wildfires

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14-Year-Old Accused of Starting NJ Wildfire

Boy is being held in blaze that burned through more than 50 acres

(Newser) - Police in New Jersey have arrested a person accused of starting a wildfire amid the state's ongoing drought—and he's all of 14 years old. Evesham Township Police say they arrested the juvenile and charged him with setting a fire on Oct. 30 that burned more than 50...

Also on Fire: The Northeast
Also on Fire: The Northeast
Nov 11, 2024 10:35 AM CST

Also on Fire: The Northeast

As California contends with its blazes, firefighters on East Coast have drought-induced fires of their own

(Newser) - The West is usually the focus of news about US wildfires, but the Northeast is currently waging its own fiery battles as a regional drought continues to leave the land parched and ripe for blazes. Axios reports that an "abnormally dry fall" has firefighters hard at work, with a...

Teenage Employee Killed Fighting New York Wildfire

Tree fell on 18-year-old as he helped battle a blaze on New Jersey border

(Newser) - An 18-year-old New York parks employee killed while fighting a wildfire in the state Saturday was being mourned by his family as well as state officials. Dariel Vasquez, an aide with the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department, was helping to combat a wildfire in Orange County'...

Amid Devastation of California's Mountain Fire, 'Fantastic' News

Firefighters gain ground on the blaze in Ventura County that has destroyed 130-plus homes

(Newser) - Southern California firefighters gained ground Friday against a wildfire that has destroyed at least 132 structures , mostly houses, as favorable conditions were expected to continue through the weekend after two days of dangerous gusty winds. Forecasters expect light winds over the weekend that will continue to aid firefighters. Meteorologists are...

Family Moved Into Inherited Home 2 Weeks Ago, Lost It in Wildfire

So-called Mountain Fire in Ventura County, California, has burned 130-plus homes, injured 10

(Newser) - Thousands are under evacuation orders as the ferocious Mountain Fire continues to rage across California's Ventura County—a most unwelcome welcome for Brittanie Bibby and her family, who just saw the home in Camarillo she recently inherited from her dad go up in flames. "We lost everything,"...

California Wildfire Explodes to Nearly 15K Acres in Hours

3.5K structures threatened, thousands under evacuation orders

(Newser) - California was lashed by powerful winds Wednesday that fed a fast-moving wildfire, which destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of residents to flee as forecasters warned of the potential for "extreme and life-threatening" blazes, the AP reports. Northwest of Los Angeles, the Mountain Fire exploded in size and...

Guy Loses Dog, Sparks Wildfire in Cremation Attempt: Cops

It was allegedly a rough few days for Brent Garber, now charged with arson

(Newser) - One of Colorado's largest wildfires of the year was started by a man whose attempt at cremating his dog went horribly wrong, authorities say. Investigators probing how the Bucktail fire erupted Aug. 1 discovered the partially burned remains of the dog named Rocket on private property that had suffered...

6 Firefighters Critically Injured in California Crash

They had just finished 12-hour shift battling Airport Fire

(Newser) - Six firefighters were critically injured Thursday night in a rollover crash on a freeway in Orange County, California. The two other firefighters in the fire truck had minor injuries, KTLA reports. The California Highway Patrol says the Orange County Fire Authority truck hit a guardrail and rolled over after it...

Man Pleads Not Guilty to Starting Massive California Fire

Delivery driver Justin Halstenberg allegedly used incendiary device

(Newser) - A California man has pleaded not guilty to starting a fire that authorities said ballooned into a massive wildfire and forced the evacuation of thousands of homes. Online court records show Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, entered the plea from jail in a video arraignment Tuesday in the San Bernardino city...

Suspect Accused of Starting Massive California Fire

Sheriff believes FedEx driver Justin Halstenberg may be responsible for more wildfires

(Newser) - A California man has been arrested for allegedly starting a wildfire that has put more than 65,000 structures at risk. Riverside County resident Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of arson, KCAL reports. Investigators believe he started the Line Fire , which has burned more than 54...

Firefighters Can't Get a Grip on Blaze Raging Near Athens

Evacuations triggered for suburbs of Greek capital, as blaze rips through dry pine forests

(Newser) - A major forest fire was raging out of control on the northern fringes of the Greek capital on Monday, triggering numerous evacuation orders for Athens suburbs and outlying areas as strong winds hampered the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and dozens of water-dropping planes. Authorities were faced with "an...

Older Firefighter Pilots Often Just Keep on Flying

Fatal crash of 73-year-old draws attention to the issue

(Newser) - Pilot Jim Maxwell logged nearly 25,000 flight hours over five decades flying small planes in dangerous situations, from spraying to kill illegal drug crops in Central America to navigating smoky skies to drop fire retardant as wildfires scorched the Western United States. Once in the 1980s, his plane went...

Wildfire Smoke Signals Some Trees to Hold Their Breath

Researchers document a unique reaction from pines when smoke fills the air

(Newser) - During wildfires, people are urged to stay inside with shut windows to avoid inhaling smoke. Surrounding trees don't have that option, of course, but a new study suggests that some species can protect themselves from dangerous air quality, too. Yale Environment 360 reports that a team of researchers out...

$4B Settlement Won't Make Maui 'Whole,' but It's a Start

Parties in lawsuit over Lahaina wildfire come to an agreement, nearly one year later

(Newser) - The parties in lawsuits seeking damages for last year's Maui wildfires have reached a $4 billion global settlement, a court filing said Friday, nearly one year after the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century. The term sheet with details of the settlement isn't publicly available, but...

He Ran 1.5 Miles From Chopper to Save Dogs From Park Fire

Trevor Skaggs' heroism on display amid 5th-largest fire in California history

(Newser) - A man fleeing California's Park Fire was forced to leave behind his two Rottweilers and their litter of puppies on Wednesday when his truck broke down. The remote area above Cohasset was soon blocked by fire and the dogs "presumed lost," the North Valley Animal Disaster Group...

California's Biggest Wildfire Just Got Even Bigger

Firefighters are struggling to contain Park Fire, threatening thousands of homes in 4 counties

(Newser) - California's largest active fire exploded in size on Friday evening, growing rapidly amid bone-dry fuel and threatening thousands of homes as firefighters scrambled to meet the danger. The Park Fire's intensity and dramatic spread led fire officials to make unwelcome comparisons to the monstrous Camp Fire, which burned...

Tanker Plane Crashes Fighting Oregon Fire, Killing Pilot

Crews struggle with blazes spreading across western US

(Newser) - A tanker plane that disappeared in eastern Oregon while fighting one of the many wildfires spreading across several Western states has been found, and the pilot on board is dead, authorities said Friday. A local search and rescue team located the aircraft Friday morning, said a Bureau of Land Management...

Wildfire Engulfs Town in Canadian Rockies

Firefighters are battling to save critical infrastructure in Jasper, Alberta

(Newser) - One of two raging wildfires menacing the town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies' largest national park has roared into town and begun burning buildings. Park officials say the fire entered the southern edge of the community Wednesday evening, and crews are battling multiple structural fires and working to protect...

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch Is in Wildfire's Path

The Lake Fire is also threatening wineries in California's Los Olivos area

(Newser) - One of the largest wildfires currently burning in California has Michael Jackson's former home in its sights. The Lake Fire, which has grown to more than 18,000 acres since it broke out Friday afternoon, is burning in southern California's Santa Barbara County near Los Olivos, and along...

'Vast Majority' of California Evacuees Allowed Home

Crews are continuing to battle Thompson Fire near Oroville

(Newser) - Thousands of people evacuated during a Northern California wildfire were allowed to return home Thursday afternoon as crews continued battling flames amid scorching heat, officials said. Containment of the Thompson Fire near the city of Oroville in Butte County also increased to 29% from 7%, the AP reports. The "...

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