By DEREK GATOPOULOS and COSTAS KANTOURIS Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A Greek court convicted five former firefighting and disaster response officials on Monday over the deadliest wildfire in the country's history, with more than 100 people killed outside...
After Two Decades, Napa County (CA) Plans Revamp to Cal Fire-Contracted Firefighter Program
Edward Booth - The Press Democrat Apr. 25—Napa County's volunteer fire departments will soon be consolidated under a new plan to create a single chain of command. Beginning in July, the county's nine individual volunteer departments will be placed into the hierarchy...
Wildfire Rips Through Wharton (NJ) State Forest
Jessica Schladebeck New York Daily News (TNS) Emergency crews on Wednesday were working to battle back a wildfire ripping through Wharton State Forest, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The blaze, dubbed the County Line Wildfire, was sparked sometime...
Corrosion Linked to New Fire Retardant Grounds Two Air Tankers as Forest Service Investigates
Two aerial firefighting jets have been sidelined due to corrosion believed to be caused by a recently approved fire retardant used by the U.S. Forest Service in 2023. Last year, two large air tankers deployed a magnesium chloride-based fire retardant while battling...
Firefighter, Forester, Trail Builder: The First U.S. Climate Corps Jobs Are Here
Alicia Clanton Bloomberg News (TNS) Restoring coastal ecosystems with oysters in Florida, protecting forests from wildfire in California and maintaining a cultural site (the Pearl Harbor National Memorial) in Hawaii: These are a few of the paid positions that job...
Forest Service Seeks Safer, Smarter Way To Burn After Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon (NM) Fire
Maya Hilty - The Santa Fe New Mexican Apr. 21—As Brandon Glenn hiked through a light, open area of the Santa Fe National Forest northeast of the city Thursday morning, he paused and bent over a circle of burned earth about six feet in diameter, skimming the back of...
CO Looking at ‘Normal’ Wildfire Season As Long-Awaited Firehawk Helicopter Goes Into Service
Noelle Phillips - The Denver Post Colorado residents can expect a normal year for wildfires through July, but state officials on Wednesday warned that doesn’t mean there won’t be large, potentially catastrophic fires — especially later this summer and early fall as...
Communications Breakdown Left Authorities in the Dark and Residents Without Alerts Amid Maui (HI) Fire
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER, REBECCA BOONE, CLAUDIA LAUER and CHRISTOPHER L. KELLER Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — As unpredictable wildfires roared across Maui last August, the head of the emergency management agency dragged his heels about returning to the island...
CA Lawmaker Wants Additional Home Insurance Discounts for Wildfire Work
Stephen Hobbs - The Sacramento Bee A California lawmaker wants the state to consider expanding the list of insurance discounts homeowners are eligible for if they take steps to protect their properties from wildfires. At a hearing Wednesday, Assemblyman Damon...
Maui (HI) Fire Department Report on Deadly Wildfire Details Need for More Equipment and Mutual Aid Plans
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER, REBECCA BOONE and CLAUDIA LAUER Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — When wildfires broke out across Maui last August, some firefighters carried victims piggyback over downed power lines to safety and sheltered survivors inside their engines....
Lessons Learned from Line-of-Duty Deaths in the Wildland
By THOMAS W. AURNHAMMER After moving from New Mexico to Colorado, I must admit that I had a lot to learn about fighting fire in the wildland. I was used to having resources in my former fire department such as water and somewhat adequate staffing. Providing fire...
Drought, Heat Raise the Risk of a Repeat of Canada’s Record-Breaking Wildfires Last Year
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canada's emergency preparedness minister warned Wednesday the country's wildfire season could be more explosive than last year when it led to unprecedented smoke conditions across much of the country and into the United States. Persistent...