Latest news with #CaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtection
Mint
12 minutes ago
- Climate
- Mint
Fires, Storms and Blazing Temperatures Forecast for Western US
(Bloomberg) -- Fires, storms and the potential for near-record high temperatures across the western US are in the offing for the coming week. The Gifford Fire, about 125 miles (201 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, had burned 113,648 acres and was 21% contained through Saturday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, commonly known as Cal Fire. So far, 809 people have been evacuated and the Los Padres National Forest was closed because of the flames. There are 3,935 fire crews and support staff on the scene, and at least seven have been injured, according to a joint statement by Cal Fire, the US Forest Service and several local agencies. The Gifford blaze is the largest of 14 fires across the state, according to Cal Fire. Large wildfires in Colorado have also caused air quality to drop there, the US National Weather Service said. Alerts are out across western portions of the state, including Vail, the agency said. Meanwhile, smoke from forest fires in Canada has once again crossed into the US causing air quality alerts to be posted in Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, the National Weather Service said. There's also a dense smoke advisory in place across northeast parts of Montana. Across the border, air quality warnings are also in place for parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Environment and Climate Change Canada said. Across Canada, 714 active fires are burning with 166 raging out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. So far this year, 4,277 blazes have charred 7.3 million acres. In the US, there have been 42,854 fires reported on 3.5 million acres, the US National Interagency Fire Center said. While the number of US fires exceeds last year's 32,727 by this date, the acreage burned is less than the more than 5 million acres consumed a year ago. US heat advisories and extreme heat warnings are posted across parts of the west, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Phoenix is forecast to reach 108F (42C) Sunday, a dip from the record temperatures that gripped the fifth most-populous US city last week. Phoenix set a new August high temperature of 118F on Thursday. In New York City and elsewhere in the Northeast, temperatures are set to rise. As many as 12 records may be tied or broken across the region in the coming week, the US Weather Prediction Center said. Flood watches have been posted across the Midwest, including Milwaukee, the weather service said. The Milwaukee River in Estabrook Park has risen more than 8 feet in the last day cresting at a new record of 11.19 feet, the weather service said. The US National Hurricane Center is watching two potential storms both in the central Atlantic far from land. The first is a disorganized patch of thunderstorms that's moving north into the Atlantic with a 20% chance of becoming a storm in the next week. The second is a broad area of low pressure that is moving off Africa with a 70% chance of becoming a tropical storm or hurricane in the coming week. The remnants of Tropical Storm Dexter, which has crossed the Atlantic Ocean toward Europe, will set the stage for warmer temperatures to filter in across the UK and Ireland, the UK Met Office said. Warmer temperatures are forecast to sweep into the UK during the coming week. The high in London is forecast to reach 33C (91F) by Tuesday, the agency said. --With assistance from Isis Almeida.
Saudi Gazette
an hour ago
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Evacuation orders eased as California firefighters gain ground on Canyon fire
LOS ANGELES — Evacuation orders were lifted Friday in parts of southern California as firefighters made progress against a brush fire that forced thousands from their homes north of Los Angeles. The Canyon fire, which ignited Thursday in a mountainous area, had burned 8.4 square miles (21.9 square kilometers) by late morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Officials said the blaze was 28% contained, and evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings, though the threat to life and property remained. Nearly 4,200 residents in Los Angeles County were under evacuation orders at the height of the fire, with another 12,500 placed under warnings. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized 'out of an abundance of caution,' the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. All are expected to recover. Crews in Ventura County reported 'good progress' in suppressing the flames, crediting favorable weather and repeated water and retardant drops by South Coast Air Quality Management District issued smoke advisories for parts of Los Angeles County, warning that unhealthy air quality could persist through cautioned residents about the health risks of inhaling fine particles from wildfire smoke, which can worsen asthma, lung disease and other chronic conditions.'If first responders tell you to leave, go without hesitation,' LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said, citing extreme heat and low humidity as conditions fueling rapid fire Canyon fire follows another major blaze — the Gifford wildfire — burning in Central California. Sparked in Los Padres National Forest, it has scorched 154 square miles (399 square kilometers), making it the state's largest wildfire so far this year. About 110,000 residents in Santa Maria remain on alert for possible causes of both fires are under investigation. State officials warned that wildfire risk will remain elevated through the weekend amid a heatwave, drought and dry vegetation. — Agencies
NBC News
a day ago
- Climate
- NBC News
Evacuation orders lifted as California's Canyon Fire reaches 28% containment
Evacuation orders were lifted Friday evening in parts of Southern California as firefighters battling the Canyon Fire made progress taming the blaze. The fire has scorched an estimated 5,400 acres and is currently 28% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The evacuation orders, which affected thousands of residents in Ventura County and Los Angeles County, were downgraded to warnings, meaning there's still a potential threat to life and property. The Canyon Fire is burning in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles and has been spreading toward the community of Castaic in L.A. County. Ventura County officials said Friday that firefighters were making 'good progress in suppressing the blaze, aided by favorable weather conditions and the continued use of firefighting aircraft making repeated water and retardant drops to slow the fire's advance and support crews on the ground.' Still, the fire remains an active threat and continues to spread further east into L.A. County. In an update posted Friday on X, the L.A. County Fire Department said three firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze and were taken to a local hospital 'out of an abundance of caution,' but were expected to fully recover. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued wildfire smoke advisories for parts of L.A. County, particularly along the I-5 corridor near Castaic Lake. Air quality issues are expected to linger through Sunday morning, according to the agency, which monitors air quality conditions for much of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Air pollution from wildfire smoke is a significant concern because it contains small particles that are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter — around 4% of the diameter of an average strand of human hair. This type of air pollution is dangerous because the particles are small enough to reach deep inside the lungs, which can exacerbate or increase the risk of asthma, lung cancer and other chronic lung diseases. The Canyon Fire ignited Thursday afternoon near Holster Canyon and spread rapidly, engulfing more than 1,500 acres in several hours. The blaze is one of several large fires that are currently burning in California, including the huge Gifford Fire that ignited Aug. 1 in the Los Padres National Forest. That fire has consumed more than 100,000 acres and remains only 21% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Epoch Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Epoch Times
New Los Angeles-Area Fire Threatens Communities, Power Lines
Crews battled a fast-moving Southern California wildfire that started north of Santa Clarita on Aug. 7 and is threatening powerlines and the communities of Halsey Canyon and Hathaway Ranch, authorities reported. The Canyon Fire was burning in an area straddling Los Angeles and Ventura counties and reached 5,370 acres and was 25 percent contained by the afternoon of Aug. 8, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
News18
2 days ago
- Climate
- News18
Canyon Fire Burns Over 5,000 Acres Near LA, Air Quality Declines Sharply
Last Updated: An Air Quality Alert was issued Friday due to the fire's impact on surrounding communities. Several areas across Los Angeles are battling fast-moving wildfires, with residents forced to evacuate their homes in haste as firefighters work tirelessly to bring the blazes under control. Among the most concerning is the Canyon Fire, which erupted Thursday and has rapidly spread across parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The fire reportedly began near Lake Piru and has moved eastward toward Castaic. As of early Friday afternoon, the Canyon Fire had scorched approximately 5,370 acres, according to the latest updates from the LA County. While containment efforts are ongoing, the fire is currently 25% contained, up from 0% earlier on Friday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported. Fueled by temperatures exceeding 100°F (37.7°C) and strong gusty winds, the fire spread quickly through the dry, brush-covered hills and mountainous terrain. Authorities are cautiously optimistic that cooler nighttime temperatures may help slow the fire's advance, but conditions remain volatile. An Air Quality Alert was issued Friday due to the fire's impact on surrounding communities. Air quality in affected regions has plummeted to 'unhealthy" levels, prompting the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District to issue warnings for areas including Piru, Fillmore, and Santa Paula. The Ventura County Fire Department has ordered mandatory evacuations for more than 2,700 residents, while an evacuation warning remains in place for approximately 14,000 people in the region. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger took to social media to urge compliance with evacuation directives. 'If you're in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously – when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware – please don't risk lives," she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The #CanyonFire is spreading fast under extreme heat & dry conditions near Ventura–LA County line. If you're in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously — when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware–please don't risk lives. — Supervisor Kathryn Barger (@kathrynbarger) August 7, 2025 The city of Santa Clarita remains on high alert, with emergency officials urging residents to avoid affected zones until further notice. Meanwhile, another major blaze, known as the Gifford Fire, continues to burn northwest of the region, in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and has already engulfed nearly 100,000 acres. With continued extreme heat and dry conditions forecast in the coming days, the National Weather Service has warned that the situation could become more complex and dangerous across Southern California. view comments First Published: August 09, 2025, 03:13 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
