losses News

Arson Probed After Major Los Angeles Blaze and Smaller Fires

A raging fire destroyed a vacant commercial building in Los Angeles this week and numerous other small fires broke out in the same area, triggering an arson investigation, authorities said. Flames lit up the sky before dawn in the North …

Agency to Cover Matching Costs Following New Mexico Fire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will waive cost-sharing requirements for New Mexico farmers and ranchers affected by the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan announced that the agency will cover cost sharing for emergency …

U.S. Agency Covering Matching Costs Following New Mexico Fire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will waive cost-sharing requirements for New Mexico farmers and ranchers affected by the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján announced that the agency will cover cost sharing for emergency …

Thick Smoke in Western Washington and Oregon to Soon Clear

A haze of smoke covering parts of western Washington and Oregon is expected to clear before the week’s end, but only after the region reached a dubious distinction: Seattle and Portland briefly topped a list of large cities with the …

Evacuation Area Shrank Near Southwest Washington Fire

Some roads reopened and evacuation zones shrank near a wildfire fed by gusty winds and low humidity east of Vancouver, Washington, as fire officials got a better handle on fire activity amid weather changes. About 3,000 residents were told to …

Oregon Retirement Home Fire That Killed One Was Human Caused

An explosion and fire last week at the Columbia Hills Retirement Center in St. Helens, Oregon, that killed one person was a human-caused accident. Columbia River Fire & Rescue officials said the explosion was caused by oxygen tanks stored in …

California Updating Tsunami Hazard Maps for Seven Counties

The California Geological Survey has released updated tsunami hazard maps for seven counties to help users determine whether they are in areas at risk for inundation and for planning. The revised interactive maps released Friday cover San Diego, Santa Cruz, …

Alaska Landslide Damages 3 Homes, Destroys Pickup

A landslide triggered by record rainfall significantly damaged three homes, prompted the evacuation of about a dozen residents and caused power outages in downtown Juneau, Alaska’s capital city. Geological assessment teams determined that favorable weather has returned the threat level …

California Commissioner Orders Another Moratorium on Insurance Cancellations

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Monday ordered insurers to preserve residential insurance coverage following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest emergency declarations. The commissioner’s order shields policyholders within the wildfire perimeter or in adjacent ZIP codes of the Mountain, Barnes, and …

Judge OKs $230M Settlement in California Oil Spill Case

A judge has approved a $230 million lawsuit settlement by the owners of a pipeline that spilled more than 140,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean off California in 2015, lawyers announced. A federal judge in Los Angeles gave …