Roads melting, bushfires destroy buildings as heatwave hits Australia

Roads melting, bushfires destroy buildings as heatwave hits Australia

A short, sharp burst of very hot desert air hit South Australia and the southeastern States on Friday and Saturday, January 5 and 6, 2018, pushing temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F) and forcing authorities to issue total fire bans and health advisories….

Thomas Fire grows to largest in California history

Thomas Fire grows to largest in California history

At 273 400 acres (110 641 ha) on Saturday, December 23, 2017, the Thomas Fire has become the largest wildfire in the history of California. So far, it destroyed 1 063, damaged 280 and still threatens 18 000 structures. It is now 65% contained and the estimated…

Worst wildfires in California history: 32 dead, 3 500 structures destroyed

Worst wildfires in California history: 32 dead, 3 500 structures destroyed

Massive wildfires fanned by strong winds that ignited in Northern California on Sunday, October 8, 2017 are now the worst the state has seen in its history. As of early October 10, at least 11 people have been killed, more than 100 are believed to be missing and…

Wildfires raging in Portugal again, at least one person dead

Wildfires raging in Portugal again, at least one person dead

After hottest September in 87 years and temperatures between 32 to 36 °C (89.6 to 96.8 °F) into October, a series of wildfires are again raging in Portugal. At least one person was killed. As of October 9, a total of nine fires are active in the northern…

Massive fires in California destroy hundreds of homes, force mass evacuations

Massive fires in California destroy hundreds of homes, force mass evacuations

​Massive wildfires burning out of control in California since Sunday, October 8, 2017, have destroyed hundreds of homes, caused widespread power outages, forced mass evacuations and shut down major roadways overnight. The series of fires began to ignite Sunday…

Canyon Fire rapidly grows to 2 500 acres, 500 homes evacuated, California

Canyon Fire rapidly grows to 2 500 acres, 500 homes evacuated, California

The Canyon Fire was reported on September 25, 2017 at 20:02 UTC (13:02 PDT) 8 km (5 miles) southwest of the city of Corona, Los Angeles County, California along highway 91 in Coal Canyon. Steep and rugged terrain, critically dry fuels and high heat enabled the rapid…

Lolo Peak fire grows to 32 328 acres, burns two homes, kills one – Montana

Lolo Peak fire grows to 32 328 acres, burns two homes, kills one – Montana

The Lolo Peak fire in Montana has burned 13 082 hectares (32 328 acres) of land since a lightning started it on July 15, 2017. As of August 22, the fire is just 14% contained, it burned two homes, claimed one firefighter's life and injured another. There are…

Unusual wildfire burning in western Greenland

Unusual wildfire burning in western Greenland

Satellites have detected a sizable wildfire burning in western Greenland, about 150 km (90 miles) northeast of Sismut, the second largest town in Greenland (population 5 500). Satellites first detected evidence of the fire on July 31, 2017 and kept collecting the…

New wildfire forces 10 000 people to evacuate, southern France

New wildfire forces 10 000 people to evacuate, southern France

A new wildfire broke out in southern France overnight Wednesday, July 26, 2017, forcing at least 10 000 people to evacuate. The latest fire comes a day after France asked for help from the rest of Europe to tackle the flames already raging in the tinder-dry south,…