Contractor guilty in California wildfire death labor case

SALINAS, Calif. (AP) — The owner of a bulldozer that overturned and killed the operator while battling a huge California wildfire has been found guilty of violating labor laws. KQED-TV says a Monterey County judge ruled Wednesday that Ian Czirban failed to have workers' compensation insurance that's...

Virginia officials issue warning as wildfire season begins

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia officials are warning residents about what could be one of the most severe wildfire seasons in years. On Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced the start of the fall wildfire season in Virginia, which runs through Nov. 30. Most of Virginia faces an increased risk of wildfires...

Wildfires spread through parts of Lebanon, Syria

DAMOUR, Lebanon (AP) — Wildfires spread through parts of Lebanon on Tuesday after forcing some residents to flee their homes in the middle of the night, while others were stuck inside as the flames reached villages south of Beirut, authorities said. A heat wave in the region coupled with strong winds...

Los Angeles fire began under power lines, cause not known

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A destructive fire that exploded on the edge of Los Angeles began beneath a high-voltage transmission tower owned by Southern California Edison, fire officials said Monday. Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators determined the origin of the Saddle Ridge Fire was beneath power...

Do California power shutoffs work? Hard to know, experts say

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Millions of Californians spent part of the week in the dark in an unprecedented effort by the state's large electrical utilities to prevent another devastating wildfire. It was the fifth time Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has preemptively cut the power but by far the largest to date...

The Latest: PG&E says system had 100 incidents of damage

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Latest on California power shutoffs to prevent wildfires (all times local): 8:30 p.m. Pacific Gas & Electric says inspections have found more than 100 places where its system was damaged by recent strong winds that prompted last week's deliberate power cut to northern and...

The Latest: Fire department: LA blaze began under power line

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on wildfires that hit Southern California (all times local): 4:40 p.m. Fire officials say a destructive fire that broke out on the edge of Los Angeles began beneath a high-voltage transmission tower. Capt. Erik Scott told The Associated Press on Monday that Los Angeles Fire...

Investigators say destructive Los Angeles wildfire started under high-voltage transmission tower; no cause determined

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Investigators say destructive Los Angeles wildfire started under high-voltage transmission tower; no cause determined.

Plan calls for fuel breaks to battle wildfires in 3 states

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — One option in a plan to battle devastating wildfires in southwestern Idaho, southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada creates 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) of fuel breaks up to 400 feet (120 meters) wide along existing roads. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Friday released a draft...

Firefighters finishing containment of California wildfires

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters are dousing remaining smoldering areas from a destructive wildfire that raged along the northern edge of Los Angeles last week. The Los Angeles Fire Department says containment of the approximately 12-square-mile (31-square-kilometer) fire is at 43 percent Monday. Updated...