wildfires News

RenaissanceRe Estimates Q3 Claims Costs of $155M from Natural Catastrophes

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. announced it currently estimates that the cost of claims from third quarter 2018 catastrophe events will have an estimated net negative impact of approximately $155 million on its third quarter 2018 results. The estimated losses for these …

Nevada Board Says $3.8M More Needed to Fight Wildfires

The Nevada Board of Examiners has recommended approval of an additional $3.8 million to cover the cost of fighting wildfires this past summer. The Nevada Appeal reports state forester Kacey KC told the board Tuesday more than 500 wildland blazes …

Oregon Wildfire Costs This Year Hit Record of $514M

New data shows the cost of fighting wildfires in Oregon reached an all-time high $514.6 million in 2018. According to data from Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, Oregon’s costs skyrocketed past last year’s record-setting total of $447 million. The Statesman Journal …

Washington Lands Commissioner Wants $55M for Wildfires

Washington’s Public Lands Commissioner wants lawmakers to increase the amount of money that the state spends to fight wildfires and prevent future blazes. Hilary Franz, who oversees the Department of Natural Resources, is asking the Legislature for $55 million for …

Costs to Fight Wildfires in Utah Double This Year

Costs to fight wildfires in Utah are increasing by about $1 million a day right now and authorities expect the season to last throughout October. State Forester Brian Cottam says on average, there are roughly 1,100 fire starts in Utah …

Last Year’s Wine Country Fires in California Leave Homeowners Struggling

Construction crews have already put up the frame on Cheri Sharp’s new house, but she still questions whether rebuilding was the right choice after California’s most destructive wildfire took her old home in wine country nearly a year ago. She’s …

Germany Wildfire Southwest of Berlin Detonates Buried WWII Ammunition

Firefighters struggled Friday to tame a wildfire southwest of Berlin but had to maneuver carefully as the blaze set off old World War II ammunition that is still buried in the forests around the German capital. Flames forced the evacuation …

Extreme Weather Risk Grows as Warming Earth Disrupts High-Altitude Winds: Study

Scorching summer heatwaves and downpours are set to become more extreme in the northern hemisphere as global warming makes weather patterns linger longer in the same place, scientists said on Monday. They said there was a risk of “extreme extremes” …

California’s Plan for PG&E Bonds to Cover Fire Damages in Final Stages

California is finalizing the details of a plan that could let PG&E Corp. issue bonds to cover potential damages from wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes last year. The details are still being worked out, and a proposal may be …

Dry Fall And Worsening Drought in Oregon Portends Wildfires

A climate prediction report issued by the National Weather Service says Oregon will remain hot, dry and smoky well into autumn this year. The Statesman Journal reported that forecast in the report released last week means that the state’s existing …