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Tag: Wildfire

  • Crews battling a wildfire in English countryside face added risk of hidden WWII-era bombs exploding

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    North Yorkshire, England — The already-risky work of fire crews battling a wildfire in England’s North York Moors National Park has been made all the more dangerous by World War II-era bombs and tank shells hidden under the dense, dry vegetation. A local fire official said Wednesday that there had been nearly 20 explosions as the fire burns through brush to detonate the hidden weapons.

    “As the peat continues to burn down, it is finding the World War II ordnance and therefore exploding, and we have now experienced over 18 ordnance explosions within key areas,” County Chief Fire Officer Jonathan Dyson said, according to CBS News’ partner network BBC News.

    The Langdale Moor fire, which started on August 11, has charred about 10 square miles in the picturesque coastal region of North Yorkshire. Emergency fire crews have been tackling the blaze, aided by local farmers and game keepers who’ve swung into action with water tanks and tractors, dousing brush and helping cut fire breaks through the moorland, which is covered largely by dense shrubs and grass.

    A firefighter helps combat a wildfire on heathland alongside the A171 road, Aug. 14, 2025, in Fylingdales, in the North York Moors National Park, northeast England.

    Ian Forsyth/Getty


    Dyson said part of the active fire area was a tank training ground during the 1940s, explaining why so many weapons were still lurking under the first layers of the rugged landscape. There is still a U.K. military site, the RAF Fylingdales radar station, in the immediate area.

    Britain’s Ministry of Defense in London said an explosive ordnance disposal team had found “various World War II-era unexploded ordnance items,” declaring them to be “inert practice projectiles.”

    Dyson said the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service had requested help from other agencies in the country, and that crews had adopted a “very defensive fire-fighting strategy” to protect members given the presence of unexploded bombs.

    The scale of the wildfire has been atypical for northern England — a region often associated with heavy rainfall even within the U.K. But this year saw an incredibly hot, dry spring and early summer, leaving the moors (a British word for uncultivated hills) tinder dry. The U.K. is on track to see 2025 go down as the hottest year ever recorded.

    As well as road closures, some rights of way have also been closed, due to the on-going wildfire. Please check this…

    Posted by North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service on Wednesday, August 27, 2025

    The North York Moors park covers more than 550 square miles of rolling hills abutting the Yorkshire coast. It is dotted with villages and seaside towns that are popular summer vacation destinations, including the ancient fishing town of Whitby, considered the inspiration for Victorian-era author Bram Stoker’s iconic tale of “Dracula.”

    Along with many smaller towns, Whitby has been hit by road closures due to the fire that have kept some tourists at bay. Several campsites and other businesses in the region have been forced to evacuate and close up.

    The moors are also used as grazing land for flocks of sheep, and seeing so much ground burn away — after weeks with little rain to grow fresh grass had already squeezed many farmers ahead of the winter months — has been distressing for local farmers.

    Langdale Moor Fire Flares Up Again

    Verity McLeod, 7, and her mother Vicky hold a placard thanking local farmers as they pass on their way to assist with the firefighting efforts on Langdale Moor, where a wildfire had been burning for more than two weeks, Aug. 27, 2025, in Fylingdales, England.

    Ian Forsyth/Getty


    “It’s people’s livelihoods,” farm worker Darren Coates told the BBC. “To see the moors and farmland burned to a crisp it is just devastating.”

    Area farms and stables not impacted by the fire have posted messages on social media for weeks, offering to temporarily shelter horses and other animals displaced by the blaze.

    Wednesday finally brought some desperately needed rain to the region, helping the fire crews and farmers gain some degree of control over the blaze, but the fire service warned residents on Thursday that many road and trail closures remained in place, and the fire was still active.

    “They are working hard on containing the fire by firefighting, hotspotting and adding fire breaks,” the service said. “A helicopter is again in use today. We continue to ask people to avoid the area and not travel there to take photos and drone footage. This is an on-going operational incident and we want to make sure our crews, partners and the public stay safe.”

    It said the cause of the fire had not been established.

    There have been no reports of injuries or serious structural damage from the wildfire – or from old World War II bombs blowing up underneath it.

    Tucker Reals

    Tucker Reals is CBSNews.com’s foreign editor, based in the CBS News London bureau. He has worked for CBS News since 2006, prior to which he worked for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C., and London.

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  • Climate-driven wildfires are reversing clean air progress, new report says

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    Canada’s worst wildfire season on record tarnished the country’s air quality and had similar effects on pollution in parts of the United States, according to a new report.

    University of Chicago researchers on Thursday released their annual Air Quality Life Index, a situational update on air pollution and how it impacts life expectancy. The AQLI report said particulate pollution “remained the greatest external threat to human life expectancy,” comparing the impact to smoking.

    Researchers from the university’s Energy Policy Institute analyzed pollution data collected throughout 2023 and compared it with previous years.

    Michael Greenstone, a professor at the University of Chicago who created the AQLI, told CBS News his team focused on airborne particulate matter — small particles that are able to invade and wreak havoc on the body more easily than larger ones. 

    The data is taken from satellite readings that refresh each year and can take time to process, which is why the latest figures date back a couple of years, Greenstone said.

    While global pollution only rose slightly between 2022 and 2023, the report’s authors found that updated levels remained almost five times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization to protect public safety. Local changes in air quality varied from one country to the next. The differences were particularly stark in the U.S. and Canada, where airborne particulate concentrations increased more than anywhere else.

    Property and homes razed by a wildfire in Celista, British Columbia, Canada, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023.

    Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images


    “Evidence of a link between climate change, wildfire smoke, and rising particulate pollution has been increasing over the past two decades,” the authors wrote in their report, citing a recent study that found human-caused climate change “increased the likelihood of autumn wind-driven extreme wildfire events, especially in the Western U.S.” 

    Extreme wildfires, particularly forest fires, have become larger, more common and more intense since the beginning of this century, according to NASA.

    The Canadian wildfires caused particulate concentrations in Canada to soar to levels not seen since 1998, according to the AQLI. In the U.S., the wildfires drove up pollution to levels not seen since 2011 — a 20% uptick from the levels recorded in 2022. Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Mississippi were markedly affected, with pockets of those states replacing 20 counties in California as the most polluted nationwide. 

    Out of 3,137 American counties, the number of locations with pollution levels above the national U.S. standard rose to 308 in 2023, up from just 12 in 2022, according to the report. Forty-eight of the counties were in Ohio, 41 were in Wisconsin, 31 were in Pennsylvania, 26 were in Indiana and 19 were in Illinois, with the remaining 143 spread across the rest of the country. 

    In Canada, the researchers said that 50% of residents in 2023 breathed air that contained particulates in amounts exceeding their national air quality standard. That was a sharp turnaround in the country’s progress in pursuit of cleaner air, which had resulted in particulate levels falling below the national standard in previous years, said the report’s authors, noting that particulate levels in Canada’s most polluted regions were roughly equal to those of Bolivia and Honduras, two countries that face are known to face challenges addressing air quality and pollution.

    The Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories experienced the country’s worst pollution, according to the report. That reflected some of the locations of destructive wildfires that collectively burned more than 71,000 acres of land from the East to West Coasts. Smoke from those blazes permeated the atmosphere over Canada and the U.S., creating hazy, and at times, orange, skies while health posing threats to people with certain conditions. 

    Smoke from the Tantallon wildfire rises over houses in nearby Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 28, 2023.

    Smoke from the Tantallon wildfire rises over houses in nearby Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 28, 2023.

    ERIC MARTYN / REUTERS


    Wildfires scorching Canada this summer have again given rise to serious air quality concerns, for Canadians and Americans alike.

    “It’s correct to think of this air pollution from the wildfires as, kind of, the ghost of fossil fuels past,” Greenstone told CBS News. 

    He said that the U.S. has over the last half-century made “enormous progress” toward blocking particulates generated through the burning of fossil fuels, like oil and gas, from entering the air. The AQLI credited the implementation of the Clean Air Act for reducing particulate concentrations by over 60% since 1970, which it says added 1.4 years to the life expectancy of American residents. 

    But the devices used to block particulates do not prevent carbon dioxide from infiltrating the atmosphere, driving up temperatures and increasing both the incidence and the severity of wildfires, Greenstone added. When trees burn in a fire, more particulates are produced and released again.

    “The point we’re trying to make is that CO2 that’s released when we use fossil fuels, both historically and today, it stays up in the atmosphere for centuries, and it raises temperatures, and it will continue to for centuries,” Greenstone said. “What we’re seeing is an important consequence of that, which is, it’s going to increase the incidence of wildfires going forward. And those wildfires are causing us to breathe air that is going to cause us to lead shorter and sicker lives.”

    Emily Mae Czachor

    Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She typically covers breaking news, extreme weather and issues involving social justice. Emily Mae previously wrote for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.

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  • Weather helping Pickett Fire crews in California’s Wine Country; containment creeps higher

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    Firefighters battling the Pickett Fire in California Wine Country are holding the line on acreage and continuing to increase containment with the help of favorable weather conditions, Cal Fire reported.

    The fire in Napa County near Calistoga has been burning since Aug. 21, threatening a number of vineyards and wineries within the evacuation zones. While the footprint of the fire has remained stable, smoke from the fire could impact the area’s grape harvest.

    The overnight marine layer of low clouds and fog moving in from the Pacific Ocean — in which cooler, moist air is trapped near the surface by the warmer, drier air above it — is helping crews in lower elevations, Cal Fire said in a Wednesday status report on the fire.

    A Cal Fire helicopter drops water on the Pickett Fire, August 23, 2025.

    Cal Fire


    Cal Fire said the fire’s containment crept up to 25%, while the size remained at 6,803 acres, about twice the size of the city of St. Helena. The fire was expected to remain in its current footprint, the agency said, which is near several vineyards.   

    Firefighters were strengthening control lines and mopping up hot spots, while damage assessment teams were working to identify structures in the fire’s path, Cal Fire said. There were at least 292 structures that were threatened by the fire, but no structures were destroyed.

    Nearly 3,000 fire personnel were working the Pickett Fire as of Wednesday afternoon. Among the resources assigned were 11 helicopters, 251 engines, 62 dozers, 35 water tenders, and 61 hand crews.

    Current Pickett Fire evacuation areas 8/26

    Evacuation orders remained in effect for the following zones as of Wednesday afternoon. Residents can find their evacuation zones at protect.genasys.com.  

    • NPA-E107-B
    • NPA-E108-A
    • NPA-E114
    • NPA-E115
    • NPA-E122-B
    • POP-E001-B
    • POP-E002-C

    Meanwhile, evacuation warnings were in effect for these zones:

    • NPA-E120
    • NPA-E121-B
    • NPA-E121-C

    The Pickett Fire started just before 3 p.m. on August 21 in the area of Pickett Road northeast of Kenefick Ranch Vineyard and Winery, outside Calistoga city limits.

    No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.   

    Carlos E. Castañeda

    Carlos E. Castañeda is a senior editor of news and social media for CBS Bay Area.

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    Carlos E. Castañeda

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  • Emigrant Fire Prompts Emergency Closures In Willamette National Forest – KXL

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    SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Willamette National Forest has issued an emergency closure for areas surrounding the Emigrant Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire burning in the Middle Fork Ranger District.

    The fire, first reported Aug. 24th, is burning in a remote area about three miles southwest of Indigo Springs Campground and has grown to approximately 7,400 acres. Officials said the closure is necessary to protect public and firefighter safety during full suppression operations.

    The emergency order took effect Wednesday and will remain in place through Nov. 25, unless modified or lifted earlier.

    The closure impacts all roads, trails, campgrounds and recreation sites within the designated area, including sites in the Timpanogas Lake region. Specific closures include Sacandaga, Indigo Springs and Timpanogas campgrounds; Timpanogas Lake Shelter; and several trailheads, such as Youngs Rock, Chuckle Springs and portions of the Middle Fork Trail (#3609).

    Numerous Forest Service roads are also closed, including but not limited to:

    • FSR 21 (Rigdon Road)

    • FSR 2134 (Staley Ridge Road)

    • FSR 2136 (Staley Creek)

    • FSRs 2137, 2143, 2144

    • FSR 2153 (Big Swamp Road)

    • FSR 2154 (Timpanogas Road)

    • FSR 6000700 (Warm Springs Butte)

    A full list of closures and a detailed map are available at fs.usda.gov/r06/willamette.

    Fire danger in the area remains high, and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level has been raised to Level II. Forest visitors are urged to follow all fire restrictions.

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    Grant McHill

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  • Pickup Truck Sparks Wildfire In Sweet Home – KXL

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    Photo credit to Corbin Henderson, Lebanon Fire Photographer

    3:30PM Update – Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan is removing the Level 1 evacuation status for the area near Rice Road in Sweet Home. 

    SWEET HOME, Ore. – A fast-moving wildfire ignited by a pickup truck operating in tall, dry grass burned 25 acres near the Holley area west of Sweet Home on Monday afternoon, prompting evacuations and a major multi-agency firefighting response.

    Sweet Home Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry’s South Cascade District responded to the blaze just after 4 p.m. on Rice Road. The fire spread quickly through grass, brush, and timber, reportedly moving toward homes and threatening structures.

    The incident commander immediately called for a second alarm, and later a third, bringing in resources from Brownsville, Halsey, and Lebanon Fire. Additional coverage was provided by Scio and Albany fire crews. A Pacific Power team shut down power lines in the area as a precaution.

    A Type 1 helicopter was deployed for aerial support, and a bulldozer was brought in to assist with constructing containment lines. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office, with help from Sweet Home Police, conducted evacuations.

    Level 3 evacuation orders were issued for Rice Road and Crescent Hill Road but were downgraded to Level 1 by 5:24 p.m. after crews successfully halted the fire’s forward progress. As of Tuesday morning, Level 1 evacuations remain in effect while crews continue mop-up operations.

    The fire destroyed one RV, damaged the siding of a pumphouse, and caused minor heat damage to several structures. No injuries or casualties were reported.

    Authorities confirmed the fire was sparked underneath a pickup truck that was operating in dry grass. The vehicle itself was not damaged, but the fire quickly spread to surrounding vegetation and the nearby RV.

    Crews from Scio and Albany are assisting with mop-up efforts. The fire is currently 60% contained, with full containment expected by the end of the day. All evacuation orders will be lifted once containment is complete.

    In total, ODF South Cascade deployed six engines, one water tender, one dozer, and four overhead team members, totaling 18 personnel. Structural fire response included nine engines, three water tenders, and five overhead personnel, for a total of 32 firefighters on scene.

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    Grant McHill

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  • Colorado wildfires: Lee fire now fourth-largest in state history

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    A slowly growing, nearly contained wildfire burning on Colorado’s Western Slope is now the fourth-largest on state record, according to fire officials.

    As of Monday night, the 90% contained Lee fire had scorched 138,844 acres between Meeker and Rifle. It grew by 1,086 acres on Monday, after multiple days with minimal to no growth.

    The new acres consumed by the Lee fire bumped the wildfire from fifth-largest to fourth-largest in Colorado history, passing the 137,760-acre Hayman fire that sparked in 2002, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

    The Lee fire is now less than 200 acres away from becoming the third-largest wildfire on state record. Currently, that ranking belongs to the 2020 Pine Gulch fire that burned 139,007 acres.

    Rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the Western Slope again on Tuesday, bringing much-needed moisture to the state, fire officials said. Previous hot, dry and windy conditions fueled rapid fire growth in multiple counties across western Colorado, charring thousands of acres outside of the Lee fire.

    Jump to: Lee and Elk fires | Derby fire

    A wildland firefighting truck heads down a road through a hillside burned from the Lee fire near Colorado 64 in Rio Blanco County, west of Meeker, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

    Lee and Elk fires, near Meeker

    The largest wildfire burning in Colorado — now the fourth-largest ever recorded in the state — consumed more than 1,000 new acres after a week of slow growth and increased containment, fire officials said.

    As of Monday night, the 138,844-acre Lee fire burning between Meeker and Rifle was 90% contained, fire officials said.

    All mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, and areas on pre-evacuation status were downgraded to monitoring status on Monday.

    No new evacuation orders were issued overnight Monday, despite the new fire growth.  An updated evacuation map for Rio Blanco and Garfield counties is available online.

    The Lee fire and nearby Elk fire, which consumed more than 14,500 acres before reaching full containment last week, have together destroyed at least five homes and 14 outbuildings, fire officials said.

    Extreme drought, high temperatures and strong winds fueled rapid growth on both fires, which were sparked by lightning west and east of Meeker on Aug. 2.

    Thunderstorms are most likely near Meeker and Rifle between 9 a.m. and midnight on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Rain showers, which are also expected in that period, could continue through 3 a.m. Wednesday before a brief reprieve.

    Rainy weather is expected to continue on Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters said.

    While the rain is helpful, afternoon thunderstorms also increase the risk of gusty winds, frequent lightning and flash flooding along burn scars, fire officials said.

    Road closures tied to the smaller Crosho fire near Yampa were lifted Monday afternoon. That fire has burned 2,073 acres and is 81% contained.

    A plane drops fire retardant on the Derby fire burning in Eagle County on Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo provided by Derby Fire Information)
    A plane drops fire retardant on the Derby fire burning in Eagle County on Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo provided by Derby Fire Information)

    Derby fire, in Eagle County

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    Lauren Penington

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  • Controversial North County housing development wins approval over fire concerns

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    A controversial 453-unit housing development has been unanimously approved by the San Diego County Planning Commission in Harmony Grove, an unincorporated rural residential area in North County sandwiched between Escondido and San Marcos.

    Several neighbors spoke out at the meeting over the controversial proposal because it does not include a secondary access road to escape wildfires.

    They fear entrapment if a wildfire came from the direction of the single dead-end road.

    Winding approval

    The project, Harmony Grove Village South, had been before the commission in 2018 and later approved by the Board of Supervisors.

    However, CEQA litigation from the Sierra Club, residents and other parties had delayed construction.

    The board rescinded approval in 2022 after a trial court sided with residents. However, a state appellate court then found all but one aspect of the project complied with CEQA.

    The aftermath of the Cocos Fire in 2014 left the historic Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association decimated. (Photo by Eric Neubauer)

    The same project as in 2018 is now headed back before the board for the third time, with solar panels and deed-restricted affordable housing added. Project manager David Kovach expects to bring the proposal to the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 1.

    Kovach, representing the developer, and housing advocates at the hearing said Harmony Grove Village South will address San Diego’s housing crisis by adding stock to the missing middle.

    The development includes single- and multi-family units. The developer has also won support from Local 89 by promising to use union labor for construction.

    Current residents of Harmony Grove noted that living in the car-dependent area will still be pricey, even for those in the designated affordable housing. Many are not able to get fire insurance outside of the notoriously expensive California FAIR Plan due to being in a CAL FIRE mapped high-risk fire zone.

    Summer Light, whose house was the only one to survive in the historic Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association during the Cocos Fire, warned new residents to budget $10,000 per year for fire insurance.

    Fire trap

    Residents concerned about future fires and evacuations on the dead-end road the development is located on say that they hope the elected supervisors will be more thoughtful about their decision.

    They wanted the developer to put in a secondary access road so residents would have more than one route to leave depending on the direction a fire travels.

    People who will live past the development on the dead-end road fear that big money will steamroll their concerns about fire safety.

    “The reality is that that this community doesn’t have a very expansive road network. It’s just one main road,” said Elfin Forest Harmony Grove Town Council vice chair JP Theberge in a phone call.

    In the 2014 Cocos Fire, which destroyed 30 homes in Harmony Grove, that 1.5 mile road to Escondido was gridlocked for more than an hour during the evacuation. Residents work together on brush abatement but are surrounded by 15,000 acres of open space.

    A map with the community of Harmony Grove highlighted with one road and arrows identifying evacuation routes.
    Tom Cova, a geography professor at the University of Utah, was hired as a consultant by residents to examine the area’s roads for fire evacuations. Cova estimated with Harmony Grove Village and Harmony Grove Village South, an additional 3,500 cars on the 1.5 mile road would take seven hours to evacuate, as shown in the map above. (Map courtesy JP Theberge)

    Hundreds more cars would need to use that road to evacuate if the development is finished. A consultant hired by residents, Tom Cova, a leader in the nascent fire evacuation sciences, estimated it would take more than seven hours for all residents to evacuate once the development is occupied.

    The appellate court ruled the fire safety and evacuation plans in the 2018 environmental impact report were adequate. County staff consulted with the Rancho Santa Fe fire department and sheriff on fire evacuation plans. No further changes were made to the project proposal.

    Rancho Santa Fe Fire Chief Dave McQuead said at the hearing that in the evacuation plan, a third lane on Country Club Drive could be substituted for the secondary egress. In that plan, two lanes of the dead-end road would be used by evacuees while the third would be used by emergency vehicles.

    McQuead also stated that evacuation methods have improved since 2014 due to evacuating zones instead of squares, as well as using the Genasys app, which came to prominence during this year’s Palisades Fire, to communicate with residents.

    The Cocos Fire was not the first fire to hit the 110-year-old community, nor do residents believe it will be the last.

    “This community wouldn’t exist without a very intense focus on our fire safety,” Theberge said.


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  • Wildfire smoke threatens California vineyard impacted by 2020 blaze:

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    The hot and dry weather in the West creates the perfect conditions for wildfires. One currently burning in central Oregon, the Flat Fire, is threatening nearly 4,000 homes — at least four have been destroyed, officials say. Another wildfire is threatening vineyards in Northern California.   

    The Pickett Fire, the largest wildfire in the San Francisco Bay Area this year, started on Thursday and has burned more than 10 square miles. Even if flames don’t reach the orchards, smoke will impact the economic lifeblood of Napa Valley.

    More than 2,000 people have been dispatched to fight the fires, according to Cal Fire. They have so far managed to keep homes and businesses from burning, but winery owner Chris Jambois says he’s concerned about how often wildfires appear to occur.

    Chris Jambois of Black Sears Winery in Angwin, California, takes CBS News correspondent Carter Evans on a tour of his crop.

    CBS News


    “It’s obviously alarming to have to go through this so frequently,” Jambois told CBS News.

    He owns Black Sears Winery, where memories of the Glass Fire are still fresh. The 2020 wildfire destroyed several wineries and more than 1,500 structures in the area. 

    The Glass Fire covered more than 67,000 acres in Napa and Sonoma counties, about a two-hour drive north of San Francisco. The Pickett Fire, while smaller at nearly 7,000 acres, has taken a similar path.

    image-2.jpg

    Map of the Glass Fire (2020, left) and the Pickett Fire (August 2025, right).

    Cal Fire


    Jambois said he learned that even if vineyards are spared from the fire, smoke could still affect the grapes.

    “We lost two vintages — 2018 and 2020 — to smoke,” Jambois said, referring to the year the grapes were harvested. “Once we made it into wine, it was a bit of a disaster. We ended up having to dump it down the drain … I mean, it tasted like licking an ashtray.”

    Meanwhile, much of the western parts of the United States are enduring a relentless heat wave, which contributes to fire activity.

    a18-evans-ca-wildfires-final-copy-01-transfer-frame-731.jpg

    Wildfire in Napa County in 2020.

    CBS News


    The Flat Fire in Oregon’s Jefferson County was at 5% containment as of Monday, according to fire officials. It sparked on Thursday and has burned nearly 22,000 acres, Central Oregon Fire Info said. The wildfire is one of 55 large fires burning across the country, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

    A major concern in Napa Valley is how quickly the Pickett Fire grew. Jambois said he doesn’t know whether he or his business can keep up.

    “If we do end up losing this crop, it’ll be three out of the last eight years … We’ll have some serious soul searching to do,” he said.

    Carter Evans

    Carter Evans has served as a Los Angeles-based correspondent for CBS News since February 2013, reporting across all of the network’s platforms. He joined CBS News with nearly 20 years of journalism experience, covering major national and international stories.

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  • 2,000 firefighters battling California’s Pickett Fire in Napa County as blaze grows to 6,800 acres

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    More than 2,000 fire personnel are on scene Monday as the Pickett Fire continued to burn in California’s Napa County for a fifth day.

    According to Cal Fire, the fire has burned 6,803 acres and is 13% contained as of 6 a.m.

    “Fire crews worked overnight to strengthen control lines, mop up hot spots and protect nearby structures,” Cal Fire officials said in an update Monday morning. “Firefighters are working in steep, challenging terrain as they continue to strengthen containment lines.”

    Officials said warm and dry conditions are expected to continue Monday, with afternoon winds expected to bring an increase of fire activity.    

    In a video update posted Monday afternoon, Deputy Operations Chief Steve Chapman said, “No large real fire growth in the last 24 hours, the fire footprint remains much of the same.”

    Chapman added that crews on Sunday cut out a spot to land a helicopter in the area above Calistoga. 

    “To get them into the area they’re going to be working in more quickly and efficiently,” he said.

    The agency’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit posted on social media Monday morning video of the Boggs Mountain Helitrack Crew being deployed into a remote area.

    “There are 2,045 personnel assigned to the incident Monday. Crews will be focused on reinforcing direct control lines and constructing secondary control lines,” the agency said.

    Among the resources assigned include 10 helicopters, 205 engines, 67 dozers, 23 water tenders and 53 crews.

    While some evacuations were lifted Sunday, evacuation orders remained in effect for the following zones as of Monday morning:

    • NPA-E114
    • NPA-E121-B
    • NPA-E121-C
    • NPA-E122-B
    • POP-E002-C
    • POP-E001-B
    • NPA-E108-A
    • NPA-E107-B
    • NPA-E115

    Meanwhile, evacuation warnings were in effect for these zones:

    • NPA-E120
    • NPA-E121-A
    • NPA-E122-A
    • ANG-E001
    • POP-E002-B
    • POP-E001-A
    • NPA-E107-A

    Residents can find their evacuation zones at protect.genasys.com.  

    The Pickett Fire started just before 3 p.m. Thursday in the area of Pickett Road northeast of Kenefick Ranch Vineyard and Winery, outside Calistoga city limits.

    On Sunday, the Napa County Office of Emergency Services declared a local state of emergency.

    “This declaration is a proactive step to ensure we can mobilize every available resource to respond to the needs of our community, including coordinating with state and federal partners,” said Ryan Alsop, Napa County Chief Executive Officer and Director of Emergency Services.

    No injuries have been reported. The fire threatens at least 615 structures, but none have been destroyed as of Monday morning.

    The cause of the fire is under investigation.  

    Tim Fang

    Tim Fang is a digital producer at CBS Bay Area. A Bay Area native, Tim has been a part of the CBS Bay Area newsroom for more than two decades and joined the digital staff in 2006.

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    Tim Fang

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  • Latest on Pickett Wildfire as California wine country sees mandatory evacuation orders

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    Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in Napa County, California, due to the Pickett Wildfire. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans has more on the blaze and meteorologist Jessica Burch has a look at the forecast.

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  • Colorado wildfires: State’s fifth-largest wildfire on record now 90% contained

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    Colorado’s fifth-largest wildfire on record is 90% contained as rain showers and thunderstorms continue across the Western Slope, fire officials said.

    As of Monday morning, the Lee fire had consumed 137,758 acres, equal to roughly 215 square miles. The burn area is just two acres short of Colorado’s fourth-largest wildfire on record — the 137,760-acre Hayman fire that sparked in 2002.

    Other wildfires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope have scorched thousands of additional acres. Fire officials across the state have said hot, dry and windy conditions fueled the flames’ rapid growth.

    Storms over the next several days will bring much-needed rain to the drought-stricken Western Slope, according to the National Weather Service. But those storms also increase the risk of lightning and strong winds — weather that can start fires and fan the flames of those already burning.

    Jump to: Lee and Elk fires | Derby fire | Stoner Mesa fire | Air quality impacts

    A wildland firefighting truck heads down a road through a hillside burned from the Lee fire near Colorado 64 in Rio Blanco County, west of Meeker, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

    Lee and Elk fires, near Meeker

    Growth on the largest wildfire burning in Colorado — the fifth-largest ever recorded in the state — has slowed over the past week as firefighters increase containment around the flames.

    As of Monday morning, the 137,758-acre Lee fire burning between Meeker and Rifle was 90% contained, fire officials said.

    “Minimal work” remains to fully contain the wildfire, Incident Commander Brent Olson said in a Sunday afternoon briefing.

    All mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, but multiple areas around the fire remain on pre-evacuation status. An updated evacuation map for Rio Blanco and Garfield counties is available online.

    The Lee fire and nearby Elk fire, which consumed more than 14,500 acres before reaching full containment last week, have together destroyed at least five homes and 14 outbuildings, fire officials said.

    Extreme drought, high temperatures and strong winds fueled rapid growth on both fires, which were sparked by lightning west and east of Meeker on Aug. 2.

    Rain showers and cooler temperatures helped mitigate the flames last week, which allowed firefighters to steadily increase containment. More showers and thunderstorms are expected in the days ahead as Colorado braces for a monsoonal weather system.

    Rain showers and thunderstorms are most likely near Meeker and Rifle between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Chances of precipitation range from 30% to 50%, forecasters said.

    Chances of rain greatly increase later this week in both areas, jumping to 90% Tuesday afternoon and remaining there until 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to hourly forecasts from the weather service.

    While the rain is helpful, afternoon thunderstorms also increase the risk of gusty winds, frequent lightning and flash flooding along burn scars, fire officials said.

    Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Lee fire burn area on Sunday afternoon. The water caused a debris flow, which was blocking Piceance Creek Road, officials said in a Sunday afternoon update. It’s unclear if rain caused flooding in the Elk fire burn scar.

    A plane drops fire retardant on the Derby fire burning in Eagle County on Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo provided by Derby Fire Information)
    A plane drops fire retardant on the Derby fire burning in Eagle County on Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo provided by Derby Fire Information)

    Derby fire, in Eagle County

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  • Evacuations ordered in California’s wine country as heatwave fuels wildfire

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    The Pickett Fire is growing in California’s Napa County, prompting new evacuations as it threatens homes and wineries. The flames, fueled by scorching temperatures and dry conditions, are being battled by hundreds of first responders. Elise Preston reports and Andrew Kozak takes a look at the forecast.

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  • US Forest Service reports ‘incident’ involving helicopter assigned to Derby Fire

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    DENVER — A helicopter assigned to the Derby Fire was involved in an “incident” around 4:10 p.m. Friday, according to the US Forest Service.

    The agency said there is an unconfirmed report that the aircraft is in a lake 13 miles northwest of the Eagle County Regional Airport.

    The US Forest Service said the helicopter pilot was picked up by another aircraft and flown to Eagle County Regional Airport. The pilot was checked out by emergency medical personnel and had “minor bumps and bruises” but refused further medical attention.

    No further details were provided. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the crash, according to USFS, but it is unclear if it will respond to the incident.

    The lightning-sparked Derby Fire burning about 15 miles north of Dotsero in the White River National Forest continued to grow overnight and now stands at 4,112 acres in size with 0% containment. At least one structure has been lost in the Sugarloaf Mountain area due to the fire, officials said.

    Mandatory evacuations and pre-evacuation notices for the Derby Fire are still in effect and can be viewed here.

    Meanwhile, the Lone Pine Fire, which ignited Thursday west of Red Feather Lakes and south of Deadman Road, was 75% contained by Friday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It has burned 2.5 acres so far. A cause has not been determined.

    Denver7 is tracking several other wildfires on Colorado’s Western Slope. Below is a summary of those fires, containment amounts and where residents can learn more details.

    󠀠

    Size: 137,758 acres
    Containment: 80%
    First reported: Aug. 2
    Cause: ⚡️
    Location: 18 miles southwest of Meeker
    Evacuations 🏠: For the most up-to-date evacuation map, click here.
    Pre-evacuations: For the most up-to-date pre-evacuation map, click here.

    The lightning-sparked Lee Fire, first reported on Aug. 2, is burning 18 miles southwest of Meeker in Rio Blanco County.

    Three homes and 12 outbuildings have burned so far in the Lee Fire, according to officials in Rio Blanco County, who said firefighters completed chipping operations on the east flank of the fire.

    On Friday, aviation and ground crews will continue the work of cooling down a hot spot along the fire’s edge and improving fire lines.

    Also on Friday, the Bureau of Land Management rescinded the land closure order for BLM-managed public lands in Garfield County because of the Lee Fire. The rescission is effective immediately because fire and emergency managers have determined the area is safe.

    A partial closure of the White River National Forest is still in effect due to the fire within the Blanco Ranger District west of and including the Long-Lost Trail system.

    Updates posted to:
    Elk and Lee Fire Information
    Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office
    InciWeb

    crosho fire1.png

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    Size: 2,072 acres
    Containment: 57%
    First reported: Aug. 11 at 3:25 pm.
    Cause: Unknown
    Location: Routt National Forest in Rio Blanco County
    Evacuations 🏠: No evacuations at this time

    The Crosho Fire continues to burn in the Routt National Forest but has seen no growth since the weekend, according to the latest update from fire officials.

    Sixty-seven structures continue to be threatened by the fire, according to the Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team, but none have burned as of Friday.

    In a Friday update, fire officials said the eastern perimeter of the fire has been contained. Mop-up operations, supported by water, were progressing to the north and west of the fire, where crews were extinguishing pockets of remaining heat.

    There are currently no pre-evacuations or evacuation orders for the fire, according to the latest map from the Routt County Office of Emergency Management.

    Closures remain in effect for the following roads:

    • Intersection of Routt County Road 15 and Routt County Road 17
    • Intersection of Routt County Road 25 and Routt County Road 132A
    • Rio Blanco County Road 8 (Dunckley Pass) closed at the intersection of Rio Blanco County Roads 8 and 19 

    Updates posted to:
    InciWeb
    Crosho Fire Information
    Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office

    stoner mesa fire1.png

    󠀠

    Size: 10,186 acres
    Containment: 32%
    First reported: July 28
    Cause: ⚡️
    Location: 5 miles west of Rico in the San Juan National Forest
    Evacuations 🏠: No current evacuations

    The west side of the Stoner Mesa Fire, near the Stoner Creek drainage, continues to be most active, fire officials said in an update Friday, adding work will continue to improve the fireline and will conduct strategic firing operations, as conditions allow, to remove fuels between the line and the canyon rim.

    A community meeting is being planned for Sunday, Aug. 24, in Dolores, but no details about when or where it’ll be have been released yet.

    To sign up for Dolores County emergency alerts, click here. To sign up for Montezuma County emergency alerts, click here.

    Updates posted to:
    Stoner Mesa Fire Information
    USDA Forest Service Facebook page
    InciWeb

    turner gulch fire1.png

    󠀠

    Size: 31,699 acres
    Contained: 88%
    First reported: July 10
    Cause: ⚡️
    Location: 8 miles northeast of Gateway in Mesa County
    Evacuations 🏠: All evacuation orders have been lifted

    In a Friday update, fire officials said suppression repair on area roads was completed Thursday.

    Firefighters were also making progress on securing the fireline on the southeast perimeter of the fire, aided by water-handling equipment based out of Big Creek Reservoir.

    The Bureau of Land Management has revised its closure area. The same closure area remains in effect for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests, fire officials said.

    Updates posted to:
    InciWeb
    Turner Gulch Fire Info.
    Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit Facebook
    Mesa County Sheriff’s Office page on Facebook

    containedfires.png

    󠀠

    Blue Ridge Fire
    Size: 25 acres
    Containment: 100%
    First reported: Aug. 15
    Cause: Under investigation
    Location: La Plata County
    Notes: All evacuation and pre-evacuation orders lifted on Aug. 18.

    Oak Fire
    Size: 75 acres
    Contained: 78% (as of last update on Aug. 13)
    First reported: Aug. 10
    Cause: Structure fire
    Location: Archuleta County west of Pagosa Springs
    Notes: The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office said two suspects have been arrested in connection with an illegal burn that started this fire. The suspects have been identified as Sergio Alaniz Jr., 41, and Ross Heirigs, 60. They were arrested on charges of fourth-degree arson.

    Peninsula Fire
    Size: 17 acres
    Containment: 80% (as of last update on Aug. 10)
    First reported: Aug. 8
    Cause: ⚡️
    Location: South of Highway 145, between Norwood and Placerville

    Yellowjacket Fire
    Size: 29 acres
    Contained: 40% (as of last update on Aug. 16)
    First reported: Aug. 15
    Cause: Unknown
    Location: Northeast of Meeker

    Deer Creek Fire
    Size: 17,724 Acres
    Containment: 100%
    First reported: July 10
    Cause: Under investigation (as of last update on Aug. 12)
    Location: Eastern Utah and Montrose County (Colorado)

    South Rim Fire
    Size: 4,232 Acres
    Containment: N/A (National Park Service says 100% containment likely will not occur until snowfall, but “fire behavior is limited to smoldering and creeping, and poses very little risk of spread outside the current fire footprint.”)
    First reported: July 10
    Cause: ⚡️
    Location: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

    Leroux Fire
    Size: 195 Acres
    Containment: 100%
    First reported: Aug. 3
    Cause: ⚡️
    Location: Delta County

    Wright Draw Fire
    Size: 466 acres
    Containment: 100%
    First reported: July 10
    Cause: ⚡️
    Location: Mesa County

    Windy Gap Fire
    Size: 30 acres
    Containment: 100%
    First reported: Aug. 6
    Cause: Unknown
    Location: Grand County

    Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos

    Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.

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  • Pickett Fire in California’s Napa County nearly doubles in size overnight near Calistoga to more than 2,100 acres

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    Firefighters in California’s Napa County on Friday continued to battle the Pickett Fire, which doubled in size overnight near the town of Calistoga.

    In an update posted Friday morning, the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said the fire has burned 2,133 acres and is 0% contained.

    Division Chief Ryan Isham said in a video that fire activity diminished during the evening hours due to increased humidity but is expected to increase as temperatures again heat up.

    “We’ve taken advantage of this by continuing to use water dropping aircraft to help suppress the fire throughout the night, and we’ve been going direct on the fire whenever possible,” Isham said. “Conditions will change as that inversion layer starts to break and temperatures warm up, you will expect to see increased fire activity throughout the perimeter of the fire.”

    As for personnel, the agency said there were 350 personnel working on the fire overnight, which is going to increase on Friday.

    “During Friday’s day shift there are 75 engines, 8 hand crews, 15 dozers, 10 water tenders and numerous air tankers and helicopters assigned. Total personnel is approximately 435,” the agency said.

    The fire started just before 3 p.m. in the area of Pickett Road northeast of Kenefick Ranch Vineyard and Winery, outside Calistoga city limits.

    As of Friday morning, evacuation orders were in place in the following areas.

    • Zone E120 – north of Silverado Trail, south of Pickett Road, east of Rosedale Road, west of Pickett Road
    • Zone E121B – north of Clover Flat Road, west of Ditch Henry Road
    • Zone E114 – north of Pickett Road and Silverado Trail, south of Old Lawley Toll Road, east of Palisades Road, west of Dutch Henry Canyon Road

    Meanwhile, zones E115, E121A, E122 and E-002B were under evacuation warnings. Residents can find their evacuation zones at protect.genasys.com. 

    The cause of the fire is under investigation.

    Tim Fang

    Tim Fang is a digital producer at CBS Bay Area. A Bay Area native, Tim has been a part of the CBS Bay Area newsroom for more than two decades and joined the digital staff in 2006.

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  • Smoke from Napa County wildfire spurs air quality advisory

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Already grappling with an intense heat wave, several Bay Area counties are now under an air quality advisory due to smoke from a wildfire burning in Napa County.

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    Jason Green

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  • Bona Fide Masks Donates Over 250,000 Powecom KN95 Masks to Help L.A. Residents and First Responders Affected by Wildfires

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    Company Partners with Local Community Organizations to Distribute Authentic Protective Masks in Areas with Poor Air Quality


    MOUNT VERNON, N.Y., February 4, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Bona Fide Masks Corp. (www.bonafidemasks.com), part of the Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Ball Chain) family of companies out of Mount Vernon, New York, has donated over 250,000 Powecom® KN95 masks to local community organizations in the Los Angeles area. The company organized this effort to help residents and first responders who are confronting poor air quality throughout region. With this undertaking, Bona Fide Masks® expands upon its already robust donation program. The company’s goal remains to provide high-quality, authentic masks directly to those who need them.

    KN95 Masks, including our premier Powecom KN95 mask, can help protect the wearer from pollutants in the air, including smoke and smog, which have been prevalent in L.A. because of the ongoing wildfires. Bona Fide Masks has been delighted to support the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, Communities for a Better Environment, Water Drop Los Angeles, Inspiration Circle Foundation, Long Beach Forward and Connecting a Caring Community, as well as many other local community organizations. “It’s a privilege to support the brave individuals and community organizations who are confronting these wildfires. These fires produce acrid smoke, leading to significantly diminished air quality, and we’re here to help,” explains Bill Taubner, President.

    Bona Fide Masks launched its national donation program in 2022. To date, the company has donated millions of protective masks to over 300 nonprofit organizations, supporting a variety of causes and critical groups including domestic violence victims, the elderly, the disabled, veterans, soup kitchens and more. Additionally, the company has empowered local community leaders to initiate grassroots distribution efforts in their communities.

    More about Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Bona Fide Masks Corp.:

    The current owners’ great-grandfather and grandfather started Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Ball Chain) in a small garage behind their home in the Bronx, NY. The company has been family-owned and -operated since 1938. Ball Chain is now the world’s largest manufacturer of ball chains (www.ballchain.com ), seen on military dog tags, ceiling fans, handbags, and light pulls, among many other goods. The company manufactures more than 3 million feet of product per week at its Mount Vernon, New York, factory (all ball chains are made in the USA). Ball Chain is the exclusive supplier to the U.S. military for the iconic dog tag ID necklace worn by U.S. servicemen and women, and the company takes tremendous pride in everything it does. Our Logotags division is a leading provider of custom challenge coins, lapel pins, dog tags, race medals, patches, bottle openers, and more.

    Originally a division of Ball Chain, Bona Fide Masks Corp. handles warehousing and distribution with the utmost focus, systematically employing proven, regimented processes and protocols, as supply chain security and transparency are its highest priorities. In this regard, Bona Fide Masks is proud to issue statements of authenticity, providing further confidence to its customers and reinforcing its commitment to supply chain integrity.

    Source: Bona Fide Masks

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  • Protect your home and property: Gloucester Fire reminds Cape Ann of Wildfire Protection Plan amid red flag warning

    Protect your home and property: Gloucester Fire reminds Cape Ann of Wildfire Protection Plan amid red flag warning

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    High fire danger led the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts on Friday, and the Gloucester Fire Department would like to remind residents and business owners that they can help protect themselves by reviewing the Community Wildfire Protection Plan that was prepared by Cape Ann stakeholders this spring.

    The Cape Ann Community Wildfire Protection Plan website, https://bit.ly/3CjdhPT, provides detailed maps of Cape Ann along with numerous resources for home and business owners to protect their properties against fire. An entire section of the plan is focused on steps that home and property owners can take to help protect their properties.

    Among the tips for homeowners are reducing flammable brush within 5 feet of the home, keeping gutters clean and keeping trees trimmed back from homes and trimmed at least 10 feet from the ground.

    The  Cape Ann plan also identifies high-risk areas for wildfires and suggested strategies for preventing them and reducing risk.

    Those strategies include mechanical fuel treatments, in which vegetation that can fuel fires is managed; adding fire containment features to the environment, such as firebreaks; working with local home owners associations and residents to develop fuel break measures around homes and properties; working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to establish forest projects that reduce wildfire risk; and implementing a community chipper program to encourage residents to keep brush and other vegetation cut back from their homes.

    “The Gloucester Fire Department and other regional, state and federal stakeholders put a lot of work into creating this plan earlier this year in preparation for the dangerous fire conditions we knew would come,” Deputy Chief Robert Rivas said. “We encourage homeowners and business owners to review the plan and learn what they can about simple ways to protect lives and property.”

    To learn more about the plan or to view its full details, visit https://bit.ly/3CjdhPT.

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  • Fire burns hillside homes in Oakland amid day of high winds; residents evacuated

    Fire burns hillside homes in Oakland amid day of high winds; residents evacuated

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    Fire crews in Oakland stop forward progress of Oakland Hills fire amid dangerous conditions


    Fire crews in Oakland stop forward progress of Oakland Hills fire amid dangerous conditions

    12:32

    A fast-moving vegetation fire broke out Friday afternoon in the hills of Oakland, California, burning at least two homes before firefighters were able to stop forward progress hours after the incident began.

    The Oakland Fire Department said the fire was burning in the area of Interstate Highway 580, Mountain Boulevard and Keller Avenue. Initial reports indicated at least four structures in the area of Mountain Boulevard and Maynard Avenue were fully involved, according to the Fire Department.

    The fire was initially reported at about 1:30 p.m. and by 1:50 p.m. it had gone to three alarms. A fourth alarm was called at about 2:15 p.m. During that time, winds in the area were measured at around 11 mph with gusts up to 22 mph.

    Over 80 firefighters were on the scene along with Cal Fire air support and ground units. The fire advanced to a fifth alarm before forward progress was halted just before 4 p.m. with 13 acres burned. Firefighters said at least two structures were burned as of 6 p.m.

    Oakland hills fire home threatened
    Oakland hills fire home threatened

    KPIX


    Residents of the Caballo Hills neighborhood north of Highway 580 were evacuated, according to the Fire Department. The evacuations were in effect along Campus Drive east of Stoneridge Court and all homes on Crystal Ridge Court. Residents on Altura Place and Rifle Lane were also evacuated.

    A map of the evacuation zones can be found here. An evacuation center was set up at Burckhalter Elementary School.

    Oakland Fire officials later posted an update on the homes damaged by the fire after seeing conflicting reports. As of 5:15 p.m., Oakland Fire said there were two residential homes impacted by flames. They noted that dozens of homes on Maynard, Sanford, Greenridge, Canyon Oaks were threatened during the fire, but not damaged.  

    At about 2:20 p.m., the California Highway Patrol issued a severe traffic alert because of the fire burning adjacent to Highway 580 and closed all westbound lanes. Firefighters were seen putting out a spot fire next to the shoulder of the westbound lanes possibly started by embers of the fire. 


    RAW: Oakland Hills fire burning out of control threatens home

    03:11

    By 3:30 p.m. one westbound lane had reopened; all lanes were reopened by 4 p.m.

    The Bay Area was under a Wind Advisory Friday with gusts expected to reach 50-65 mph in higher elevations. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for most of the Bay Area and Central Coast because of the critically dry conditions.

    There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.

    The fire is burning close to the area of a catastrophic firestorm nearly 33 years ago to the day. On Oct. 19, 1991, a smoldering grass fire that was not completely extinguished reignited and burned out of control in the Oakland and Berkeley hills for days, killing 25 people, injuring 150 others, and burning more than 3,000 homes.

    Carlos Castañeda

    Carlos E. Castañeda is a senior editor of news and social media for CBS Bay Area.

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  • Wildfire burning in eastern Minnesota, DNR closing portion of state forest

    Wildfire burning in eastern Minnesota, DNR closing portion of state forest

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    Dry air, strong wind contribute to dangerous fire conditions in Minnesota


    Dry air, strong wind contribute to dangerous fire conditions in Minnesota

    02:41

    MINNEAPOLIS — A wildfire burning in eastern Minnesota has forced the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to close around 4,500 acres of a state forest. 

    The department says they’re closing part of the Chengwatana State Forest, which is located in Pine and Chisago counties. 

    “The closure includes the area between the Chengwatana State Forest Road in the north to the Snake River in the south,” the department said. 

    The fire, according to the department, is estimated at 140 acres. No infrastructure is in danger. 

    It’s unknown how the fire started.

    The department is asking people to not use drones in the area. 

    Gusty winds and the ongoing dry weather means fires can spread quickly. Mike Warnke with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Forestry Wildfire Administration says coordination with multiple agencies were underway Thursday to ensure crews were in place to support communities if a fire spreads.

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    Nick Lentz

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  • Fall is when Northern California is most at risk for destructive wildfires. Here’s why

    Fall is when Northern California is most at risk for destructive wildfires. Here’s why

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    Milder weather is finally here to stay, but with the cooler temperatures comes an important reminder: this time of year is when California’s wildfire risk is highest.According to Cal Fire, eight of California’s 10 most destructive wildfires started in either September, October or November. At this point in the season, it has been months without substantial rainfall for the region. All fuel types including grasses, brush and large trees are at their driest. When fuels are dry, they can ignite easily and burn fast and hot. Regardless of weather conditions, the risk for a wildfire is high and will remain so for the Valley, Foothills and Sierra until a few rounds of soaking rain come through.Don’t be fooled by cooler weatherThe threat of a wildfire may feel more urgent during the hot summer months. But fires can start and spread whether air temperatures are in the 100s or in the 60s. When it comes to weather conditions, humidity and wind increase that risk the most.Dry, windy days tend to happen more frequently during the fall season. This happens as the storm track starts to drop farther south, sending weather systems north and east of Northern California. These days are what forecasters and fire experts watch for when looking for days with a particularly elevated wildfire risk.North wind expected FridayNorthern California’s wildfire risk is expected to increase further at the end of this week.A weather system passing to our north and east will trigger a strong north breeze in some areas Thursday night through Friday. The gustiest winds are expected on the west side of the Sacramento Valley as well as the delta region. Humidity levels are also expected to be very low, especially on Friday afternoon. The combination of gusty winds and dry air has prompted a Fire Weather Watch from the National Weather Service. That will be in effect from midday Thursday through Saturday evening. This may be elevated to a Red Flag Warning later this week.Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.Cal Fire wildfire incidents: Cal Fire tracks its wildfire incidents here. You can sign up to receive text messages for Cal Fire updates on wildfires happening near your ZIP code here.Wildfires on federal land: Federal wildfire incidents are tracked here.Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from one here. Here is how to track and report PG&E power outages.Keeping informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.Be prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here.| MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California | Track fire conditions across Northern California regions with our Fire Threat Index

    Milder weather is finally here to stay, but with the cooler temperatures comes an important reminder: this time of year is when California’s wildfire risk is highest.

    According to Cal Fire, eight of California’s 10 most destructive wildfires started in either September, October or November.

    At this point in the season, it has been months without substantial rainfall for the region. All fuel types including grasses, brush and large trees are at their driest. When fuels are dry, they can ignite easily and burn fast and hot.

    Regardless of weather conditions, the risk for a wildfire is high and will remain so for the Valley, Foothills and Sierra until a few rounds of soaking rain come through.

    Don’t be fooled by cooler weather

    The threat of a wildfire may feel more urgent during the hot summer months. But fires can start and spread whether air temperatures are in the 100s or in the 60s. When it comes to weather conditions, humidity and wind increase that risk the most.

    Dry, windy days tend to happen more frequently during the fall season. This happens as the storm track starts to drop farther south, sending weather systems north and east of Northern California. These days are what forecasters and fire experts watch for when looking for days with a particularly elevated wildfire risk.

    North wind expected Friday

    Northern California’s wildfire risk is expected to increase further at the end of this week.

    Hearst Owned

    Weather conditions are expected to increase the risk for fast-spreading wildfires later this week. 

    A weather system passing to our north and east will trigger a strong north breeze in some areas Thursday night through Friday. The gustiest winds are expected on the west side of the Sacramento Valley as well as the delta region.

    Humidity levels are also expected to be very low, especially on Friday afternoon.

    The combination of gusty winds and dry air has prompted a Fire Weather Watch from the National Weather Service. That will be in effect from midday Thursday through Saturday evening.

    This may be elevated to a Red Flag Warning later this week.

    Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.

    | MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California | Track fire conditions across Northern California regions with our Fire Threat Index

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