Latest news with #USForestService
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Eureka Fire: Several roads closed in Joshua Tree National Park due to wildfire
A brush fire that broke out on Friday in Joshua Tree National Park has grown to over 200 acres, resulting in several road closures as firefighters work to contain the blaze over the weekend. The Eureka Fire, reported around noon on Friday, is located 3 miles northeast of Eureka Peak in the Lower Covington Flats area. Firefighters had the 212-acre fire 40% contained as of Saturday morning, the park said in a news release. Areas that are temporarily closed while firefighters work to contain the fire: Lower Covington Flats Road and La Contenta within the park boundary; Backcountry camping in the zones covering Black Rock, Covington, Quail Wash and Juniper, California Riding and Hiking Trail starting in Black Rock; Creosote/Bigfoot Trail starting off Park Boulevard. Several agencies are responding and worked overnight to manage the blaze, including the Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service, and San Bernardino County Sheriff and Fire Protection. Firefighters contained a 4-acre slop over fire, which refers to a fire that crossed the containment line, in the morning, the park said. The park said fresh crews will be working on containing the fire during the day, which will be warmer at nearly 86 degrees with 5 to 10 miles per hour south-southwest winds and gusts up to 20 mph. The equipment they'll be using include 11 engines, two water tenders two hand crews, and one helicopter. Joshua Tree National Park said it does not know what caused the fire to break out and that it will be under investigation. This is a developing story. Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Eureka Fire updates: Joshua Tree National Park road closures, size
CBS News
29-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
24 abandoned campfires discovered in Colorado over Memorial Day weekend
U.S. Forest Service firefighters discovered dozens of campfires in Colorado that had been abandoned over Memorial Day weekend. Firefighters engaged in fire prevention patrols in the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. During the patrols, they found 24 abandoned campfires, which can lead to multiple escaped wildfires, according to fire crews. USFS While on patrol, firefighters also responded to four wildfires in the forest. One was caused by lightning and the others were determined to be human-caused. Crews said the wildfires were quickly contained. The PSICC is located about 40 miles southwest of Denver. The Forest Service wants to remind campers and recreationists that everyone must do their part to keep a wildfire from starting. "While the vast majority of forest visitors camp responsibly, it takes only one spark, from recreational target shooting, dragging chains or an abandoned campfire, in the wrong place at the wrong time to put human lives, natural and cultural resources and infrastructure at risk," the Forest Service said in a statement. The Forest Service recommends: Building your campfire in an area cleared of vegetation Never abandon or leave a campfire unattended Always have plenty of water and a shovel nearby When it's time to leave, extinguish your campfire by drowning, stirring, and repeating until it's the consistency of a mud pie and cold to the touch If forest and grassland visitors come across an abandoned campfire, the Forest Service recommends to extinguish the fire if possible. If not, call and report it to the local PSICC nonemergency number at 719-553-1400.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Merrill Fire burning 40 acres in Zuni Mountains
GRANTS, N.M. (KRQE) – On May 23, around 4:30 p.m., the Merrill Fire started on private lands which crossed into the Mt. Taylor Ranger District on the Cibola National Forest. The spread of the fire on Friday was due to winds in excess of 25 mph, dry fuels, and high temperatures. Start Date / Time: 05/23/25Cause: N/ASize: ~40 acresLocation: West of Grants, NM in Zuni Mts. & southeast of Ft. WingateResources: US Forest Service, New Mexico Forestry Division, McKinley County, and aerial supportTypes of vegetation in the area (aka fuels): Grass, brush, and logging 0%Road Closures: N/AEvacuations: N/A Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
3-acre fire south of Westcreek 100% contained
UPDATE: SATURDAY 5/24/2025 6:41 p.m. (TELLER COUNTY, Colo.) — According to the Pueblo Interagency Dispatch, crews fully contained a 3-acre fire at 3:25 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. PREVIOUS HEADLINE: Growth of 3-acre fire south of Westcreek slowed due to rain According to the Pueblo Interagency Dispatch, a fire 2 miles southeast of Westcreek in Teller County has reached three acres in size, as of 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 24. The fire, located at the Turkey Tracks recreational shooting area, is reported to be a smoldering and creeping fire on the slope side of the shooting area. Firefighters arrived on the scene and are making good progress on the fire line, aided by the light precipitation in the area. Firefighting resources from the US Forest Service and Douglas County Fire, including engines and helicopters, are assisting. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No structures are currently threatened, and there are no closures or evacuations at this time. According to previous coverage of the September fire at the Turkey Tracks shooting range, the area sees five to ten fires annually due to the target shooting that occurs there, and fire managers have built fire breaks to help protect the surrounding communities from flames. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
eNCA
24-05-2025
- eNCA
US power company to pay $82.5m for California wildfire
LOS ANGELES - One of California's largest utilities is to pay the US Forest Service $82.5-million for a wildfire that burned tens of thousands of acres (hectares) of woodland. The 2020 Bobcat Fire destroyed dozens of buildings as it tore through the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. The US government said Southern California Edison had not properly controlled vegetation near its power lines and the blaze erupted when trees touched a live wire. A 2023 lawsuit claimed damages from the company for the cost of fighting the fire on Forest Service land as well as for remediation of damage caused to campgrounds, trails and wildlife habitats. "This record settlement against Southern California Edison provides meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the widespread damage to public lands," said US Attorney Bill Essayli. "My office will continue to aggressively pursue recovery for suppression costs and environmental damages from any entity that causes harm to the public's forests and other precious national resources." Southern California Edison is no stranger to paying out large sums of money for wildfires where its equipment was suspected to have been at fault. The company handed over more than $2.7-billion in settlements over the 2017 Thomas Fire that tore through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, killing two people and destroying hundreds of buildings. It paid $2.2-billion for the 2018 Woolsey Fire that burned through Los Angeles and Ventura counties, killing three people and damaging more than 1,600 buildings. Investigators probing the deadly Eaton Fire, one of two blazes that ripped through Los Angeles at the start of this year, are homing in on SCE transmission lines as a possible source of ignition.
