Latest news with #CALFIRE
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
California Fire Map Shows 200 Acres Burning as Evacuations Ordered
Firefighters are battling to contain a wildfire, dubbed the Henderson Fire, that broke out on Friday evening in San Diego County and which had consumed 200 acres as of 4:30 a.m. PT on Saturday. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has issued compulsory evacuation orders for an area around the blaze, with lower evacuation warnings in force for a wider region. Southern California is still recovering from a devastating series of wildfires that ripped through around 66,618 acres in the Golden State in January, leaving at least 29 people dead. Following the infernos rents in Los Angeles spiked by 20 percent. The Henderson Fire was only 5 percent contained at 4:30 a.m. PT on Saturday, raising fears it could grow substantially. According to CAL FIRE the Henderson Fire began at around 5:45 p.m. ET on Friday and has since consumed 200 acres in San Diego County, in a rural area north of San Diego and south-east of Los Angeles. Compulsory evacuation orders, constituting "a lawful order to LEAVE NOW," have been issued for SDC-0040, SDC-0063, SDC-0064, SDC-0065, SDC-0112, SDC-0113, SDC-0114, SDC-0115 and SDC-0159 encompassing the area directly around the fire. The public is now banned from entering these areas. Wider evacuation warnings, meaning there is a "potential threat to life and/or property," have been issued for SDC-0063, SDC-0066, SDC-0158, SDC-0116, SDC-0117 and SDC-0118. For these areas CAL FIRE said: "Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now." A temporary evacuation point has been established at the Pala Casino Parking Lot just off Highway 76 at Pala. On X, formerly Twitter, CAL FIRE's San Diego station said the blaze was being tackled by 160 firefighters from multiple agencies who were having to contend with "steep terrain with limited access." They added that the Red Cross was on hand to assist displaced residents. In its most recent update, CAL FIRE said: "The fire is burning in the area of Henderson Road and Pala Mission Road. A substantial number of additional resources have been ordered, EVACUATION ORDERS and WARNINGS are in place. If you are immediately affected by the fire, please follow all evacuation notices and orders." In a post on X, Temecula resident Jason Kovacs said: "The #HendersonFire is burning close to us! Praying for those who are fighting it tonight and for full containment. Sobering." On Friday evening, amateur-run SoCal Wildfire Trackerposted on X: "#HendersonFire it's going to be quite the overnight fight. The area it's burning in hasn't seen fire since 2000. Evacuation are extending as far north as the county border to the north and up to 7 miles east of the fire. Fire is 145 acres and is already impacting ranch land." CAL FIRE is continuing to battle the Henderson Fire. Local residents can keep up to date with the latest information and evacuation orders via its official website. Related Articles Six States Where Wildfire Smoke Set To 'Dim The Sun'Minnesota Wildfire Map Shows Devastation as Blaze Engulfs 35,000 AcresScientists Reveal Alarming Climate Future Awaiting Gen Z: 'Unprecedented Exposure'Millions Told To Avoid Campfires in 4 States 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
California Fire Map Shows 200 Acres Burning as Evacuations Ordered
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Firefighters are battling to contain a wildfire, dubbed the Henderson Fire, that broke out on Friday evening in San Diego County and which had consumed 200 acres as of 4:30 a.m. PT on Saturday. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has issued compulsory evacuation orders for an area around the blaze, with lower evacuation warnings in force for a wider region. Why It Matters Southern California is still recovering from a devastating series of wildfires that ripped through around 66,618 acres in the Golden State in January, leaving at least 29 people dead. Following the infernos rents in Los Angeles spiked by 20 percent. The Henderson Fire was only 5 percent contained at 4:30 a.m. PT on Saturday, raising fears it could grow substantially. What To Know According to CAL FIRE the Henderson Fire began at around 5:45 p.m. ET on Friday and has since consumed 200 acres in San Diego County, in a rural area north of San Diego and south-east of Los Angeles. Compulsory evacuation orders, constituting "a lawful order to LEAVE NOW," have been issued for SDC-0040, SDC-0063, SDC-0064, SDC-0065, SDC-0112, SDC-0113, SDC-0114, SDC-0115 and SDC-0159 encompassing the area directly around the fire. The public is now banned from entering these areas. Stock photograph showing fire personnel responding to the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 7, 2025. Stock photograph showing fire personnel responding to the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 7, 2025. DAVID SWANSON/AFP/GETTY Wider evacuation warnings, meaning there is a "potential threat to life and/or property," have been issued for SDC-0063, SDC-0066, SDC-0158, SDC-0116, SDC-0117 and SDC-0118. For these areas CAL FIRE said: "Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now." A temporary evacuation point has been established at the Pala Casino Parking Lot just off Highway 76 at Pala. CAL FIRE evacuation orders (red) and evacuation warnings (yellow) around the Henderson Fire. CAL FIRE evacuation orders (red) and evacuation warnings (yellow) around the Henderson Fire. CAL FIRE On X, formerly Twitter, CAL FIRE's San Diego station said the blaze was being tackled by 160 firefighters from multiple agencies who were having to contend with "steep terrain with limited access." They added that the Red Cross was on hand to assist displaced residents. What People Are Saying In its most recent update, CAL FIRE said: "The fire is burning in the area of Henderson Road and Pala Mission Road. A substantial number of additional resources have been ordered, EVACUATION ORDERS and WARNINGS are in place. If you are immediately affected by the fire, please follow all evacuation notices and orders." In a post on X, Temecula resident Jason Kovacs said: "The #HendersonFire is burning close to us! Praying for those who are fighting it tonight and for full containment. Sobering." On Friday evening, amateur-run SoCal Wildfire Tracker posted on X: "#HendersonFire it's going to be quite the overnight fight. The area it's burning in hasn't seen fire since 2000. Evacuation are extending as far north as the county border to the north and up to 7 miles east of the fire. Fire is 145 acres and is already impacting ranch land." What Happens Next CAL FIRE is continuing to battle the Henderson Fire. Local residents can keep up to date with the latest information and evacuation orders via its official website.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- CBS News
More than 100,000 pounds of illegal fireworks seized in Los Angeles County
Authorities in Los Angeles County seized more than 100,000 pounds of illegal fireworks on Wednesday. According to CAL FIRE, the Office of the State Fire Marshal conducted the seizure in Commerce, where it responded to reports that a fireworks importer and exporter wasn't following the requirements of a licensee, despite being a licensed vendor. CAL FIRE did not immediately reveal what regulations were broken by the vendor. "As we approach the 4th of July and a typical increase in usage of illegal fireworks, this seizure should be a reminder of our zero tolerance to illegal fireworks in California," said California State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant. More than $4 million in property loss has been caused by fireworks-related fires since January, CAL FIRE said. Illegal fireworks in California include sky rockets, bottle rockets, roman candles, aerial shells and firecrackers, among others. As of 4 p.m., no additional details were immediately made available.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fire risks spark as homeless people steal power from poles
(NewsNation) — Officials are sounding the alarm on homeless people illegally using power from light poles to charge electronic devices and use different appliances inside encampments. It has been seen in cities like Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Los Angeles. Video on Instagram shows open wires dragged across a road from a light pole to a homeless encampment in LA. Officials say it poses a great safety risk. In the southern parts of LA, numerous light poles have been broken into with exposed wire hanging out. City public works crews have spent days working to clear illegal wires leading to a block of encampments. Why Kid Cudi is expected to testify at Diddy's trial Residents in areas of LA near encampments have reported seeing a flat-screen TV and an air conditioning unit set up in a tent. Neighborhood concern has grown because improper wiring is a fire hazard. According to a memo from the Los Angeles Fire Department, nearly a third of all fires in the last six years have involved a member of the homeless community. In 2023, a major fire caused significant damage to and shut down a key stretch of the 10 freeway in LA that was near a homeless encampment. The cause of that fire was determined to be arson, and while CAL FIRE released photos of a potential suspect, no arrests in the case have been made. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the state is home to the largest homeless population of all other states, estimated to be about 187,000 people. Nearly half are unhoused and living on the streets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Homebuilders Deliver Under Threat Of Wildfire Season
Hapi Homes uses light gauge steel replacing timber as a noncombustible frame solution to create ... More wildfire resilient, affordable homes. Record-breaking May temperatures in Texas—topping 100 degrees—are intensifying wildfire conditions, while more than 40,000 acres burn across Minnesota and parts of Canada. While wildfires are common in the Southwest, their growing presence in northern states signals a dangerous shift in wildfire patterns across the U.S. As climate change leads to more frequent and widespread wildfires, homebuyers, builders, and insurers are urgently seeking wildfire-resistant homes and climate-resilient construction strategies. Here's how innovators are building safer, more sustainable communities in high-risk areas. With rebuilding now a priority in many communities, California is leading the way. In April 2025, the U.S. Green Building Council California released the California Wildfire Rebuilding Guide, designed specifically to help homeowners rebuild after fire events. The guide incorporates input from CAL FIRE, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. It targets suburban and urban environments like Altadena and Pacific Palisades, where wildfire risks intersect with earthquakes and extreme heat. It also outlines cost-effective, sustainable rebuilding strategies at the community scale. The guide is tailored for areas with defined lot lines and limited space, where rebuilding must be efficient and disaster-conscious. 'Wildfire projections have increased in frequency,' said Jamie Knippen, senior product manager at Cotality, a property data analytics firm. 'Drought conditions are driving more fires in places we've never seen them before.' Using AI-powered property risk data, Cotality helps builders identify wildfire threats before development begins—critical insight for insurers evaluating new coverage options. Mitigation data is also being tied directly to insurance discounts. 'It's estimated that completing all 12 California-required mitigation actions can lead to a 20% insurance premium reduction,' Knippen said. Wildfire resiliency is evolving and will be able to better protect people and to provide much needed housing supply in areas that maybe didn't previously seem like options with more data and design innovation. A key part of wildfire-safe construction is material selection. Hapi Homes, a modular home company, is seeing skyrocketing demand thanks to its noncombustible light-gauge steel framing. 'We've seen a 300% to 400% increase in inquiries after the Los Angeles fires,' said CEO Mary O'Brien. 'Resiliency starts with the light-gauge steel. It forms the core frame, manufactured to spec using automated factory tools.' Hapi Homes kits range from $85 to $150 per square foot depending on finishes, with most averaging $100. Add another $105 to $115 per square foot for contractor buildout, and these affordable modular homes are still well below traditional costs. Each home is shipped from Salt Lake City in a single 14-foot container, which holds an entire 1,200-square-foot house. Once delivered, framing and panel assembly are faster and cheaper than conventional builds—cutting structural build time by 40% and labor costs by 20%. Because they are wildfire-hardened, homes built by Hapi also qualify for up to 20% insurance discounts. In 2024, Hapi future-proofed its business by moving its steel supply chain to the U.S., avoiding international delays and import tariffs. 'We're no longer exposed to overseas shipping disruptions, and the cost is comparable,' O'Brien said. This custom home was built with RSG 3-D panels in the roof, walls and floor to be wildfire and ... More earthquake resistant. Some companies are pushing the envelope on disaster-resilient housing. RSG 3-D, for example, uses a proprietary panel system made of concrete, steel trusses, and polystyrene insulation that resists not only wildfires but also hurricanes and earthquakes. 'The resiliency is our bag,' said CEO Ken Calligar. 'We've had 30 years of real-world testing in real-world conditions. On a wind rating basis, we're rated up to 300 to 321 mph. That's just an engineering calculation because there isn't equipment to test that kind of sustained wind force.' He said the panels' seismic testing was stopped to avoid damaging the equipment—despite no damage to the panels themselves. 'We tested up to a 9.4 Richter event and still didn't have a cosmetic or structural crack,' he said. 'The engineers took the panel apart to see if there was internal damage, and there was none. They rated it up to 11.0.' The strength comes from the panel's construction. Each 4-foot-wide panel includes solid-core polystyrene insulation, surrounded by pre-galvanized steel with a steel truss system. Once transported to the site, concrete is poured into the panel. The panels can be used for the entire structure—including walls, roofs, and floors. 'You can frame fast and precise with any building envelope you want, then apply the concrete and have a 500-year building,' Calligar said. The panels are cost-competitive and could be less expensive at scale. 'You can reduce mechanicals because the panels are 50% more energy efficient,' he said. 'On a lifecycle basis, we build the lowest-cost building because it saves 50% on energy, 50% on maintenance, and 40% on insurance.' MDLR Brands used wildfire resistant panels to build this proof-of-concept modular project in ... More California for an affordable, resilient construction process that can go to scale. In a high-wildfire-risk zone in California, builder Allen Lancaster and MDLR Brands are wrapping up framing on a 1,700-square-foot duplex using structural insulated panels. The framing took just two days—half the time of a standard build. The Bishop Modular Duplex is a pilot project showcasing modular construction for wildfire zones. MDLR's system offers a one-hour fire rating and self-extinguishing panels that are also rated for Category 5 hurricanes and are mold- and pest-resistant. While the fire-resistant materials slightly increased the manufacturing cost, MDLR is able to offset those increases with the reduced labor, faster build time, and long-term durability of the panel system. 'Overall, the cost-benefit is highly favorable when considering the avoided expenses related to fireproofing traditional framing methods,' said Harrison Langley, CEO at MDLR. 'Minimal maintenance is required. Unlike wood or traditional cladding, LiteSIP panels do not degrade with heat or exposure.' The product also comes in at an affordable $285 per square foot. The latest wildfires have caused severe damage across North America. But they've also spurred innovation and inspired the building industry to prioritize wildfire-resistant design, sustainable materials, and affordable rebuilding solutions. As climate risks escalate, making wildfire resiliency a priority is no longer optional. These builders and innovators are proving that safer homes don't have to be more expensive—they just need to be smarter.
