Latest Wildfires News

Wildfires can make your California red taste like an ashtray. These scientists want to stop that
ALPINE, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. West Coast produces over 90% of America's wine, but the region is also prone to wildfires — a combustible combination that spelled disaster for the wine industry in 2020 and one that scientists are scrambling to neutralize. Sample a good wine and you...

First congressional hearing on Maui wildfire to focus on island's sole electric provider and grid
Hawaii's top public utility officials and the president of Hawaiian Electric are expected to testify Thursday in a congressional hearing about the role the electrical grid played in last month's deadly Maui wildfire. Members of a U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee are...

New storms batter central Greece as government prioritizes adapting to effects of climate change
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — New floods following torrential rain swept Wednesday across swathes of central Greece already battered by deadly storms weeks earlier, once again damaging roads, flooding homes and causing power outages in the city of Volos and the island of Evia. At least...

An old car tire, burnt trees and a utility pole may be key in finding how the Maui wildfire spread
Melted remains of an old car tire. Heavily burned trees. A charred stump of an abandoned utility pole. Investigators are examining these and other pieces of evidence as they seek to solve the mystery of last month’s deadly Maui wildfire: How did a small, wind-whipped fire sparked...

6 young climate activists take European governments to court over climate change
STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Six young adults and children argued that governments across Europe aren’t doing enough to protect people from climate change at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday in the latest and largest instance of activists taking governments to court to force climate...

Lahaina family finds cherished heirlooms and devastation in first home visit after deadly wildfire
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Leola Vierra stepped gingerly among the hardened pools of melted metal, charred wood and broken glass that are almost all that remain of the home where she lived for nearly 50 years. Sifting through the rubble, she found two cow-patterned vessels, part of her...

Takeaways from AP report on Maui fire investigation
Investigators are trying to solve a mystery about the origin of last month's deadly Maui wildfire: How did a small, wind-whipped fire sparked by downed power lines and declared extinguished flare up again hours later into a devastating inferno that killed at least 97 people? Here are...

How climate change could affect where and when people travel
Travelers encountered many weather surprises this summer, from wildfires in Europe to knee-deep mud at Burning Man. Indeed, it was the hottest summer on record around the globe, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. “The dog days of summer are not...
Flood-hit central Greece braces for new storm as military crews help bolster flood defenses
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Emergency services in central Greece were on alert Tuesday as storms headed toward areas hit by massive floods this month. Municipal and military crews using excavators reinforced flood defenses along rivers near the central cities of Larissa and Trikala....

First of thousands of Lahaina residents return to homes destroyed by deadly wildfire
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The first of thousands of residents who lost their homes in the wildfire that destroyed the Hawaii town of Lahaina returned to their devastated properties Monday, with some stopping for a moment of reflection and others searching for mementos among the ruins. ...
