Fairview fire spreads to 4,500 acres

by ActiveAmericas - Featured NewsFeatured News

A wildfire on Fairview avenue, in the county of Hemet, California, has spread to 4,500 acres killing two people and injuring another according to the most recent update from Cal Fire.

The wildfire began shortly after 2 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Monday, spreading rapidly, and an evacuation order is in place, the Riverside County Fire Department said.

Around 5,000 homes were placed under evacuation orders on Monday evening. These orders and warnings were expanded eastward as the fire progressed on Tuesday.

Schools were closed Tuesday in Hemet due to the fire and will remain shut from Wednesday until further notice, the district said.

The blaze “was spreading very quickly, before firefighters even got on scene,” according to Cal Fire Captain Richard Cordova on Monday.

Cordova explained that the victims of the fire were in what he called a “one way in, one way out” area of a dangerous canyon with a lot of overgrown vegetation that has not burned in decades.

Railway arch fire breaks out at Union Street, Southwark

by ActiveFeatured News

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire under the railway arches on Union Street Southwark earlier today.

A railway arch containing a number of vehicles was completely alight. Firefighters also investigated smoke coming from a platform at London Bridge Underground Station and confirmed this was coming from the fire on Union Street. There are currently no reports of any injuries.

Network Rail said it had also spread to a car park and a couple of electric cars were ablaze.

Southwark Street is closed between Southwark Bridge Road and Lavington Street whilst crews continue to work to make the scene safe. 

The Brigade was called at 0929 and the fire was under control by 1120. Fire crews from Dowgate, Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Shadwell and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation

Station Commander Wayne Johnson, who was at the scene, said: “The blaze was producing heavy smoke and those living or working in the local area were advised to keep their windows and doors closed. 

“Trains to and from London Bridge are affected and several buildings were evacuated.”

UK wildfire numbers more than triple in 2022 so far

by ActiveFeatured News

The number of wildfires in the UK has more than tripled in the year to date compared to the the number that took place in 2021.

So far in 2022, there have been 745 wildfires in the UK – more than three times the total figure of 247 for all of 2021 – including 150 in the past week alone.

Wildfires are classified as being large enough to cover an area the size of at least two-and-a-half football pitches.

Mark Hardingham, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, told BBC Radio 4 on Sunday that hot and dry weather had combined to create the perfect conditions for wildfires and that hundreds of grass and woodland fires happen in the UK every day.

“They are physically exhausting and demanding incidents to deal with,” said Haddington.

“Not only are you turning up as a firefighter in extreme, high temperatures, [but you’re] wearing your firefighter clothing, you’re chasing these fires across fields, you’re dragging heavy equipment, you’re keeping an eye out all the time for your own welfare and safety and those of your colleagues.

“Once you’ve dealt with that fire, more often than not you’re picking up another call to go to the next fire.”

Electrical fire at Egyptian church claims lives of 41

by ActiveFeatured News

An electrical fire which swept through an Egyptian Coptic Christian church during Mass on Sunday, caused a stampede has killed at least 41 people, most of them children, according to reports.

The blaze, which began just before 9am in the Abu Sifin church in the city of Giza, broke out during a gathering of around 1,000 people. The fire blocked an entrance to the building which caused a stampede.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry said a forensic examination showed that the fire began in the second floor air conditioning as a result of an electrical malfunction.

Two officers and three members of the civil defence are among the dead.

Yasir Munir, a worshipper who was present for the fire, said: “People were gathering on the third and fourth floor, and we saw smoke coming from the second floor. People rushed to go down the stairs and started falling on top of each other.”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a tweet: “I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the innocent victims that have passed on to be with their Lord in one of his houses of worship.”

The Governor of Giza has ordered an urgent aid of 50,000 pounds to each of the deceased’s family and 10,000 pounds to each family of the injured.

Fire breaks out at Aintree University Hospital

by ActiveFeatured News

Fire crews have been called to a fire at Aintree University Hospital, Longmoor Lane, Aintree this morning. Crews were alerted at 4.34am and on scene at 4.40am.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue said crews found that a plant building on the roof of a three-storey building next to Accident & Emergency was involved in a fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were deployed to prevent escalation while liaising with staff to evacuate patients from the areas near to the fire.

Power was isolated to the electrical unit and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are fighting the fire with high pressure hose reels and CO2 extinguishers.

Patients were evacuated from the first and second floors with no reports of any casualties.

As of 8am, the number of fire engines on scene rose from six to eight as more than 30 firefighters continued to suppress the fire in a rooftop plant room.

 Police cordons are in place around the area of the incident. 

Child killed in gas explosion at Croydon home

by ActiveFeatured News

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called out to a fire and gas explosion on Galpin’s Road in Thornton Heath, Croydon, which has resulted in the death of a child, London Fire Brigade has said in a statement.

The terraced house collapsed neighbouring properties. Firefighters were able to rescue four people, three people were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews and a further person was treated at the incident. 

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Welch, who is at the scene, said: “Firefighters carried out a search of the property and sadly, a child was pronounced dead at the scene. Our thoughts are with their family, friends and the local community at this time.”

Around 40 properties have been evacuated as a precaution and a 50-metre cordon is in place. The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken 14 calls to the incident.

Fire crews from Norbury, Mitcham, West Norwood, Woodside and surrounding fire stations are attending the scene and The Brigade’s urban search and rescue teams were also on scene. The Brigade worked in partnership with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service.

An ambulance service spokesperson said: “This morning, alongside colleagues from London fire brigade, we attended an incident in Galpin’s Road, Thornton Heath.

“We treated four people. One was discharged on scene and three others were taken to hospital. Sadly, a child was also pronounced dead at the scene.

“All London ambulance service crews have now been stood down.”

Merton council urged people to avoid the area and said an evacuation centre had been set up at New Horizons, a nearby community centre.

A council spokesperson said: “Emergency services are on site following a gas explosion at a residential property. At least one property has been destroyed. We are urging people to avoid the area.

“Firefighters are currently carrying out systematic searches and working to make the scene safe.”

The cause of the fire and explosion is not known at this time. 

Firefighters missing amid oil storage tank fire in Cuba

by ActiveFeatured News

A large fire in a crude oil tank in the port of Matanzas in Cuba caused several explosions Saturday morning, leaving at least 121 people injured, local authorities said, and 17 firefighters, who were trying to prevent the flames from spreading, were declared missing by Cuba’s presidential office.

Firefighters and other specialists were still trying to quell the blaze at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, where the fire began during a thunderstorm Friday night, the Ministry of Energy and Mines tweeted.

The oil storage facility is located in an area of Matanzas Bay opposite the city centre. Authorities said about 800 people were evacuated from the Dubrocq neighbourhood closest to the fire.

In an afternoon press conference, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said rescue teams recovered the body of an unidentified person. Local state media reported it was of one of the missing firefighters.

The Cuban government said it accepted “technical assistance” offered by the United States to help put out the fire.

Firefighting teams appeared to have made progress on Sunday bringing under control a fire at its main oil storage facility, drawing on help from Mexico and Venezuela to fight the raging flames.

Thailand night club fire kills 13

by ActiveFeatured News

At least 13 people were killed and 35 injured after a fire broke out at a night club in Thailand’s eastern Chonburi province early on Friday morning, a police official said. The cause of the fire is still unknown and all victims so far have been identified as Thai nationals.

The fire at the Mountain B night club in Sattahip district of Chonburi province, about 180km southeast of the capital Bangkok, started at about 0100 local time (1800 GMT Thursday), Wuttipong Somjai, a superintendent at a local police station, told Reuters.

Bodies of the dead, four of whom were women and nine of which were men, were mostly found near the entrance and in the bathrooms whilst others were found near the DJ booth, according to a BBC report.

Officials from the Sawang Rojanathammasathan Rescue Foundation said flammable acoustic foam on the clubs’ walls might have accelerated the speed at which the fire engulfed the venue.

Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control after around three hours.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told families of victims that they will receive help from authorities and urged entertainment venues nationwide to ensure they have proper emergency exits and safety measures in place.

A witness told local TV she was with five friends when the fire broke out at the venue: “I saw flames above the stage, on the right side. I think it was about the same time at the singer on stage saw it too and he shouted ‘fire!’ and threw the mic at it,” she told broadcaster PPTV. “I saw a lot of the pub’s bouncers covered in fire inside.”

Largest wildfire in California this year remains uncontained

by ActiveAmericas - Featured NewsFeatured News

In what has become the largest fire in California this year, the McKinney wildfire has now burned 55,493 acres (22,457 hectares) of drought-stressed timber and remains at 0% containment, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.

The fast-moving fire went which began on Friday (29 July) has already become the largest fire in the state in the year to date. The blaze has forced around 2,000 residents to flee as it destroyed homes and critical infrastructure, mostly in Siskiyou County, home to the Klamath National Forest, according to a statement from Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday, a day after the fire was declared a state of emergency.

Two bodies were found inside a burned-out car near the Oregon border, authorities said on Monday, as crews battled the blaze for a fourth day and took advantage of rainfall in the area.

Authorities have yet to confirm the extent of property losses, but the Cal Fire said in an update posted on Monday that more than 4,900 homes were threatened by flames.

With lightning forecasted over the next few days, extra resources from elsewhere in the state are being brought in to help fight the region’s fires, according to the US Forest Service.

NFCC urges UK fire services to prepare for future wildfires

by ActiveFeatured News

NFCC lead wildfire tactical advisor David Swallow, who is also group commander for Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, has urged UK fire services to undergo wildfire training as the number of wildfire incidents in the country has already almost doubled from 247 across the whole of 2021 to 442 in England and Wales in the year to date.

In an interview with the BBC, Swallow said that the recent heatwave has caused large parts of the country to become ‘bone dry’ and that services need to recognise the risk that is now facing them. “If they don’t, then they’re naïve,” he said.

The wildfire group that Swallow leads brings together members and expertise from firefighters in predominantly rural areas which are more susceptible to wildfires including Northumberland, South Wales, the Peak District and Wiltshire.

Swallow said that every fire service in the UK should have wildfire training in order to teach forces valuable tactics from firefighters more familiar with tackling blazes on grasslands, on moors and in woods.

He said that his wildfire group had for some time been preparing for the increased risk of wildfires from climate change but that the risk was now “immediate”.

He added: “There are very urban services that think that wildfires are low down on the risk list. I understand the need to prioritise resources, but there needs to be a review.”