(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Mark Kreider, University of Montana In the U.S., wildland firefighters are able to stop about 98% of all wildfires before the fires have burned even 100...
State Farm Discontinuing 72,000 Home Policies in CA in Latest Blow to State Insurance Market
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State Farm will discontinue coverage for 72,000 houses and apartments in California starting this summer, the insurance giant said this week, nine months after announcing it would not issue new home policies in the state The Illinois-based...
Wildland Firefighters Fitted With Apple Watches to Measure the Effect of Smoke on Health
Jim McKay Government Technology (TNS) Mar. 21—Residents living near where a wildland fire is burning or those in the vicinity of the smoke are told to stay indoors or leave the area altogether because of the contaminants the smoke is known to contain. But what about...
Crews Battle Scores of Wildfires in VA, Including a Blaze in Shenandoah National Park
LURAY, Va. (AP) — Crews were battling scores of wildfires around Virginia on Thursday, including a fire affecting hundreds of acres at Shenandoah National Park, amid an elevated fire risk, officials said. More than 100 new fires popped up Wednesday amid gusty winds...
Son of Woman Who Died in TX Panhandle Wildfire Sues Utility Companies As Lawsuits Pile
Lana Ferguson - The Dallas Morning News The son of a woman who died inside her home during the historic Texas Panhandle wildfires last month filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday against the utility companies who say their facilities may have played a role in...
Fire Officials and DNR Encourage WA Residents to Become Wildfire Ready
Roberta Simonson The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash. (TNS) Mar. 19—It's never too early to start thinking about the fire season. In fact, now is the perfect time, fire officials said at a wildfire readiness event in Spokane Valley Tuesday. "I'm encouraging everyone...
Report Into Deadly Maui (HI) Wildfire Delayed
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s attorney general on Monday blamed a delay of the release of a key report into a deadly Maui wildfire on county agencies that forced investigators to issue subpoenas. The first phase of an independent...
Largest Wildfire in TX History 100% Contained After Burning More Than 1 Million Acres
Lana Ferguson - The Dallas Morning News The Smokehouse Creek fire that burned through more than 1 million acres in the Texas Panhandle is completely contained after a nearly three-week battle. The blaze, sparked Feb. 26 in Hutchinson County near Stinnett, quickly grew...
Forest Service, Logging Industry Spar over Management of Black Hills (SD) National Forest
Darsha Dodge - Rapid City Journal, S.D. Mar. 14—At a roundtable event March 2 in Spearfish, South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) and Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), grilled officials with the U.S. Forest Service for answers on the recent harvesting...
Apply for Canned Drinking Water to Keep Your Crew Hydrated This Wildfire Season
Hydration is key to the health and safety of wildland firefighters. However, many volunteer fire departments have limited budgets, making it difficult to purchase all the provisions their firefighters need, such as a sufficient supply of drinking water. To help combat...
These 11 CA Counties Are Most at Risk for Wildfires, FEMA Map Shows. Here’s Where
Angela Rodriguez - The Modesto Bee Mar. 13—California is no stranger to wildfires — and some regions are more at risk than others. While most wildfires occur between April and October, "California faces the risk of wildfires all year now" due to the warmer and drier...
Congress Heads Off Wildland Firefighter Pay Cuts – At Least Temporarily
Congress approved a funding deal to maintain current pay levels for federal wildland firefighters through the remainder of the fiscal year, ending September 30. In 2021, wildland firefighter pay was temporarily increased by $20,000 or 50%. but that raise was set to...