HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — A wildfire that forced thousands of residents from their homes in Canada's Atlantic Coast province of Nova Scotia is now contained, while a second wildfire remains out of control, officials said Sunday. Nova Scotia's natural resources...
Rain and Smoke Help Fight Canadian Wildfires; Evacuations Continue
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Scattered rains and even smoke cover cooled air temperatures and helped efforts to fight wildfires in Alberta over the weekend, officials said Sunday, while a new fire in neighboring British Columbia led to an evacuation order for one rural...
Unusually Early Heat Wave in Pacific Northwest Tests Records
By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press/Report for America PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An early heat wave took hold Saturday in parts of the Pacific Northwest, with temperatures nearing or breaking records in some areas and heat advisories in place through Monday. The historically...
Half of U.S. West Out of Drought, But Not Fully Recovered
By BRITTANY PETERSON Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Nearly half of the U.S. West has emerged from drought this spring, but the welcome wet conditions haven't entirely replenished the region, scientists said Tuesday. Hydrologists from the National Oceanic and...
Out-of-Control Wildfires Cause Evacuations in Western Canada
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Fire crews battled wildfires threatening communities in western Canada on Sunday as cooler temperatures and a bit of rain brought some relief, but officials warned the reprieve came only in some areas. Officials in Alberta said there were 108...
Wildfires in Anchorage (AK)? Climate Change Sparks Disaster Fears
By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Research on a flat spot for air evacuations. Talk of old-style civil defense sirens to warn of fast-moving wildfires. Hundreds of urban firefighters training in wildland firefighting techniques while snow...
Judge to Weigh Limits for Aerial Fire Retardant in Wildfires
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge is weighing whether to severely limit the government's use of aerial fire retardant to combat wildfires following arguments Monday by environmentalists who are concerned about water pollution. A lawsuit pitting an environmental...
WV Man Accused of Arson, Murder in Wildland Firefighter Death
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia man has been charged with murder after a forestry worker was killed trying to extinguish a fire the man is accused of setting. The fire was reported on Tuesday night in the Tucker Hollow area of Fayette County. Overnight, the...
Wildfire Burns Almost 700 Acres in Southeast Nebraska
UNION, Neb. (AP) — Overnight rain helped firefighters get control of two wildfires Monday in southeast Nebraska near the Missouri River. Nebraska officials said after Gov. Jim Pillen surveyed the damage that the fire near Beaver Lake was about 90% contained while the...
NM Governor Signs Bill to Limit Prescribed Fires
By MORGAN LEE Associated Press Eds: UPDATES: With AP Photos. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation Tuesday that aims to prohibit prescribed burns — wildland fires set purposefully as a means of forest management — during...
NV Utility Seeks OK to Spend $373m on ‘Resilience’ Plan
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada’s dominant electric utility is asking state regulators to approve a $373 million maintenance and infrastructure resilience plan that executives say is needed to protect against extreme weather, wildfires and natural disasters. NV Energy's...
Firefighter Battling VA Wildfire Dies in ATV Accident
ROSEANN, Va. (AP) — A firefighter battling a wildfire in western Virginia was killed when an ATV overturned, the state Department of Forestry announced Friday. Rocky S. Wood was killed while fighting a 15-acre wildfire near the Roseann community in Buchanan County on...