damage News

Lax Oversight by California Agency Put Freeway at Risk Before 2023 Blaze, Audit Finds

Lax oversight by California’s transportation agency contributed to a destructive blaze last year that consumed a vital section of a Los Angeles freeway used by hundreds of thousands of commuters, according to a state audit. While authorities determined the fire …

PacifiCorp to Pay $178M in Latest Settlement Over Deadly 2020 Oregon Blazes

Pacific Power, part of PacifiCorp, said Monday it has agreed to a $178 million settlement with over 400 Oregon plaintiffs in the latest multimillion-dollar payout related to the deadly 2020 wildfires that ravaged the state. In other cases that have …

Man Accused of Starting Wildfire Near Arizona-California Border

A Yuma man has been arrested for allegedly starting a wildfire in a national wildlife preserve in southwest Arizona near the California border, according to authorities. Yuma County Sheriff’s officials said 47-year-old Jason Bradley Martin remains jailed on suspicion of …

After Wildfire, Hawaii Fire Crews Take Stock of Their Ability to Communicate in a Crisis

Fire departments across the state are reevaluating their emergency communication capabilities after the Maui wildfires, when the vulnerability of the island’s cellular network โ€” and a lack of advanced communication tools in fire vehicles โ€” complicated efforts by first responders …

California’s Scenic Highway 1 to Big Sur Finally Opens to Around-The-Clock Travel

A section of California’s scenic Highway 1 leading to the famous Big Sur coast reopened to around-the-clock traffic Friday after stabilization of a storm-triggered rockslide that dropped a chunk of one lane into the ocean and hampered tourism. The gap …

Landslide Forces Closure of Iconic California Chapel

A decades-old landslide that’s rapidly accelerating has forced the dismantling of Wayfarers Chapel, an iconic Southern California church that was designed by one of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s sons and built among soaring redwoods and sweeping Pacific Ocean views. …

Study: California’s 2023 Snowy Rescue from Megadrought a Freak Event

Last year’s snow deluge in California, which quickly erased a two decade long megadrought, was essentially a once-in-a-lifetime rescue from above, a new study found. Don’t get used to it because with climate change the 2023 California snow bonanza โ€”a …

Hawaii Lawmakers Take Aim at Vacation Rentals After Wildfire Amplifies Housing Crisis

Amy Chadwick spent years scrimping and saving as a single mother of two to buy a house in the town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui. But after a devastating fire leveled Lahaina in August and reduced Chadwick’s …

Small Quake Shook California Desert Near Site of Coachella Music Festival

A small earthquake shook the Southern California desert Saturday near Coachella, where the famous music festival was being held this weekend. No damage or injuries were reported. The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 3.8, hit at 9:08 a.m. about …

California Self-Insured Group Applauds Workers’ Comp Classification Changes

The California Restaurant Mutual Benefit Corp. is applauding upcoming changes in workers’ compensation classifications for California’s restaurant and hospitality sectors, The changes were announced by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California. The update to the classification system is …