Category: wildfires

While California Dries Out and Burns, Bureaucrats Hype Diversity

Commentary A few months ago, a friend of mine in the water business participated in a lunchtime seminar in Sacramento on the topic of how to increase diversity in the water industry. As a civil engineer, he thought the discussion would focus on how to develop diverse sources of water in a drought stricken state….


Newsom Declares State of Emergency as Wildfires Force Evacuations in California

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as a heatwave spread across the western United States that is set to strain the power grid with increased energy demand. Newsom’s declaration will temporarily increase energy production and reduce demand, he said. The governor’s emergency proclamation comes after the California Independent System Operator called a “Flex Alert”…


Wildfires in Algeria Kill at Least 37, Including Family of 5

ALGIERS, Algeria—Wildfires raging in the forests of eastern Algeria have killed at least 37 people and wounded 161 others, the civil protection department of the North African country said Thursday. Most of the victims were reported in the wilaya, or region, of El Tarf, near the northern Algeria-Tunisian border, where 34 people were found dead….


Stable Weather Allows Fire Crews to Focus on Containment of BC Wildfires

Crews battling the wildfire that has forced the evacuation of more than 500 properties in British Columbia’s southern Okanagan are taking advantage of calm winds and stable conditions to bolster fire lines. The BC Wildfire Service says the the wildfire covers 68 square kilometres southwest of Penticton, with most of the recent growth due to…


Unpredictable Winds Make Wildfires an Erratic Adversary: Experts

Hot weather and dry conditions are the usual suspects in any wildfire season, but a complex interplay of topography and unpredictable winds can create particularly challenging adversaries for firefighters, experts say. In British Columbia, shifting wind patterns have been a key concern for crews battling a fire in the south Okanagan that has forced the…


Community Cut Off by Newfoundland Forest Fires Running out of Food, Says Deputy Mayor

The deputy mayor of a southern Newfoundland town says his community is running out of food as it remains cut off from the rest of the island due to the worst forest fires the province has seen in more than 60 years. Roy Drake said Monday he figures the three grocery stores in Harbour Breton,…


Help on the Way for Central Newfoundland Fire That Premier Says Is Largest Since 1961

The rapid growth of a long-burning forest fire in central Newfoundland has triggered a state of emergency in the area and the expansion of an outdoor fire ban to the entire province. Premier Andrew Furey told reporters on Sunday the state of emergency was declared the night before in the areas of Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s…


Shifting Winds Keep Villages on Edge as Fire in BC’s Okanagan Forces Evacuations

Shifting wind patterns are keeping communities on edge in British Columbia’s southern Okanagan, where an out-of-control wildfire forced the evacuation of the village of Olalla and residents of nearby Keremeos were told to prepare to leave. Winds in the area are known for their unpredictability, which has firefighters and emergency officials preparing for the worst,…


Hot, Dry August to Sustain Wildfires, Especially in Southern BC, Says Forecast

British Columbia is expected to experience sustained wildfire activity in August and September, especially in southern regions, with a long-range forecast of hot-dry weather. Shortly after the wildfire forecast came Thursday, the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District upgraded an evacuation order to include all residents in the community of Olalla, about 40 kilometres south of Penticton. This…


Southern Okanagan Blaze Grows but Most BC Wildfires Static as Cooler Weather Holds

Cooler weather has given wildfire crews a modest breather as they battle an increasing number of fires around British Columbia. Information from the BC Wildfire Service shows little overnight growth on most of the six fires of note in the province that are either highly visible or a potential threat to homes and properties. The…