Latest Wildfires News

Rains, cooler weather help firefighters gain ground on large wildfires in southern New Mexico

Jun. 22, 2024 21:26 PM EDT

RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — Recent rains and cooler weather are helping more than 1,000 firefighters gain ground on two wildfires in southern New Mexico on Saturday that have killed two people, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee. Fire crews took advantage of...

New Mexico heavy rain and flash flooding prompt mandatory evacuations

Jun. 22, 2024 08:20 AM EDT

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — Heavy rain and flash flood warnings in New Mexico prompted officials to order some mandatory evacuations, with shelters set up for displaced residents. The National Weather Service office announced a flash flood emergency on Friday night through early...

Escape from killer New Mexico wildfire was 'absolute sheer terror,’ says woman who fled the flames

Jun. 21, 2024 23:10 PM EDT

Belinda Bukovitz was jolted into action by the sound of police outside her home shouting through a loudspeaker: “Go now, go now, go now!” Realizing this was not like other wildfires that had threatened her mountain village before, she, her husband, son and two cats bundled into three separate...

FEMA is ready for an extreme hurricane and wildfire season, but money is a concern, Mayorkas says

Jun. 21, 2024 18:56 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Homeland Security Department said Friday that the agency tasked with responding to disasters across the country is prepared as it goes into what is expected to be an intense hurricane and wildfire season but he's concerned about looming budget shortfalls. ...

A fire that spread through settlements in Turkey killed 11. Greece evacuates villages for safety

Jun. 21, 2024 12:20 PM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A fire that apparently started in crop stubble spread through settlements in southeast Turkey overnight, killing 11 people and leaving dozens of others requiring medical treatment, officials and news reports said Friday. In neighboring Greece, authorities...

Rain helps 1,000 firefighters slow big New Mexico blazes as Biden approves disaster relief

Jun. 20, 2024 23:09 PM EDT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — More than 1,000 firefighters in New Mexico took advantage of a break in the weather on Thursday to get the upper hand — for now — on a pair of wildfires that have killed two people, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee. President Joe...

California firefighters gain on blazes but brace for troublesome hot weather

Jun. 20, 2024 21:02 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California firefighters continued to gain ground Thursday against large wildfires that erupted statewide during a late-spring bout of very dry winds. The red flag fire weather conditions that spawned the blazes have abated, but forecasters warned large areas of...

Floodwaters inundate Minnesota towns while another storm transformed New Mexico village into a lake

Jun. 20, 2024 19:58 PM EDT

COOK, Minn. (AP) — Several small-town tourist meccas in northern Minnesota have been inundated by floodwaters after a deluge of rain earlier this week, while another powerful storm turned a New Mexico village into a lake. In St. Louis County, Minnesota — the home of Duluth —...

Community foundation takes stock with millions in Maui Strong funds still to spend

Jun. 20, 2024 14:54 PM EDT

Almost a year after the Maui wildfires, half of the money from Hawaii’s largest recovery fund has been spent, with the major portion going to interim housing projects. As of June 14, $103 million from Hawaii Community Foundation’s $194 million Maui Strong Fund had been awarded. ...

New Mexico wildfire claims second life, while rain offers hope of relief

Jun. 19, 2024 21:27 PM EDT

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Heavy rain and hail fell Wednesday around an evacuated village in New Mexico threatened by wildfires that have killed at least two people and damaged more than 1,400 structures, offering the hope of some assistance for firefighters but adding the threat of high winds and...