Jeff Goldman - nj.com A wildfire that has been burning in Bass River State Forest since Wednesday remained at 5,000 acres and was still only 50% contained on Friday morning, fire officials said. Those numbers are the same as the previous update shortly after 5 p.m....
Judge Shoots Down Environmentalists’ Efforts to Stop Forest Service Dropping Wildfire Retardant
Gillian Brassil McClatchy Washington Bureau (TNS) A federal judge said the United States Forest Service can continue using aerial retardant to fight wildfires while it seeks a permit under the act that governs water pollution. The judge also acknowledged in his ruling...
OR Utility Buys Cameras, Iron Utility Poles, High-Tech Fuses to Control Wildland Fires
Savannah Eadens - oregonlive.com Portland General Electric is investing more than $20 million in its wildfire mitigation and resiliency plan this year, Oregon’s largest electricity company said Wednesday. This includes increasing inspections of utility poles,...
CA ‘Weather Whiplash’ Fuels Uncertainty in Upcoming Wildfire Season
Alex Wigglesworth - Los Angeles Times When Jonathan O'Brien sees the rolling green hills of Southern California, the grasses lush from this winter's heavy rains, he can't help but feel uneasy. "Even if it's not this year or next year, sooner or later we absolutely...
Artificial Intelligence Stations to Search for Early-Stage Wildfires in Washington
Jim McKay Government Technology (TNS) May 4—All wildfires start small. Unfortunately, not all of them stay small, and some quickly get out of hand before fire personnel can fight back. With this in mind, the state of Washington is deploying an artificial intelligence...
New Campaign Encourages Coloradans to Prepare for Wildfire
Estes Park Trail-Gazette, Colo. (TNS) Apr. 27—Colorado faces a "new normal" when it comes to wildfire. Ongoing drought and warmer temperatures elevate wildfire risk for many Coloradans, and wildfires now occur year-round in the state. To encourage more residents to...
NJ Wildfire Spreads to 257 Acres, Threatens 30 Structures
Nicolas Fernandes - nj.com A wildfire that broke out in Burlington County Tuesday afternoon has now spread to 257 acres and is 30% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. The blaze started about 1 p.m. in a wooded area off Route 542 near River Road in...
Forest Fire in Ocean County (NJ) Grows to 2,500 Acres; Residents Evacuated
Jeff Goldman - nj.com Firefighters in Ocean County continued to battle a wildfire Wednesday that grew overnight to 2,500 acres and is threatening at least 75 structures. The fire broke out Tuesday evening in the area of Route 539, Route 70 and Horicon...
Wildfire Forces Evacuations Near Colorado Springs (CO)
Shelly Bradbury - The Denver Post A wildfire forced evacuations in El Paso County just east of Colorado Springs Sunday, according to the sheriff’s office. Residents on Preble Drive and Boreal Drive in Cimarron Hills were ordered to evacuate around 4 p.m. Sunday. The...
Out-of-control Wildfire in Eastern NC Grows to 5,200 Acres
Mark Price - The Charlotte Observer UPDATE: As of 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26, the wildfire was 34% contained and covered 5,200 acres, the N.C. Department of Agriculture reports. The original story is below. A wildfire in eastern North Carolina has spread across 5,200...
Lawsuit Jeopardizes Use of Crucial Wildfire Retardant
Alex Wigglesworth - Los Angeles Times For most Californians, the sight of aircraft spewing neon pink liquid over flaming trees and brush has become a hallmark of aggressive wildfire suppression campaigns — if not a potent symbol of government's struggle to control...
‘Constant Vigil.’ Los Padres (CA) Forest Lookouts Watched Out for Wildfires in 1950s
David Middlecamp - The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) (TNS) Mar. 18—In the era before smartphones and thermal satellite imagery, a fire lookout was the foremost wildfire warning system. Perched in towers on the highest peaks of Los Padres National Forest, lookouts...