / Twitter
A massive blaze is forcing mass evacuations after shutting down Southern California's Interstate-15, the main route to Las Vegas. The enormous inferno, now covering 5,500 acres, spread across its first 1,000 acres within an hour of its initial spark.

The fire was reported in Devore, California, in the late morning hours of Tuesday, and within an hour, it spread from five acres to over 5,500, according to KABC.

It broke out near the Cajon Pass, where there have been red flag warnings from the San Bernardino Fire Department, in recognition of gusty winds and low humidity, prime conditions for wildfires.

Evacuations were ordered by the US Forest Service around West Cajon Valley, between Highway 2 and the I-15, KABC reported. At least one structure was seen burning, but no injuries have been reported.

The cause remains unknown.
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Fire

Mysterious 'volcano' fire appears in Limpopo, South Africa

Dale Hes
The Times (South Africa)
Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:26 UTC
The Council for Geoscience is on its way to investigate this strange ground fire in Limpopo.
© Mbusi Ka-Mphezulu/AENSThe Council for Geoscience is on its way to investigate this strange ground fire in Limpopo.
Scientists from the Council for Geoscience are on their way to Limpopo to investigate the mysterious appearance of a lava-like fire which has injured three people after burning unabated for three weeks at Zaaiplaas Village in Sehlakwane.

In July the Limpopo Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) received a call from the Sekhukune District Municipality regarding the emergence of unusual fire, mud and grey ash in a damp wetland area on the outskirts of the village.

"The PDMC visited the area to conduct rapid assessment. The assessment revealed that the smoke and fires started three weeks ago. There is hot mud and grey ash in the area and three people were burnt by hot ash," said PDMC spokesperson Michael Moja.

The fire has steadily burnt through an area larger than a rugby field, transforming the wetland into what looks like an active volcanic field. A community member, Mbusi Ka-Mphezulu, posted photos on Facebook of a lava-like substance glowing from underneath the ground.
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Fire

Wildfires rage near Marseille forcing evacuations and flight diversions


RT
Wed, 10 Aug 2016 21:31 UTC
Fires in France
© Boris Horvat / AFPA picture taken near Vitrolles, southern France on August 10, 2016 shows a fire which has already devastated some 200 hectares.
Several wildfires have affected areas near Marseille, with huge clouds of smoke covering the skies above the southern French port city.

The smoke from the blaze has reportedly caused numerous delays at Marseille airport, with planes being diverted to other sites.

Several separate "significant" fires have been raging on Wednesday in the southern France region of Bouches-du-Rhone, the most densely populated department of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region, local media reported.

The flames are reportedly getting close to industrial areas near Marseille, with several roads being closed off in the area. The situation remains "tense" and poses a threat to businesses in the region, France's Midi Libre reported. Hundreds of people and dozens of vehicles have been deployed to fight the blaze.


Comment: According to Marseille's deputy mayor, Julien Ruas, the size of the fire was "absolutely exceptional", and he advised people to stay off the roads. Some reports suggest that more than 10,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Rhone river delta area.

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Fire

Three dead as wildfire sweeps across the island of Madeira

James Badcock and James Rothwell
The Telegraph (UK)
Wed, 10 Aug 2016 17:58 UTC
People take pictures of the smoke rising from a wildfire at Curral dos Romeiros in Funchal.
© Joana SousaPeople take pictures of the smoke rising from a wildfire at Curral dos Romeiros in Funchal.
Three people have died, including an elderly woman, and more than 1,000 people have been evacuated after a wildfire tore across the Portuguese island of Madeira.

The woman, who has not been named, died after her house in the capital of Funchal caught fire.

Funchal, which has a population of 111,000, is a big tourist destination.

Several buildings were destroyed in the fire include a five star hotel, according to reports, while two people have been seriously injured.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday, accused of starting the fire deliberately in the mountains of São Roque, just outside Funchal.

Judicial police sources told local media that the suspect "has a criminal record as an arsonist".


A man gestures at a burning house as a wildfire spreads at Bom Sucesso in Funchal.
© Duarte Sa/Reuters A man gestures at a burning house as a wildfire spreads at Bom Sucesso in Funchal.
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Fire

Seven percent of La Palma destroyed by wildfire in the Canary Islands


Deutsche Welle
Tue, 09 Aug 2016 17:02 UTC
La Palma wildfire
La Palma wildfire
Spanish authorities said they have moved more than 500 more residents from the path of the five-day-old forest fire, which has affected over 4,400 hectares on the volcanic island located off the northwest coast of Africa, the Spanish news agency Efe said late Monday. A 54-year-old forestry worker died on Thursday while helping to fight the wildfire.

About 350 firefighters, supported by four planes and eight helicopters dumping water, are battling the fire but strong winds and high temperatures are making work difficult, the authorities said.

The regional government for the island, part of the Canary Islands archipelago, says the evacuation of two neighborhoods in the town of Villa de Mazo took place Sunday morning shortly after midnight as the fire spread through the hilly terrain. This came only hours after authorities said some of the 2,500 residents previously moved to safety could now return to their homes.


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Fire

Over 700 forest wildfires break out in Portugal


abcnews.go.com
Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:17 UTC
More than 4,400 firefighters battled hundreds of forest blazes across Portugal on Monday, authorities said, as the annual summer wildfire season hit a peak
More than 4,400 firefighters battled hundreds of forest blazes across Portugal on Monday, authorities said, as the annual summer wildfire season hit a peak
More than 4,400 firefighters battled hundreds of forest blazes of varying sizes across Portugal on Monday, authorities said, as the annual summer wildfire season hit a peak.

The National Civil Protection Authority said on its website that by late afternoon almost 1,500 vehicles and 32 water-dumping aircraft were deployed at 702 wildfires, some of which have been burning for days.

It classified eight wildfires in the north of the country as major blazes that were out of control.

The fires spread quickly through mostly pine and eucalyptus forests that are tinder-dry after weeks without significant rain. Daytime temperatures in recent days have exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) and in some northern cities exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Monday.




The National Civil Protection Authority classified eight wildfires in the north of the country as major blazes that were out of control
The National Civil Protection Authority classified eight wildfires in the north of the country as major blazes that were out of control
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Fire

Pilot fire grows to 7 square miles, some evacuations ordered in San Bernardino County, California


firetracker.scpr.org
Tue, 09 Aug 2016 05:36 UTC
Evacuations Ordered
Firefighters try to prevent the Pilot Fire from burning over Highway 173 Sunday night, Aug. 7. (Stuart Palley/KPCC)
A wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest east of Los Angeles grew to about 7 square miles overnight and prompted officials to issue evacuation orders in some communities.

The Pilot Fire, which started Sunday afternoon, was about 5 percent contained early Monday. It was burning in the San Bernardino Mountains between Lake Arrowhead and Silverwood Lake.

At least 400 firefighters were working to cut lines on the fire.

U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lyn Sieliet told KPCC the strategy is to keep the fire from pushing northeast toward homes.

"They're using multiple aircraft to try and get a line around the fire, get ahead of it to keep it from going into the homes in the Hesperia area," Sieliet said.


Comment: Information map.

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Fire

Lightning ignites 9 new fires in Boise National Forest, Idaho

Karen Lehr
kivitv.com
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 18:36 UTC
Wildfire
Fire crews in the Boise National Forest are now working on nine new lightning-caused fires, as lightning cells moved through the area Sunday afternoon.

Very little rain occurred with the lightning event. Most of the new fires are small (under 2 acres) and approximately 50 percent of these are staffed, according to a press release from the Boise National Forest.

These new start fires are being fought with a variety of crews, engines, helicopters and air tankers.

Four of the fires are in the Boiling Springs area, about 15 miles north of Garden Valley in Valley County. Another is about 1-mile north of Sage Hen Reservoir and the fourth is about 3 miles northeast of Silver Creek Hot Springs area. These are also in Valley County.
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Fire

Wildfire torches 30 square miles, destroys structures in Utah


Fox News
Sat, 06 Aug 2016 19:11 UTC
Wildfire
Utah authorities say a rural wildfire near the Idaho border has torched about 30 square miles and destroyed three structures.

Box Elder County Fire Marshal Corey Barton said Friday the fire has burned a ranchers' cabin as well as a camp trailer and a mobile home.

All three were vacant, and no one has been hurt. A handful of isolated farmhouses and other structures in the mountainous area are threatened.

Barton says investigators believe someone accidentally started the blaze, but he couldn't immediately say exactly what sparked it.

Fire authorities say smoke has drifted into Pocatello Valley in Idaho and the Salt Lake City area, about 85 miles south of the fire.

Firefighters have contained approximately 30 percent of the fire west of Plymouth with the help of aircraft and bulldozers.

Source: AP
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Fire

Raging wildfires burn across Western US: California, Utah, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington


Strange Sounds
Fri, 05 Aug 2016 07:58 UTC
US wildfire
27 large wildfires are currently burning out of control in the West of the USA. Hot, dry temperatures often combined with winds have made firefighting conditions difficult, destroying homes and forcing evacuations. Here is a compilation of the largest and most dangerous as of August 4, 2016.

Wildfires in California

Authorities are considering potential penalties for whoever set an illegal campfire that ballooned into a massive wildfire near scenic Big Sur in California. The fire has charred almost 73 square miles and destroyed 57 homes. A bulldozer operator was killed on the fire lines.


Comment: A study from last year showed that wildfire seasons are more destructive and lasting longer almost everywhere on Earth.

Could a significant factor in the escalation of these events be that they are fueled from outgassing, then possibly 'sparked' by an increase in atmospheric electric discharge events, such as lightning strikes and other 'cosmic' ignition sources?

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