Category: firefighters

Number of Wildfires Grows in BC, but Cooler Weather Offers Firefighters a Breather

The BC Wildfire Service says five fires that either threaten public safety or are highly visible are now burning in the province, up from two just a day earlier. The blazes newly identified as “fires of note” include a nearly nine-square-kilometre fire northwest of Cache Creek in the Kamloops Fire Centre, another that has burned…


Wildfires in Germany, Czechia Threatening Tourist Region

BERLIN—A large wildfire on the German-Czech border is spreading and threatening to destroy a forested national park popular with tourists. The fire in the region, called Bohemian Switzerland on the Czech side and the Saxon Switzerland national park on the German side, started last weekend. It had seemed to be under control but spread again…


Firefighters Slow Growth of California Blaze Near Yosemite

JERSEYDALE, Calif.—Firefighters have significantly slowed the spread of a huge wildfire burning in a forest near Yosemite National Park, where thousands of residents from mountain communities were still under evacuation orders Monday and smoke was spreading for hundreds of miles around. Crews “made good headway” against the Oak Fire, according to a Sunday night incident…


Wildfire Rages in Bordeaux; Fire Pilot Killed in Portugal

PARIS—Strong winds and hot, dry weather frustrated French firefighters’ efforts Saturday to contain a huge wildfire that raced across pine forests in the Bordeaux region for a fifth straight day, one of several wildfires scorching Europe this week. Among the worst fires have been in Portugal, where the pilot of a firefighting plane died Friday…


Helicopter Pilot Helping Alaska Firefighters Dies in Crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—A helicopter contracted to support firefighting efforts on an Interior Alaska blaze crashed after takeoff, killing the pilot, officials said Monday. The fatality was the first related to Alaska wildfires in 22 years. The pilot was identified as Douglas Ritchie, 56, of Wasilla, Alaska State Troopers said. He was the lone occupant in a…


Wildfire in Southern Spain Forces Town Evacuation, 3 Hurt

BENAHAVIS, Spain—A wildfire in mountains in southern Spain has forced the evacuation of the center of the town of Benahavis, a district that is home to 7,000 people, and three firefighters were injured, authorities said. The blaze started on Wednesday afternoon on the slopes of Pujerra mountain in the Sierra Bermejain, above the Costa del…


2 Days After Deadly Blasts, Bangladesh Container Depot Still Burns

DHAKA—Firefighters battled for a third day on Monday to control a huge fire that killed dozens when it triggered explosions at a Bangladesh container depot, as officials warned of the risk of further blasts if the flames spread to chemicals stored nearby. Drone footage from the BM Container Depot at Sitakunda, 40 km (25 miles)…


San Diego Man Points Gun at Firefighters, Police Before Taking His Own Life

SAN DIEGO—A 62-year-old man who pointed a gun at firefighters during a blaze at an apartment complex aimed that same weapon at arriving police officers before taking his own life with a single gunshot wound, authorities said. Officers were dispatched to a possible apartment fire in the 11200 block of Tierrasanta Boulevard at about noon…


US Wildfire Season Ramps Up Amid Crippling Staffing Shortage

In the southwestern United States, wildfire season kicked off earlier than usual this year as dangerous drought conditions persist across a staggering 48 percent of the nation. Meanwhile, state and federal forestry services are struggling to fill thousands of vacancies for wildland firefighters as would-be applicants turn to more lucrative and less demanding careers. The worst part…


Fire Breaks out in Sausage Factory in England

More than 70 firefighters were at the scene of a sausage factory that had burst into flames in southeast London on Tuesday. Firefighters were called to the scene on River Way, Harlow, an Essex town about 31 miles from London, at 5:22 on Tuesday morning. The Essex Country Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) said crews from…