Latest news with #MadreFire
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
U.S. On Fire: Apocalyptic Scenes In California; Blaze Burns 55 Square Miles, Sparks Exodus
The Madre Fire in central California has rapidly grown into the state's largest wildfire of the year, fueled by intense heat and strong winds just ahead of the July Fourth holiday. Igniting in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, the blaze has scorched over 55 square miles and remains only 5% contained. Evacuation orders have been issued as flames threaten small communities and the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Meteorologists warn that wind gusts up to 40 mph and soaring temperatures near 95°F will continue to challenge firefighters. Multiple smaller fires also continue to burn across the state, including the Wolf Fire in Riverside County, which is now over halfway contained.#MadreFire #CaliforniaWildfire #WildfireSeason #Firefighters #CarrizoPlain #SanLuisObispo #CAwildfires #Evacuations #BreakingNews #ExtremeWeather Read More
3 hours ago
- Climate
California's largest blaze this year explodes in size as hot weather raises wildfire risk statewide
LOS ANGELES -- A wildfire in a wilderness area of central California exploded in size as dry, hot weather Thursday raised the fire risk for large portions of the state ahead of the July Fourth holiday. The Madre Fire became California's largest blaze so far this year, ripping through grasslands after breaking out Wednesday in southeastern San Luis Obispo County. It swiftly grew to more than 82 square miles (212 square kilometers). It was just 10% contained by Thursday evening. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for tiny communities near State Route 166 as flames moved through hilly terrain toward the Carrizo Plain National Monument, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Santa Maria. The region about 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles contains vast grasslands that draw visitors in the spring to see its wildflowers. Part of Route 166 East was closed Thursday, and there was 'no estimate for re-opening,' California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, said on social media. The fire was pushed by summer gusts that typically increase as the sun starts going down, said meteorologist Ryan Kittell with the National Weather Service. 'The winds are pretty light during the day, but they do pick up pretty substantially in the afternoon and evening hours,' Kittell said. He said gusts could reach 40 mph (64 kph) later in the day Thursday, posing new challenges for firefighters working in 95-degree F heat (35 C). Dozens of smaller wildfires were burning across the state.
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
Madre Fire, California's biggest this year, surges to 52,000 acres
A wildfire in California has grown to more than 52,000 acres since sparking on Wednesday, causing evacuation orders to be issued in San Luis Obispo County, about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The Madre Fire is the state's biggest so far this year. It has been burning along State Route 166 in the Los Padres National Forest, mostly north of the highway into the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The route has been closed between its junction with Route 101 in the city of Santa Maria and the town of New Cuyama. The area is mostly uninhabited, but more than 200 people had been evacuated and about 50 structures were threatened, San Luis Obispo County Fire Department said on Thursday. The fire was 10 percent contained as of Thursday night. The fire had seen 'exponential growth in less than 24 hours' because of weather, terrain and fuel conditions, the U.S. Forest Service in Los Padres National Forest said Thursday, when the fire was at 35,530 acres. It warned that 'smoke impacts will be far-reaching.' Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office said that the state was working with federal agencies and had sent 'significant air support' and ground crews to battle the blaze. Cal Fire said it had deployed four helicopters, almost 600 personnel and more than 50 firefighting vehicles. Smoke from the blaze was blowing over Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, south of the fire, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said shortly after it began. Smoke was also impacting Kern County to the fire's northeast, officials there said. The state faced highly destructive wildfires in January in Los Angeles that killed about 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes and other buildings. There are fears hot and dry conditions could create an intense fire season this summer.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Madre Fire explodes in size, becoming California's largest wildfire this year
A fast-moving wildfire in central California became the largest in the state this year after exploding in size overnight as hot temperatures and dry conditions increased the wildfire risk ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. The Madre Fire broke out on the afternoon of July 2 in a remote area of central California near Highway 166, according to Cal Fire. The fire rapidly spread to over 35,000 acres overnight as it burned through grasslands in a section of the Los Padres National Park. By 5 p.m. PT on July 3, the fire grew to more than 52,000 acres and was only 5% contained, according to Cal Fire data. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for small communities near Highway 166 as the fire moved toward the Carrizo Plain National Monument, about 69 miles southeast of San Luis Obispo, California. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles said satellite images showed the blaze impacting interior San Luis Obispo County, with a plume of smoke spreading southeast of the fire over Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Videos and images shared by the U.S. Forest Service also showed smoke-filled skies and flames moving along hilly terrain. "With the current weather, terrain, and fuels conditions this fire has seen exponential growth in less than 24 hours in multiple counties surrounding the San Luis Obispo County area," the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement on July 3. "Smoke impacts will be far-reaching." The Madre Fire is now the largest wildfire in California in 2025 — surpassing the Los Angeles-area fires that devastated parts of the region. The Palisades Fire burned more than 23,000 acres while the Eaton Fire scorched over 14,000 acres in January, according to Cal Fire. Wildfire smoke map: Track latest wildfires, red flag warnings across US California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said the fire started on federally managed land before spreading toward state areas. The governor's office noted that the state has "surged significant" Cal Fire resources to support the fire response and is working with federal and local partners. "(Cal Fire) has rapidly deployed air crews and ground resources to assist our federal partners," the governor's office said in a statement. "The state will always show up to protect all communities — no matter where a fire begins." As of July 3, no injuries and damages as a result of the fire were reported, according to Cal Fire. The San Luis Obispo County Fire Department said earlier in the day that about 208 people had been evacuated and 50 structures were threatened by the blaze. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in California said all BLM lands in Carrizo Plain National Monument are closed to public access due to the fire. "This emergency closure is for public and firefighter safety," the BLM said in a statement. "Entry is prohibited and violators face federal penalties including fines and imprisonment." The cause of the fire is under investigation, Cal Fire said. 2025 got off to a deadly start: How bad will wildfire season be in the US this year? The Madre Fire comes as much of the United States braces for one of the most wildfire-prone times of the year, USA TODAY reported. "There is a huge spike in the number of human-caused wildfires in the United States around the 4th of July holiday, related to the improper use of fireworks," AEM senior meteorologist James Aman previously told USA TODAY. Aman said the highest concentration of wildfires caused by fireworks occurs in the western half of the country, mainly in national parks, national forests, and other rural areas. Cal Fire has warned the public of wildfire risks from Fourth of July fireworks. Since 2024, fireworks have caused over $35 million in property damage across California and sparked 1,230 fires, according to the agency. On July 2, Cal Fire said it responded to over 65 wildfires statewide — which have burned more than 150 acres — in the past 24 hours. The fires have prompted evacuations in some areas, caused smoky conditions, and impacted infrastructure and habitats, according to the agency. The Wolf Fire, in Riverside County near Banning, California, around 85 miles east of Los Angeles, has scorched more than 2,000 acres since it started on June 29. As of July 3, the fire was 65% contained, according to Cal Fire data. "As we enter July, California is heating up — and so is the wildfire risk," Cal Fire said in a statement. "With hotter, drier conditions ahead, it's more important than ever to practice fire safety at home and outdoors." Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Madre Fire: California's largest blaze grows ahead of Fourth of July
NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- Climate
- NZ Herald
Fears of new round of wildfires in California after the traumatic Los Angeles blazes in January
There are fears of a difficult summer ahead for California after the traumatic wildfires that killed 30 people in January. A pedestrian records the Palisade fire in Los Angeles on January 7. Photo / Philip Cheung, the New York Times More than 300 firefighters are battling a massive blaze in California, a state which is dreading summer wildfires. The 'Madre Fire' broke out yesterday in San Luis Obispo, a rural county in the heart of the US state. Around 200 people were ordered to evacuate, with dozens of
