Latest Wildfires News

California city cancels July Fourth fireworks as firefighters battle flames amid hot weather

Jul. 03, 2024 23:23 PM EDT

OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Officials in a Northern California community cancelled an annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration as an estimated 26,000 residents remained displaced by a growing wildfire, while hundreds of firefighters toiled under extreme heat to keep flames from reaching more...

Lightning strike blamed for wildfire that killed 2 people in New Mexico, damaged 1,400 structures

Jul. 03, 2024 22:28 PM EDT

RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — A lightning strike caused the larger of two wildfires that has killed at least two people and destroyed or damaged more than 1,400 structures in New Mexico, authorities said Wednesday. The South Fork Fire was first reported June 17 on the Mescalero Apache...

Dangerously high heat builds in California and the south-central United States

Jul. 03, 2024 01:36 AM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Swaths of California sweltered Tuesday and things were only expected to get worse during the Fourth of July holiday week for parts of the United States, with nearly 90 million people under heat alerts. The torrid conditions were being caused by a ridge of...

Greece deploys foreign firefighters for the third year running to help tackle wildfires

Jul. 02, 2024 12:11 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece is reinforcing its firefighting teams this summer with 240 firefighters from Bulgaria, Malta, Moldova and Romania, who will be deployed in the country from early July until mid-September, during the height of the wildfire season, officials said Tuesday. ...

Firefighters battle wildfires on 2 Greek islands as premier warns of a dangerous summer

Jul. 01, 2024 23:53 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Firefighters battled wildfires that broke out on the eastern Aegean islands of Chios and Kos Monday and injured five people, as Greece’s prime minister warned of a dangerous summer ahead and said the public’s help was essential in limiting the impact of wildfires. ...

Much of New Mexico is under flood watch after 100 rescued from waters over weekend

Jul. 01, 2024 22:57 PM EDT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Weather forecasters warned Monday that much of New Mexico faces two more days of elevated threats of dangerous flooding like the walls of water over the weekend that caused severe damage, forced the rescues of 100 people and left parts of one town recently ravaged by...

Wildfire forces Alaska's Denali National Park to temporarily close entrance

Jul. 01, 2024 14:53 PM EDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A wildfire burning near the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve forced the temporary closure Monday of one of Alaska’s most popular tourist destinations. Cars were turned around at the park’s only entrance, tour buses were canceled and public...

Groups oppose veto of bill to limit governor’s power to cut off electronic media in emergencies

Jul. 01, 2024 11:52 AM EDT

A local media watchdog, a TV and radio trade organization and a nonprofit that promotes government transparency are each expressing serious concerns with one of the bills Hawaii’s governor has threatened to veto. House Bill 2581, currently awaiting action by Gov. Josh Green, would...

California lawmakers unveil $10 billion bond proposals for climate and schools

Jun. 30, 2024 17:54 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers on Sunday announced they plan to put two bond measures on the ballot in November, one that would ask voter approval to borrow $10 billion for climate programs and another that would borrow $10 billion to build or repair public schools. If passed by...

Evacuation orders lifted for some Arizona residents forced from their homes days ago by a wildfire

Jun. 30, 2024 13:54 PM EDT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Evacuation orders in Arizona have been lifted for some residents of northeast Scottsdale, days after they were forced from their homes by a wildfire, authorities said Sunday. The Boulder View Fire was 19% contained Sunday after charring nearly 6 square...