Latest Wildfire Headlines
All the headlines from our Wildfire Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Electric Utilities in Pacific Northwest Spending Millions to Lower Wildfire Risk
May 2 2022 // Private electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest are planning tens of millions of dollars in upgrades to reduce the risk that their power lines could spark wildfires during extreme weather. Utilities such as Pacific...
Progress Made in Containing Nebraska Wildfire
Apr 29 2022 // Progress has been made toward fully containing a deadly southwestern Nebraska wildfire that has been burning since last week, officials said. Crews had 88% of the Road 702 Fire contained behind fire breaks by Thursday...
Progress Made on Nebraska Wildfires, But High Winds Threaten Efforts
Apr 28 2022 // Fire crews took advantage of a break in the weather in their battle to contain large fires in the West and Plains states, but fear the return of stronger winds Tuesday could spread the flames further. A southwestern...
1 Dead, At Least 3 Hurt in Nebraska Wildfires
Apr 25 2022 // Wind-driven wildfires sweeping through parts of Nebraska contributed to the death of one person and injured at least three firefighters, authorities said Sunday. The person who died was in Red Willow County, in the...
Emergency Declaration for Multiple New Mexico Wildfires
Apr 25 2022 // New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed emergency declarations as 20 wildfires continued to burn Sunday in nearly half of the state’s drought-stricken 33 counties. One wildfire in northern New Mexico that...
Lawsuit Alleges Power Line Sparked Colorado Wildfire
Apr 18 2022 // The first lawsuit filed in connection with a wildfire that destroyed over 1,000 homes and other buildings in suburban Denver claims that sparks from a power line started December’s blaze. The lawsuit filed against...
New Mexico Wildfires Gained Ground Amid Dry, Windy Conditions
Apr 13 2022 // It’s a simple recipe that requires only a couple ingredients, and New Mexico has them all. Strong winds, low humidity and dry conditions that stem from two decades of persistent drought combined this week for more...
Officials: Nebraska Wildfire About Half Contained
Apr 12 2022 // A wildfire in southern Nebraska that destroyed some homes and produced thick smoke that led to the traffic death of an area fire chief is about half contained, state officials said. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency...
California’s PG&E Avoids Criminal Charges in Settlements Over 2 Major Wildfires
Apr 12 2022 // California utility PG&E Corp. has reached settlement agreements with district attorneys representing Northern California counties to avoid prosecution over two major wildfires, with the company agreeing to pay $55...
Charges Dropped Against in 2018 Colorado Wildfire Case
Apr 6 2022 // A judge dismissed criminal charges against a Danish man accused of starting a Colorado wildfire that destroyed about 140 homes in 2018 after he was repeatedly found unable to stand trial. It was not clear what would happen...
Lawsuit Alleges Power Line Sparked Colorado Wildfire
Apr 5 2022 // The first lawsuit filed in connection with a wildfire that destroyed over 1,000 homes and other buildings in suburban Denver claims that sparks from a power line started December’s blaze. The lawsuit filed against...
Residents Return Home After Fleeing Colorado Wildfire
Mar 29 2022 // Nearly 20,000 people who were forced to flee a wildfire in northern Colorado were back home Monday after firefighters were able to stop the spread of the fire at 190 acres. The fire that broke out Saturday in the rolling...
Alabama Wildfire Chars 600 Acres; No Injuries Reported
Mar 29 2022 // A wildfire that began over the weekend has consumed more than 600 acres of woods southeast of Birmingham, threatening homes but not causing any reported injuries. Fire officials say smoke and smoldering debris will...
South Texas Wildfire Destroys 3 Homes; Blaze Only 10% Contained
Mar 29 2022 // A wildfire has burned more an 1,000 acres in South Texas forcing some people to evacuate, destroying three homes and knocking out power to more than 100 others, officials said on March 27. Gov. Greg Abbott declared a...
Firefighters Increase Containment on Colorado Wildfire
Mar 28 2022 // A wildfire south of Boulder that forced nearly 20,000 people to flee was listed at 35% contained by Sunday afternoon and most evacuations had been lifted, officials with Boulder Fire-Rescue said. The fire, which ignited...
Crews Make Progress in Containing Texas Wildfire
Mar 23 2022 // Firefighting crews were making progress containing a massive Texas wildfire that was blamed for last week’s death of a deputy, officials said. The Eastland Complex has burned about 85 square miles (220 square...
Actuaries: Climate Change, WUI Building Led to Worsening Wildfires in U.S. and California
Mar 17 2022 // Increasingly large and dangerous wildfires are being driven by the effects of climate change and more building in the wildland-urban interface, and while that notion may not be entirely new, the scope of the increase laid...
Chemical Analysis Shows Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Grapes and Wines in Western U.S.
Mar 16 2022 // NEWSWISE – As wildfire season in the West grows in length and severity, it is taking a toll on the wine industry through the effects of wildfire smoke on the quality of wine grapes. Volatile compounds in the smoke from...
Kansas Wildfire Kills 1, Destroys Several Homes
Mar 8 2022 // One person was found dead March 6 as firefighters worked to contain a wildfire that burned 12,000 acres in south-central Kansas. Reno County Emergency Management officials said one person who had been reported missing...
Nevada Utility to Inspect Power Lines Near 2020 Reno Wildfire
Mar 7 2022 // Nevada’s largest utility plans to inspect power lines near a Reno neighborhood where a 2020 wildfire destroyed five homes and damaged two dozen others, a blaze that investigators blamed on arching power lines in gale...
