https://www.sott.net/topic/18-Wildfires Signs of the Times: The World for People who Think. Featuring independent, unbiased, alternative news and commentary on world events. en-us Original content Copyright 2026 by Signs of the Times/Sott.net. For other content, see our Fair Use Policy at www.sott.net. Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:25:05 +0000 https://www.sott.net/images/sottlogo_rss.jpg SOTT.net https://www.sott.net https://www.sott.net/article/503966-Fires-rage-across-Western-Cape-South-Africa-as-Pearly-Beach-residents-urged-to-evacuate As emergency crews battle blazes across the Cape, residents in Pearly Beach flee their homes. With over 100,000 hectares burnt, the priority remains saving lives. Several fires are raging across the Western and Eastern Cape provinces, with the Western Cape Premier stating they have 'deployed more helicopters than ever', including a military helicopter sent to assist. However, resources remain stretched, and difficult decisions are being made regarding where to focus much needed aerial efforts to prevent the loss of life at the potential cost of losing infrastructure. https://www.sott.net/article/503966-Fires-rage-across-Western-Cape-South-Africa-as-Pearly-Beach-residents-urged-to-evacuate Sat, 10 Jan 2026 19:12:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/503946-Wildfires-rage-out-of-control-in-Patagonia-Argentina-as-thousands-of-tourists-evacuated Comment: Is there a 'hidden hand' behind these fires? Wildfires have raged through Patagonia, forcing the evacuation of at least 3,000 tourists. Several forest areas near the Andes mountains in Chubut province have been blazing since Monday (5 January), with video footage showing billows of smoke and flames rising from the trees. More than 2,000 hectares of vegetation across various points in the Argentine Patagonia have been affected by the blazes. "Comarca Andina", a popular tourist destination, has been hit by the flames. At least one of the fires was the result of arson, officials said. It comes a year after the country was hit by its worst wildfires in three decades, which saw tens of thousands of hectares razed to the ground and left one person dead. https://www.sott.net/article/503946-Wildfires-rage-out-of-control-in-Patagonia-Argentina-as-thousands-of-tourists-evacuated Fri, 09 Jan 2026 21:48:09 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/503927-Australia-evacuates-towns-as-dangerous-heatwave-triggers-blazes Australia has been hit by an intense heatwave as temperatures soar above 40C, sparking warnings of "extreme fire danger" and risks to life. The country's Bureau of Meteorology said more than half of Australia was in the grips of extreme heat, especially South Australia and Victoria, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 47C in inland areas. Firefighters were grappling with blazes in several areas of Victoria on Thursday and a number of towns near Seymour were evacuated as responders struggled to contain outbreaks. A segment of the Hume Highway, the main road between Melbourne and Sydney, was also closed due to fire threats. Friday "is going to be the peak fire danger day, especially for Victoria", said Sarah Scully, a meteorologist at the Bureau. High temperatures, strong gusty winds and "dry lightning", where thunder storms had little rain, all increased the risk of fires, she added. https://www.sott.net/article/503927-Australia-evacuates-towns-as-dangerous-heatwave-triggers-blazes Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:19:21 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/503199-Smokenado-swirls-over-firefighters-during-blaze-in-New-South-Wales-Australia Flames are finally under control in a brush fire that kicked up a "smokenado." Video from firefighters in New South Wales showed a dust devil looming over firefighters, kicking up dirt and smoke from a nearby blaze. Video showed the twister hovering over fire trucks Monday afternoon. Firefighters are battling fires across Australia. The "smokenado" fire burned about 247 acres. For perspective, the size of a football field is about 1.3 acres. No word on what caused the fire. https://www.sott.net/article/503199-Smokenado-swirls-over-firefighters-during-blaze-in-New-South-Wales-Australia Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:19:15 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/501577-Lightning-strikes-hot-weather-cause-wildfires-in-British-Columbia-to-surge-to-about-140 The number of wildfires in British Columbia continues to swell as thousands of lightning strikes hit the province due to persisting hot and dry weather. The BC Wildfire Service says about 140 wildfires were burning across the province as of Sunday morning, a sharp rise from the 68 last Wednesday. The wildfire service says more than 75 per cent of the active blazes were caused by lightning. The service's latest situational report says nearly 4,400 lightning strikes were recorded across B.C. on Friday and Saturday, mostly in the Cariboo and Coastal regions. The Cariboo Regional District has issued an evacuation order for more than 62 square kilometres of land near the Tsetzi Lake area due to an out-of-control wildfire. https://www.sott.net/article/501577-Lightning-strikes-hot-weather-cause-wildfires-in-British-Columbia-to-surge-to-about-140 Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:37:46 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/501219-Wildfires-scorch-Greece-for-a-second-day-thousands-evacuated Firefighters battled multiple wildfires across Greece on Wednesday, including blazes threatening villages and towns near the western city of Patras and on two tourist islands. Fires have burned houses, farms and factories and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists since Tuesday. Dozens of people have been taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation since Tuesday, public broadcaster ERT reported. Some 13 firefighters have been treated for burns and other injuries, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told a televised briefing on Wednesday. Nearly 5,000 firefighters assisted by 33 aircraft were deployed from dawn to contain the flames stoked by winds and hot, dry conditions near Patras, on the tourist islands of Chios and Zakynthos and in at least three inland spots. https://www.sott.net/article/501219-Wildfires-scorch-Greece-for-a-second-day-thousands-evacuated Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:07:48 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/501200-Spains-government-activates-pre-emergency-phase-amid-multiple-wildfires-around-the-country The Ministry of the Interior of Spain has announced the activation of a 'pre-emergency phase' in view of the multiple forest fires affecting different parts of the country. The measure seeks to coordinate and reinforce the deployment of state resources in support of the most affected regions, which include Castilla y León, Navarra, Andalucía, Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha and Galicia General director of civil protection and emergencies Virginia Barcones activated the measure in the early hours on Tuesday morning, which has allowed the national centre for monitoring and coordination of emergencies (Cenem) to initiate a reinforced communication protocol with the regional centres to monitor the situation and anticipate the evolution of the outbreaks. Barcones has also called an urgent meeting of the state coordination and management committee (Cecod) to assess the emergency, with the participation of the heads of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, state meteorological agency Aemet... https://www.sott.net/article/501200-Spains-government-activates-pre-emergency-phase-amid-multiple-wildfires-around-the-country Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:22:54 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/501186-Extreme-California-wildfire-rages-in-hot-weather-threatening-thousands A southern California wildfire that has threatened thousands of homes is still only 21% contained, officials said Saturday, warning of the blaze's "extreme" behavior amid low humidity and summer heat. The Gifford Fire, which started Aug. 1, has prompting widespread evacuation orders and scorched more than 104,000 acres across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, where evacuation orders and warnings are in place. Nearly 3,600 firefighters are battling the flames amid hot, dry conditions. "We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity," said Santa Barbara County Fire Department Capt. Scott Safechuck. "So, we expect extreme fire behavior." https://www.sott.net/article/501186-Extreme-California-wildfire-rages-in-hot-weather-threatening-thousands Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:25:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/501170-Canadas-climate-lockdown-pilot-scheme Six days ago, the Canadian province of Nova Scotia announced a total ban on hiking, camping, hunting or other human activity in the forest. A breach of this new rule is punishable by a fine up to 28,000 Canadian dollars. Then, yesterday, New Brunswick decided to enforce a similar ban in their forests. The aim, proponents claim, is to prevent wildfires. However, in years past, a ban on campfires was deemed good enough during wildfire season or periods of drought. A full ban on all human activity is unprecedented. Nevertheless, there is a rather predictable list of people defending the move with language that's all too familiar: https://www.sott.net/article/501170-Canadas-climate-lockdown-pilot-scheme Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:29:05 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/501145-Canadian-veteran-FINED-28k-for-DARING-to-enter-the-woods-following-Nova-Scotias-NO-WOODS-LOCKDOWN-ORDERS Following his act of civil disobedience Jeff Evely was fined over $28k for entering the woods in Nova Scotia after the province ordered Nova Scotians to stay out of the woods as part of their wildfire ban! In this video Dan Dicks of Press For Truth speaks with Jeff about why he defied the orders in the way that he did and what he expects to come out of this in the near future! To learn more about this case and to support Jeff visit: https://x.com/JeffEvely https://www.sott.net/article/501145-Canadian-veteran-FINED-28k-for-DARING-to-enter-the-woods-following-Nova-Scotias-NO-WOODS-LOCKDOWN-ORDERS Sat, 09 Aug 2025 23:15:11 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/501088-France-battles-largest-wildfire-in-decades-one-person-killed Firefighters' efforts to contain France's biggest wildfire in almost 80 years dragged on into a third day on Thursday (August 7), which has so far ravaged over 37,000 acres in Aude, an area larger than Paris. The fire has claimed one life in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, destroyed at least 25 homes, and displaced residents and tourists. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou called the situation unprecedented as he visited the area: "It was very important for us to be there because the disaster is one of unprecedented scale. It was very important because hundreds, thousands of people feel that their most precious possessions, their homes, their vineyards, have been affected." https://www.sott.net/article/501088-France-battles-largest-wildfire-in-decades-one-person-killed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:51:14 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/501086-Canada-wildfires-prompt-severe-air-quality-alerts-across-country-and-US More than 700 active wildfires burning across Canada and about two-thirds are currently out-of-control Billowing smoke from hundreds of out-of-control wildfires - most of which are in the Canadian Prairies - have caused severe air quality alerts across Canada and the United States. Detroit, Michigan, and the Canadian cities of Montreal and Toronto, recorded some of the worst air quality in the world on Monday, according to a ranking by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. More than 700 active wildfires are currently burning across Canada and about two-thirds of them are now out-of-control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), a non-profit organization that is owned by government agencies. One brush fire, in British Columbia, was reportedly caused when an osprey dropped a fish on to a power line, sparking a small blaze which was later extinguished. But most of the current fires that are causing the poor, smoggy air quality and reduced... https://www.sott.net/article/501086-Canada-wildfires-prompt-severe-air-quality-alerts-across-country-and-US Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:12:43 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/500863-Wildfire-kills-at-least-10-forest-workers-and-rescuers-battling-blaze-in-Turkey A wildfire killed at least 10 forest workers and rescuers on Wednesday who were battling to douse the flames near Eskişehir in western Turkey, authorities said. The agriculture minister, İbrahim Yumakli, said the fire killed five forest workers and five rescuers. Local lawmaker Nebi Hatipoğlu and news website BirGün had earlier said 11 had died. High temperatures and strong winds have fanned the wildfire between Istanbul and the capital Ankara since Tuesday morning, with the spread threatening homes and forcing the evacuation of several villages. The victims were wrongfooted when the flames suddenly changed direction, causing them to be "burned alive", according to BirGün. https://www.sott.net/article/500863-Wildfire-kills-at-least-10-forest-workers-and-rescuers-battling-blaze-in-Turkey Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:41:31 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/500773-More-than-100-hurt-as-efforts-to-contain-Marseille-France-wildfire-continue French firefighters are continuing to battle a wildfire that reached the outer edge of Marseille and has left more than 100 people injured. The city's mayor Benoit Payan told local media on Wednesday morning that the blaze was "decreasing" but was still not completely under control. Restrictions which were imposed yesterday in the outskirts of Marseille have been lifted following a "significant decline" in the spread of the fire, the mayor wrote on X. According to the interior ministry, 110 people have been slightly injured - including nine firefighters and 22 police officers - since Tuesday. https://www.sott.net/article/500773-More-than-100-hurt-as-efforts-to-contain-Marseille-France-wildfire-continue Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:47:48 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/500625-1000-acre-wildfire-threatens-Grand-Canyons-North-Rim-mandatory-evacuation-orders-in-effect White Sage Fire near Jacob Lake has burned 1,000 acres with zero containment, as officials warn hikers of extreme heat and smoke The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is temporarily closed as mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect due to a wildfire near the park. The White Sage Fire, near Jacob Lake, prompted the National Park Service to evacuate all North Rim visitors "immediately" on Thursday night. As of Thursday night, the fire had burned about 1,000 acres and remains active with no containment, according to a report from the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM). https://www.sott.net/article/500625-1000-acre-wildfire-threatens-Grand-Canyons-North-Rim-mandatory-evacuation-orders-in-effect Sun, 13 Jul 2025 20:30:49 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/500452-Crete-wildfire-Swaths-of-forest-olive-groves-burn-on-Greek-island Hundreds of firefighters battled a blaze on Crete island, Greece, on Thursday, which burned swathes of forest and olive groves and forced the evacuation of over a thousand people, officials said, underscoring the region's vulnerability to destructive wildfires. At least 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island. Scores of residents and tourists were evacuated and moved to a temporary shelter at an indoor stadium in Ierapetra. Some left Crete by boats, authorities said. https://www.sott.net/article/500452-Crete-wildfire-Swaths-of-forest-olive-groves-burn-on-Greek-island Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:06:59 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/499858-Wildfires-force-thousands-to-flee-homes-in-Western-Canada Wildfires across Western Canada have forced thousands of people from their homes, as dry, warm and windy temperatures intensified new flares Friday, causing Manitoba to ask for international help. Manitoba and Saskatchewan are under provincewide states of emergency for the next month, while evacuations have also been ordered in large parts of Alberta and British Columbia. There were more than 180 active wildfires across the country Friday evening, with 23 of those being new and at least 102 considered out of control. The situation this week has been so severe that Manitoba was forced to call upon the Canadian Armed Forces to rescue residents from several communities. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew on Friday requested more equipment and personnel from international jurisdictions, including helicopters from the United States and Colombia. The province has already been receiving firefighters from New Brunswick, Alberta, B.C. and Prince Edward Island. "We are doing everything that we can... https://www.sott.net/article/499858-Wildfires-force-thousands-to-flee-homes-in-Western-Canada Sat, 31 May 2025 11:12:31 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/499589-Police-say-2-people-were-killed-in-massive-wildfire-in-central-Canadian-province-of-Manitoba The central province of Manitoba has declared a state of emergency in its eastern regions to intensify firefighting, evacuation and relief efforts to all affected people and areas. Canadian federal police say two people were killed near the small community of Lac de Bonnet in the central Canadian province of Manitoba on Thursday. The bodies of an adult man and woman were found as the province battles a massive wildfire which broke out on Tuesday. Assistant Deputy Minister of Manitoba, Kristin Hayward, says the fires remained out of control all of Wednesday and most of Thursday. Officials say there are currently 21 fires still burning in the province. According to local media, there were 80 active fires across Canada as of Thursday. The fires have spread quickly due to unusually hot, dry and windy conditions. https://www.sott.net/article/499589-Police-say-2-people-were-killed-in-massive-wildfire-in-central-Canadian-province-of-Manitoba Fri, 16 May 2025 17:19:14 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/499369-Israel-hit-with-largest-ever-wildfires-videos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a national emergency over the situation. Israeli firefighters continue to battle wildfires that have been raging near Jerusalem for two days. Emergency services have described them as some of the "largest ever" in the country's history. The fires broke out on Wednesday along the main highway connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, spreading quickly due to the heat and strong winds. The key highway and several other roads in the area were shut down, with people in at least ten communities forced to evacuate from what witnesses described as "walls of flame." More than 160 firefighting teams and 12 aircraft were deployed to contain the wildfires. On Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "we are now in a national emergency, not just a local one," adding that "defending Jerusalem" was a priority. https://www.sott.net/article/499369-Israel-hit-with-largest-ever-wildfires-videos Sat, 03 May 2025 20:06:24 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/499321-Israel-deploys-troops-to-control-massive-wildfires-near-Jerusalem Comment: Israeli media is telling its citizens this is the work of 'Palestinian terrorists'... Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered troops to deploy on Wednesday to support firefighters battling rapidly spreading wildfires near Jerusalem, calling the situation a "national emergency". The country's Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue agency reported hundreds of civilians were currently at risk from the fires. Sixteen people were being treated for minor injuries from smoke inhalation, the MDA said, adding the alert level had been raised to the highest level. Police closed the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and evacuated residents along the route as brushfires broke out again in an area ravaged by blazes a week ago. "We are facing a national emergency, and all available forces must be mobilised to save lives and bring the fires under control," Katz said in a statement from his ministry. https://www.sott.net/article/499321-Israel-deploys-troops-to-control-massive-wildfires-near-Jerusalem Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:23:27 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/499178-Actual-damage-from-North-Gyeongsang-wildfires-is-2-times-govt-estimate The total area of woodland burned by the massive wildfires that ravaged North Gyeongsang Province last month is twice the initial estimate of the state Korea Forest Service, officials said Thursday. According to a government-led joint investigation, roughly 90,000 hectares of land were damaged by a wave of forest fires that swept across five cities and counties in North Gyeongsang Province in March. Initially, the forest service had put the estimated damage at 45,157 ha, or roughly half the actual area. The revised figure is also nearly four times the 23,794 ha damaged by wildfires on the east coast in 2000, which were the worst in the nation's history at the time. It is unusual for the area of actual damage to be far greater than the initial estimate of areas affected by wildfires, as the latter always includes zones that are later determined to have not been burned. The forest authorities plan to verify the exact extent of the damage and announce it in the coming days. https://www.sott.net/article/499178-Actual-damage-from-North-Gyeongsang-wildfires-is-2-times-govt-estimate Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:12:53 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/498630-24-killed-in-South-Koreas-worst-ever-fires-UPDATE Comment: In MARCH??! At least four people have died in a series of wildfires in South Korea. The victims included firefighters and a civil servant, authorities said on March 22, 2025. The blazes in the country's southeast have prompted the government to declare a state of emergency in the affected provinces and order residents to evacuate the area. https://www.sott.net/article/498630-24-killed-in-South-Koreas-worst-ever-fires-UPDATE Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:58:22 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/498441-At-least-32-dead-after-severe-weather-swept-across-the-US-Midwest Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms have torn through at least six states in the US Midwest, killing at least 32 people. Buildings collapsed, roofs were torn off, and vehicles overturned. Hundreds of thousands have been left without power. Al Jazeera's Joel Evans reports. https://www.sott.net/article/498441-At-least-32-dead-after-severe-weather-swept-across-the-US-Midwest Sun, 16 Mar 2025 11:58:33 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/498223-Evacuation-orders-issued-as-175-wildfires-erupt-across-South-and-North-Carolina The cause of the Carolina Forest Fire is under investigation. The blaze erupted amid wind gusts of up to 40 mph and extremely dry conditions, fire officials said. A fire in Horry County north of the Carolina Forest had scorched more than 300 acres by Sunday morning and was burning out of control, officials said. Red flag fire danger warnings were issued across South Carolina. "Our first responders are risking their lives to contain many fires across South Carolina tonight," McMaster said on Saturday. Video footage captured plumes of smoke and flames wafting above a tree line and houses in the Carolina Forest. https://www.sott.net/article/498223-Evacuation-orders-issued-as-175-wildfires-erupt-across-South-and-North-Carolina Mon, 03 Mar 2025 21:42:07 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/498210-Thousands-evacuated-as-Japans-biggest-fire-in-decades-continues-to-burn Japan has deployed more than 2,000 firefighters to battle the country's biggest forest fire in three decades. At least one person has died in the blaze, which has torched more than 5,200 acres around the northern Japanese city of Ofunato since Thursday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA). Although January to March is typically Ofunato's driest season, the area saw less rainfall last month than any February in more than 20 years - recording just 2.5 millimetres, compared to the usual average of 41. About 4,600 people remain under government-issued evacuation orders as the fire continues to burn. Some 2,000 have already left the area to stay with friends or relatives, and more than 1,200 have evacuated to shelters, officials said. https://www.sott.net/article/498210-Thousands-evacuated-as-Japans-biggest-fire-in-decades-continues-to-burn Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:26:14 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/497585-A-warning-from-the-trees How bad can a solar storm be? Just ask a tree. Unlike human records, which go back hundreds of years, trees can remember solar storms for millennia. Nagoya University doctoral student Fusa Miyake made the discovery in 2012 while studying rings in the stump of a 1900-year-old Japanese cedar. One ring, in particular, drew her attention. Grown in the year 774-75 AD, it contained a 12% jump in radioactive carbon-14 (14C), about 20 times greater than ordinary fluctuations from cosmic radiation. Other teams confirmed the spike in wood from Germany, Russia, the United States, Finland, and New Zealand. Whatever happened, trees all over the world experienced it. Most researchers think it was a solar storm — an extraordinary one. Often, we point to the Carrington Event of 1859 as the worst-case scenario for solar storms. The 774-75 AD storm was at least 10 times stronger; if it happened today, it would floor modern technology. Since Miyake's initial discovery, she and others have confirmed... https://www.sott.net/article/497585-A-warning-from-the-trees Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:08:25 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/497257-Dems-profiting-on-California-tragedy Politicians never shy away from using a tragedy for personal gain. Democrats like Gavin Newsom and Elizabeth Warren have been caught stealing donations intended for California wildfire victims and funneling them back into their Democrat Super PACs. Newsom created a website to combat "misinformation," another term for controlling the narrative, called CaliforniaFireFacts.com that redirects to the governor's own website. Concerned citizens are encouraged to donate to the wildfire victims through Campaign for Democracy: "Your donation will go directly towards supporting the firefighters and the communities they serve, including direct financial support to impacted residents." One would assume that the donations would go directly to the people of California who lost everything. Think again. Who is processing these donations? ActBlue Carities, Inc., a 501 tax-exempt organization that is a political Super PAC for Democratic political candidates. https://www.sott.net/article/497257-Dems-profiting-on-California-tragedy Wed, 15 Jan 2025 17:43:14 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/497094-Theres-nothing-left-fast-moving-wildfires-sweep-through-southern-California-at-least-24-dead-UPDATES Fast-moving wildfires have broken out in southern California, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. https://www.sott.net/article/497094-Theres-nothing-left-fast-moving-wildfires-sweep-through-southern-California-at-least-24-dead-UPDATES Sun, 12 Jan 2025 13:01:00 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/497137-Lets-talk-about-California-Wildfires Unprecedented wildfires have swept the Los Angeles area over the last few days, destroying neighbourhoods and threatening landmarks. The BBC is helpfully keeping a running tally of the number of celebrities whose homes have burned down. This is the first time in recorded history that wildfires of this scale have occurred in California in January, according to an expert quoted in the New Scientist: "While Santa Ana fires are nothing new in southern California, this type of explosive fire event has never happened in January before, and it's only happened once in December," says Crystal Kolden at the University of California, Merced. There has been no official word on what started the fires as yet, although officials from the California Fire Service claimed that 95% of wildfires in California are started by humans. https://www.sott.net/article/497137-Lets-talk-about-California-Wildfires Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:41:55 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/497129-California-insurer-State-Farm-canceled-policies-months-before-Los-Angeles-Wildfires State Farm, one of the biggest insurers in California, canceled hundreds of homeowners' policies last summer in Pacific Palisades — the same area which is now being ravaged by a devastating wildfire. The move was justified by the company as an attempt to avoid "financial failure" as the frequency and severity of wildfires is growing in the Golden State, especially in at-risk zones. But as the multiple fires currently burning through Southern California threaten to cause devastating losses for residents, many will likely need to rely on their insurers to get back on their feet after the blazes are contained. "Our number one priority right now is the safety of our customers, agents and employees impacted by the fires and assisting our customers in the midst of this tragedy," a spokesperson for State Farm told Newsweek in response to a request for comment on Wednesday. https://www.sott.net/article/497129-California-insurer-State-Farm-canceled-policies-months-before-Los-Angeles-Wildfires Thu, 09 Jan 2025 21:59:19 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/497116-In-maps-Thousands-of-acres-on-fire-in-Los-Angeles Wildfires are raging in several areas of Los Angeles, with high winds and extremely dry conditions fuelling their progress across thousands of acres of land. Firefighters are so far unable to contain them, with one fire official telling the BBC on Thursday that they are still rapidly expanding. The largest fire, in the Pacific Palisades area where many celebrities live, is the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles. More than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed. It's a rapidly changing situation - these maps and pictures chart how the fires have spread, where they are located and what they look like from space. https://www.sott.net/article/497116-In-maps-Thousands-of-acres-on-fire-in-Los-Angeles Thu, 09 Jan 2025 12:50:55 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/495940-15000-acres-burn-as-powerful-Santa-Ana-winds-fuel-explosive-Southern-California-wildfires Fast-moving CA wildfire burning dozens of homes, causing thousands to flee Powerful Santa Ana winds near Los Angeles are fueling some of the most significant wildfire threats in years across Southern California. The relentless 50-70 mph wind gusts have created a perfect storm of conditions, leading to rapid fire spread and widespread evacuations. These conditions led to the explosion of the destructive Mountain Fire in Ventura County on Wednesday. In a matter of hours, it consumed nearly 15,000 acres. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for parts of Ventura, Camarillo, Moorpark, and Somis, California. https://www.sott.net/article/495940-15000-acres-burn-as-powerful-Santa-Ana-winds-fuel-explosive-Southern-California-wildfires Thu, 07 Nov 2024 17:33:02 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/494903-7-people-killed-in-wildfires-in-Portugal At least seven people, including three firefighters, have died as wildfires continue to rage across Portugal, according to local news outlets. Parts of the country have been ablaze since the weekend, with temperatures in some areas topping 30C (86F). The northern and central parts have been worst affected. The firefighters - two women and a man - died while tackling a blaze in Tábua in Coimbra, central Portugal, the country's civil protection authority said. More than 5,000 firefighters have been tackling the wildfires that Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said are "raging across the country". https://www.sott.net/article/494903-7-people-killed-in-wildfires-in-Portugal Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:05:46 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/494712-Animals-flee-huge-wildfire-in-Bolivia-as-national-emergency-declared Animals fled raging forest fires in Bolivia as a national emergency was declared on Saturday, 7 September. Environment minister Alan Lisperguer said 3.8 million hectares had been affected to date. According to Inpe, Brazil's space research agency that monitors fires, Bolivia has seen the largest number of wildfires since 2010 with at least 3 million hectares (7.5 million acres) burned in 2024 alone. It comes amid the peak fire season in South America, which usually spans throughout August and September. https://www.sott.net/article/494712-Animals-flee-huge-wildfire-in-Bolivia-as-national-emergency-declared Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:48:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/494491-Climate-Science-goes-full-bore-witchcraft-Your-beefsteak-makes-bridges-fall-like-Tinker-Toys The Modern West is regressing to 8th Century occult science Today the supposed "newspaper of record" for the most powerful nation on Earth is effectively telling people that the steak they eat, the car they drive and the heater they use could cause bridges to collapse "'like Tinkertoys". But you'll have to join the dots yourself, because they never do. No one asks the experts: How many Tofu-burgers does it take to save Brooklyn Bridge? How many bus trips will we need to save the Golden Gate? The worlds leading journalists never ask the obvious questions. They just leave a trail of breadcrumbs: Man makes CO2, CO2 causes Spooky weather and Spooky weather eats bridges. So good people drive EV's! Each breadcrumb looks like bread, like it might be real, but no one sees the whole loaf and before you know it, everyone is lost in the woods, installing solar panels to save their bridges. Two days ago the breadcrumbs said "good people go without air conditioners". Things are so bad the New... https://www.sott.net/article/494491-Climate-Science-goes-full-bore-witchcraft-Your-beefsteak-makes-bridges-fall-like-Tinker-Toys Mon, 02 Sep 2024 20:47:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/494243-Wildfires-affecting-30-cities-in-Brazils-Sao-Paulo-state-leave-2-dead Brazil's Sao Paulo state said that wildfire outbreaks were affecting or closing in on 30 of its cities on Friday evening, adding two people had died in an industrial plant trying to hold back the flames. The cities have been affected by dry, hot weather in recent days, the government said in a statement. The state government also warned that forest fires could spread rapidly from gusts of wind, potentially razing large areas of natural vegetation. For now, the government has not reported flames directly reaching the city of Sao Paulo, Latin America's largest by population with more than 11 million residents. Still, local media reported smoke blocking out some parts of state capital's sky. https://www.sott.net/article/494243-Wildfires-affecting-30-cities-in-Brazils-Sao-Paulo-state-leave-2-dead Sun, 25 Aug 2024 17:45:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/494168-Wildfires-burn-over-6-of-Portugals-Madeira-island-in-1-week A forest fire on the southern coast of Portugal's island of Madeira has scorched more than 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres) of land, or 6.4% of the island's total area, over the past week. The fire, which began on Aug. 14, remains uncontrolled and is causing significant concern in the southern coastal areas of Camara de Lobos and Ponta do Sol, as well as in the mountainous Pico Ruivo region. Data from the European Forest Fire Information System indicates that the fire has affected more than 5,000 hectares on the island so far. The Portuguese National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) has faced strong criticism from unions and opposition parties for its handling of the situation. In response, the agency has deployed a 60-member special unit to assist in firefighting efforts. https://www.sott.net/article/494168-Wildfires-burn-over-6-of-Portugals-Madeira-island-in-1-week Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:17:30 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/493932-Popocatepetl-volcano-in-Mexico-spews-clouds-of-gas-and-ash-on-August-12 The Popocatepetl volcano in central Mexico spewed water vapour, gas, and ash high into the sky on Monday, the country's disaster prevention agency (CENAPRED) reported. https://www.sott.net/article/493932-Popocatepetl-volcano-in-Mexico-spews-clouds-of-gas-and-ash-on-August-12 Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:27:50 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/493900-Thousands-evacuated-as-wildfires-reach-Athens Thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes as large wildfires reach the suburbs of Athens, with some flames leaping as high as 25m (80ft). Homes and properties in nearby towns such as Varnavas as well as northeastern parts of the Greek capital are on fire, including a school in Nea Penteli. With the sun setting, aircraft working to extinguish the flames have been forced to land, making it a ground operation overnight. Residents are complaining there are not enough fire trucks and firefighters to help, as Greek authorities request international assistance. https://www.sott.net/article/493900-Thousands-evacuated-as-wildfires-reach-Athens Mon, 12 Aug 2024 20:49:32 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/493504-Fast-moving-wildfires-force-25000-to-evacuate-historic-Canadian-town Fast moving wildfires in the Canadian Rockies have forced around 25,000 people to flee the idyllic tourist town of Jasper. Flames have devastated up to half of the structures in the town as a "wall of flames" climbed above treetops, officials said. While there have been no immediate injury reports after the mass evacuation, town Mayor Richard Ireland said the wildfire has "ravaged our beloved community." https://www.sott.net/article/493504-Fast-moving-wildfires-force-25000-to-evacuate-historic-Canadian-town Sun, 28 Jul 2024 11:15:02 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/492250-Unprecedented-wildfires-ravage-Brazils-wetlands As Jose Cleiton and Brandao Amilton ride their horses into the vastness of the Pantanal grassy wetlands of Brazil, a wall of smoke towers from the horizon far into the sky above. The worst of the dry season is still far off, but already these Brazilian wetlands are so dry that wildfires are surging. The number of Pantanal fires so far this year has jumped tenfold from the same period last year according to Brazil's National Institute of Space Research (INPE). "It's hard to breathe. It's hard for newborn children. The heat gets stronger and stronger," said Amilton, a local fishing guide. "The Pantanal is already hot and it gets hotter, drier, with smoke, the weather gets very bad." The men guide cattle across the flood plain, hoping for a better chance of survival. "The way the fire is coming, it could surround them and burn them to death," said Cleiton, a farmer. https://www.sott.net/article/492250-Unprecedented-wildfires-ravage-Brazils-wetlands Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:01:50 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/491439-Wildfires-have-led-to-the-evacuation-of-thousands-of-Canadians Wildfire season has arrived in full force in Western Canada, prompting evacuation orders and alerts in several towns in British Columbia and neighboring Alberta due to the danger of uncontrolled blazes. Hundreds of residents in four neighborhoods in the southern end of Canada's oil sand hub of Fort McMurray, Alberta, were ordered to evacuate with a wildfire threatening the community, authorities said. A large wildfire is slowly approaching the major Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray and around 6,000 people in four suburbs have been told to evacuate, local officials said. With over 100 active wildfires burning in Canada, wildfire smoke has drifted across the border into the United States, prompting Minnesota officials to issue the state's first air quality alert of 2024. https://www.sott.net/article/491439-Wildfires-have-led-to-the-evacuation-of-thousands-of-Canadians Wed, 15 May 2024 13:27:17 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/490842-Multiple-early-season-wildfires-burning-in-British-Columbia-112-and-Alberta-66 Wildfire season is off to an early start in British Columbia's central Interior and Cariboo regions. The B.C. Wildfire Service reported several wildfires over the weekend south of Quesnel and east of Vanderhoof. The service says the largest of the fires is the Burgess Creek wildfire, located about 45 kilometres south of Quesnel and was estimated to be about half of a square kilometre in size. The Prince George Fire Centre is reporting two wildfires, each covering an area of about eight city blocks, about four kilometres east of Vanderhoof. The Wildfire Service is reporting 112 active wildfires in B.C. The B.C. government says last year's wildfire season was the most destructive in the province's history as more than 28,400 million square kilometres of forest and land burned and tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate. An evacuation alert is in effect for some living near the Burgess Creek wildfire, one of 118 active wildfires in B.C. In Alberta, there are 66 active... https://www.sott.net/article/490842-Multiple-early-season-wildfires-burning-in-British-Columbia-112-and-Alberta-66 Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:47:03 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/490250-The-extraordinary-climate-events-of-2022-24 The unlikely volcano, the warmest year, and the collapse of the polar vortex. The climate events of 2022-24 have been were truly extraordinary. From an unlikely undersea volcanic eruption to the warmest year on record to the collapse of the polar vortex after three sudden stratospheric warming events. This rare convergence presents a unique learning opportunity for climatologists and climate aficionados alike, offering insights into a climate event that may not be repeated for hundreds or even thousands of years. 1. January 2022, the unlikely volcano Never before have we witnessed an undersea volcanic eruption with a plume capable of reaching the stratosphere and depositing a large amount of vaporized water. This extraordinary event occurred in January 2022 when the Hunga Tonga volcano erupted. The conditions for such an event are rare: the volcano must be deep enough to propel enough water with the plume, but not too deep to prevent it from reaching the stratosphere. Most undersea... https://www.sott.net/article/490250-The-extraordinary-climate-events-of-2022-24 Sat, 30 Mar 2024 17:56:05 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/489860-Wildfire-rages-in-southwest-China-as-strong-winds-and-poor-visibility-disrupt-firefighting-efforts More than 1,000 firefighters and seven helicopters have been deployed to battle a forest fire raging in China's southwestern province of Sichuan. The fire started around 5pm on Friday near Baizi village in Yajiang county in Sichuan's Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Garze, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. Strong winds on Saturday afternoon fanned the blaze, which quickly spread over multiple mountain ridges, it added. The ministry declared a level-4 emergency response, the lowest alert for fire control in forests and grasslands, and dispatched 1,260 firefighters from national and local fire rescue squads. According to state broadcaster CCTV, a total of 3,396 villagers from a dozen villages were evacuated. It said the firefighters resumed their operations on Sunday morning after they were forced to leave the scene on Saturday night due to strong winds and poor visibility. https://www.sott.net/article/489860-Wildfire-rages-in-southwest-China-as-strong-winds-and-poor-visibility-disrupt-firefighting-efforts Sun, 17 Mar 2024 11:47:12 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/489635-Firenado-or-fire-tornado-in-Primorsky-Krai-Russia Natural fires have been raging in the Primorsky Territory for several days. According to the regional emergency rescue department, firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to residential buildings in the Khasan district. The operational headquarters of Primorye decided to triple the forces and means to fight the fire, in connection with which additional tankers were allocated and guards were also deployed in five more fire departments. Meanwhile, RIA Novosti reported that two natural fires covering an area of 363 hectares are being extinguished near the villages of Khasan and Gvozdevo. Fortunately, there is no threat to populated areas. A video circulating on the international web shows a fiery tornado that miraculously did not spread to populated areas. https://www.sott.net/article/489635-Firenado-or-fire-tornado-in-Primorsky-Krai-Russia Sat, 09 Mar 2024 12:01:06 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/489394-Texas-wildfires-cause-chaos-as-largest-blaze-in-state-history-scorches-1-2-million-acres-2-killed Dozens of wildfires are causing chaos across the Texas Panhandle as the Smokehouse Creek fire - now the largest blaze in state history - grew to more than 1mn acres on Thursday, even as a dusting of snow brought a measure of relief. At least two people have died, according to officials. The second victim, confirmed by the Texas department of public safety Thursday afternoon, has been identified as Cindy Owens, a 40-year-old woman who was reportedly overtaken by the fire when she got out of her truck in the town of Canadian. The first, 83-year-old grandmother Joyce Blankenship, was killed in her neighborhood of Stinnett, north-east of Amarillo. Fueled by parched grasses, strong winds and abnormally warm temperatures, the fires have scorched more than 1.2 million acres since last Sunday, according to the Texas A&M forest service, leaving a desolate landscape of charred prairie, dead cattle and burned-out homes in their wake. https://www.sott.net/article/489394-Texas-wildfires-cause-chaos-as-largest-blaze-in-state-history-scorches-1-2-million-acres-2-killed Fri, 01 Mar 2024 15:16:08 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/489326-Evacuations-ordered-as-wind-fueled-wildfires-tear-across-Texas-Panhandle Firefighters are battling several wind-fueled wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, the largest of which has forced evacuations in the cities in Hemphill County, about a hundred miles northeast of Amarillo. The Smokehouse Creek grassland fire has scorched at least 300,000 acres with 0% containment, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. Hemphill County Emergency Management issued evacuation orders Tuesday afternoon, with Sheriff Brent Clapp "strongly" suggesting people evacuate Canadian. Later in the evening, according to ABC 7 News, as the wildfire forced road closures, Clapp recommended Canadian residents shelter in place. Canadian Independent School District canceled all classes on Wednesday due to the fire. ABC 7 also reported that structures in Canadian have burned. "Photojournalist Steve Douglass saw two homes in Canadian burn. There are likely many more." https://www.sott.net/article/489326-Evacuations-ordered-as-wind-fueled-wildfires-tear-across-Texas-Panhandle Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:32:45 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/489165-Thousands-urged-to-evacuate-as-out-of-control-blaze-bears-down-in-Victoria-Australia Thousands of people in 28 communities are being urged to evacuate a large fire zone as an out-of-control blaze bears down on them in Victoria. An emergency warning has been issued for the communities west of Ballarat with concerns about a wind change is expected to sweep the area between 6pm and 7.30pm. Residents in another nine townships nearby have also been advised to leave. Conditions are not expected to ease until about midnight, Victorian Country Fire Authority chief officer, Jason Heffernan, told reporters on Thursday afternoon. https://www.sott.net/article/489165-Thousands-urged-to-evacuate-as-out-of-control-blaze-bears-down-in-Victoria-Australia Thu, 22 Feb 2024 15:44:49 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/489084-Zombie-Fires-burning-at-an-alarming-rate-in-Canada Even in the dead of Canada's winter, the embers of last year's record-setting wildfire season remain. So-called zombie fires are burning under thick layers of snow at an unprecedented rate, raising fears about what the coming summer may bring. People driving on the highway through the town of Fort Nelson, British Columbia (BC) in the winter can easily see - and smell - the clouds of white smoke flowing from the soil around them. Sonja Leverkus, a firefighter and scientist who is local to the small north-eastern BC town, recalled driving during a snowstorm in November, but the snowfall didn't look white. Rather, she said, it was blueish-grey because of the smoke in the air. https://www.sott.net/article/489084-Zombie-Fires-burning-at-an-alarming-rate-in-Canada Tue, 20 Feb 2024 12:57:30 +0000