forest fire

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Firefighters Can't Get a Grip on Blaze Raging Near Athens

Evacuations triggered for suburbs of Greek capital, as blaze rips through dry pine forests

(Newser) - A major forest fire was raging out of control on the northern fringes of the Greek capital on Monday, triggering numerous evacuation orders for Athens suburbs and outlying areas as strong winds hampered the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and dozens of water-dropping planes. Authorities were faced with "an...

Chile Struggles to Contain Fatal Forest Fires
Hundreds Missing in
Devastating Chile Fires
UPDATED
Feb 5, 2024 5:03 PM CST

Hundreds Missing in Devastating Chile Fires

Death toll in central Chile hits 122

(Newser) - Volunteers in central Chile tried to remove charred metal, broken glass, and other debris Monday from neighborhoods devastated over the past several days, as officials raised the death toll to 122. Hundreds of people remain missing. The fires appeared to have diminished by Monday morning after burning intensely since Friday...

100-Plus Homes Were Destroyed. Now, an Arrest

Edward Wackerman, 71, is suspected of setting devastating blaze in Mariposa County, California

(Newser) - An elderly man who lives near Yosemite National Park has been arrested after a forest fire there last year destroyed more than 125 homes. The AP reports that Edward Wackerman of Mariposa was taken into custody Friday, suspected of setting last summer's Oak Fire that burned nearly 20,000...

Lost Hiker's Signal Fires Prove Costly

Philip Powers III faulted for 'reckless' actions that may have ultimately saved his life

(Newser) - Three signal fires set by a lost hiker who'd run out of food and water in Arizona helped ensure his rescue—and possibly his ruin. Philip Powers III has been ordered to pay nearly $300,000 for the emergency fires, one of which erupted into a 230-acre forest fire,...

Feds Say 911 Dispatcher Set Dozens of Wildfires

Ohio man James Bartels said he wanted to 'distract himself from depression,' complaint states

(Newser) - A volunteer fire department administrator and former 911 dispatcher in Ohio admitted setting at least 24 fires with a lighter "to 'give the boys something to do' and to distract himself from depression," according to the Justice Department. James Bartels, 50, was arrested Tuesday and charged with...

Fire Scorches Easter Island's Iconic Statues

Authorities say the damage is 'irreparable'

(Newser) - A forest fire that swept through a national park has done irreversible damage to some of Easter Island's most famous landmarks, authorities say. The fire scorched around 250 acres of an area that's home to numerous moai statues, the Telegraph reports. The huge stone figures are sometimes called...

'Astonishing' Increase in Trees Wiped Out by Fire
We're Losing an Astounding
Number of Trees to Fire
new study
Aug 17, 2022 1:08 PM CDT

We're Losing an Astounding Number of Trees to Fire

New report finds global tree loss is twice what it was 2 decades ago

(Newser) - Studies about deforestation are nothing new, but a new report from Global Forest Watch takes a very specific view: It looks at trees lost to wildfires in 2021, and the findings aren't encouraging. Almost 23 million acres were lost to forest fires, which the BBC reports is equivalent to...

Fire Breaks Out at Ammunition Dump in Berlin Forest

Grunewald blaze was sparked by several explosions

(Newser) - A large fire broke out in one of Berlin's city forests on Thursday morning, triggered by several explosions that took place at an ammunition dump inside the forest on what is forecast to be one of the hottest days of the year. Around 100 firefighters were battling the blaze...

Culprit in NM's Biggest-Ever Fire: US Forest Service

Planned burns combined into massive forest fire

(Newser) - A massive New Mexico wildfire that has stampeded through more than 330 homes and nearly 500 square miles wasn't the result of a carelessly tossed cigarette ( or firework ), but rather the deliberate machinations of the United States Forest Service in an effort to, well, to avoid massive...

'Bad News' on Radiation as Fire Burns Near Chernobyl

Radiation spikes near the forest fire

(Newser) - Two forest fires were still burning near the Chernobyl nuclear power station as of Sunday night, and radiation levels in the area were said to be substantially higher than normal, the AP reports. "There is bad news—radiation is above normal in the fire’s center," said the...

Under Pressure, Brazil Sends Troops to Fight Amazon Fires

Bolsonaro has faced protests at home and around the world

(Newser) - Facing increasing pressure to act from leaders around the world and protesters in the streets, President Jair Bolsonaro sent Brazil's military to fight forest fires raging in the Amazon. Beginning Saturday, troops will join the battle in nature reserves, indigenous lands and border areas, the BBC reports. The initial...

'Winnie the Pooh' Forest Catches Fire

Arson not suspected in Ashdown Forest blaze

(Newser) - The forest that inspired Hundred Acre Wood in the Winnie Pooh stories is a lot bigger than 100 acres—even after a fire scorched around 50 acres of it. Six fire crews battled a fire late Sunday and early Monday in Ashdown Forest in southern England, CNN reports. East Sussex...

Students' Barbecue Ends With $30M Fine

Blaze destroyed forestland in northern Italy

(Newser) - Two students whose barbecue started a wildfire that raged through forest in northern Italy for days have been fined more than $30 million. Alessio Molteni, 22, and Daniele Borghi, 22, said they were "deeply sorry" about the fire, the Telegraph reports. But they also said they were made scapegoats,...

Teen Accidentally Starts Fire, Now Owes $36,631,687.10

Judge rejects 'cruel and unusual' argument from attorney over Eagle Creek fire in Oregon

(Newser) - Last September, a 15-year-old tossed fireworks on a hot day in the forest and inadvertently set off a massive wildfire that burned 48,000 acres in Oregon. Now he's learned the price he must pay, and it's incredible: a grand total of $36,631,687.10 to various...

Woman Helps Stop Forest Fire With Nothing But Frying Pan

She ran back and forth between the flames and a nearby pond

(Newser) - Maine forest rangers say the quick actions of a woman armed with a frying pan helped stop a forest fire, the AP reports. Rangers say Nancy Weeks used a frying pan to carry water back and forth between the flames and a nearby pond in a wooded area near Beddington....

Teen Is Main Suspect in Raging Oregon Wildfire

Witness says she saw him throw a firecracker into canyon

(Newser) - A wildfire that started over the weekend in Oregon torched at least 10,000 acres, stranded more than 150 hikers, and forced the evacuation of multiple towns—and officials think a teen fooling around with firecrackers may be to blame. The Columbian reports that a 15-year-old boy from Vancouver, Wash....

Forest Fire Rages Through Chilean Port City, Kills 4
16 Dead as Chile's Historic Valparaiso Burns
UPDATED
Apr 13, 2014 11:44 AM CDT

16 Dead as Chile's Historic Valparaiso Burns

500 homes destroyed so far in Valparaiso

(Newser) - Chile has been rocked by earthquakes lately , and now a fire raging in the colorful port city of Valparaiso has killed at least 16 people and destroyed 500 homes, President Michelle Bachelet said today. More than 10,000 people have been evacuated, including more than 200 female inmates at a...

In Chernobyl's Forests, Decay Is Terribly Stalled

Leaves aren't decaying, and they could fuel fires

(Newser) - Radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster is messing with local forests' ability to decay—and that's dangerous, both for local ecosystems and perhaps the area's neighbors. Researchers were concerned that decades after the disaster, dead trees in the area still hadn't decomposed, the Smithsonian notes. "We...

77-Year-Old Hit With $6.3M Bill for Sparking Forest Fire

Forest Service says he let fire in barrel get out of control

(Newser) - One minute you're burning twigs and paper in a rusted-out old barrel on your son's property; then, before you know it, five square miles of national forest have burned and you're being charged $6.3 million. Such is the saga of James G. Anderson Jr., the 77-year-old...

Singapore: Indonesia Is Ruining Our Air

Hazardous haze now in Malaysia, too

(Newser) - The hazardous smog that choked Singapore late last week won't dissipate any time soon, says the nation's PM, and it has officials pointing a finger at Indonesia. The pollution, which could last for weeks, has apparently been brought on by illegal forest fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island,...

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