Cedar Creek Fire in Oregon triples in size

by ActiveFeatured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

The Cedar Creek Fire, which started on 1 August in west-central Oregon has more than tripled in size from 27,512 acres on the morning of Thursday September 8 to 85,900 acres by Saturday night.

The majority of growth was to the west driven by strong easterly winds and dry fuels. The incident management team says 2,230 homes and 443 commercial structures remain threatened, but there have been no reports that any structures have been destroyed. 

The most recent statement from Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal said that due to strong east winds and triple-digit temperatures, work has primarily focused on the west side of the fire and that As conditions change and winds shift, firefighters with the OSFM will continue to evaluate threat to lives and properties.

Fire crews continue working day and night shifts to access structures and patrol critical areas where the fire is nearing. The fire remained north of Highway 58, south of Forest Road 19, and east of Eagle Butte.

In the east zone, direct checking actions continued on the southeast edge in the Waldo Lake area and efforts were being focused on creating fire breaks along existing roads and other barriers and burn-out operations to reduce fuels. 

Crews are reportedly working in the Brown Mountain area to reinforce a barrier east of the highway between the Crane Prairie and Wickiup reservoirs. The State Fire Marshal statement said these fire breaks are a high priority and will likely take most of a week to complete.

State of emergency declared over California wildfires

by Featured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Placer and El Dorado counties due to the Mosquito Fire and in Riverside County due to the Fairview Fire on Thursday afternoon.

Both wildfires are threatening multiple communities and have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. The declaration has frees up state resources to help residents affected by the fire and to help firefighters battle the fires.

The Fairview fire, which over the weekend had grown to 4,500 acres has since spread rapidly with the latest update from Cal Fire on Thursday night stating that the blaze had grown to over 27,000 acres and remained only 5% contained.

Meanwhile, the Mosquito fire has grown according to the latest update also on Thursday night from Cal Fire to 13,705 acres with zero per cent containment.

The statement from Governor Newsom’s office noted that earlier this week, California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the Fairview Fire.

Additionally, last week Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Siskiyou County due to the Mill Fire, and announced that the state secured an FMAG to support the response to the fire.

European Commission discusses future Wildfire Preparedness plans

by Breaking NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

In the wake of forest fires in Southern and Central Europe, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, in close cooperation with the Czech Presidency of the Council, held an Informal Ministerial Meeting on Reinforcing Wildfire Preparedness and Response in Brussels on 5 September 2022.

Ministers, State Secretaries and Directors-General for Civil Protection of the EU Member States and Participating States to the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) discussed rapid coordinated European action, within the framework of the UCPM, to better protect the Union and its citizens from fires in 2023 and beyond.

The participants gave their tributes to the work of the many firefighters who engaged in responding to fires across the Union and welcomed the European solidarity shown through the UCPM throughout the summer and the effective coordination ensured by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).

The meeting confirmed the shared understanding of all EU Member States and Participating States that climate change is rapidly altering the wildfire risk in Europe. The scientific projections for the next years and the operational experience of the EU’s fire services depict a dire situation for the future of European forests and the livelihoods of citizens across the EU.

The occurrence of large forest fires in Central and Northern Europe, witnessed this year in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Germany and complementing a trend of previous years that saw fire emergencies also in Austria and Sweden, has raised particular concern among the leaders. T

he absence of sufficient firefighting planes and helicopters in these countries puts additional strain on the already established seasonal European safety net of firefighting aircraft, co-financed by the European Commission and meant to temporarily bridge gaps until the permanent new European fleet of firefighting aircraft (called rescEU and composed of 14 medium and light amphibious planes and 9 medium helicopters to complement national fleets) will have been produced between 2026 and 2030.

It was agreed that the intensification of wildfires in Southern Europe exhausts all existing firefighting capacities at national and European level, making European solidarity in a situation of simultaneous large-scale fires in several countries a particular challenge.

The pre-positioning of firefighters, for the first time operationalised this summer in a European pilot project in Greece, was identified as a good practice to not only share aerial capacities in the EU, but to also to exchange expertise, share knowledge and pre-plan the mobilisation of ground teams from countries less affected by fires to those in need of assistance.

The EU Member States and the Commission reached broad consensus on four concrete actions points:

  1. Accelerate the establishment of the new permanent rescEU fleet of aerial firefighting capacities by exploring an advanced procurement of helicopters;
  2. Expand the existing seasonal European safety net of firefighting airplanes by financing the inclusion of additional helicopters and light aircraft in particular in Central and Northern Europe, as of summer 2023;
  3. Reinforce the seasonal pre-positioning of ground teams to wildfires hot spots;
  4. Operationalise a plan of action for fire prevention and preparedness.

These actions are subject to additional EU budgetary resources being made available. The European Commission invited countries interested in hosting additional rescEU capacities or prepositioning ground teams to inform the European Commission of their intentions before the end of September 2022.

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.

Firefighters reign in Route Fire in Los Angeles

by Featured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

Firefighters in Los Angeles have successfully tackled the remainder of the Route fire near Castaic on Saturday, which over the past few days charred more than 5,200 acres.

The fire, which was first reported on Wednesday afternoon along the 5 Freeway near Lake Hughes Road, grew quickly by Thursday, prompting mandatory evacuations and destroying two structures.

About 250 county firefighters were assigned to the blaze along with 115 US Forest Service firefighters, eight air tankers and seven helicopters, said L.A. County Fire Inspector Craig Little.

According to Tom Fisher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, temperatures in the area was 111 degrees Fahrenheit (43.8 C) and the heat was severely affecting the fire crews battling the fire. After seven firefighters had to be treated for heat stroke, officials took an unusual step in pulling back some of the firefighters on the front lines. 

The order to pull back, a fire official said, was to reduce the risk to firefighters tackling the most grueling tasks as temperatures soared. Instead, crews would focus on an aerial assault.

“It’s a tactical pause for the crews that are experiencing the greatest heat impact,” Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Thomas C. Ewald said. “We’re just trying to reduce the strain being placed on line firefighters.”

It is rare for fire officials to pull back resources. Ewald said, however: “The No. 1 threat right now is to our firefighters. We want to back off the intensity a little bit.

“For our folks that are out there, they don’t have the opportunity to go into an air-conditioned environment. They’re on the line, they’re not in the shade. Their No. 1 tool is hydration and preparation.”

EU mobilises to join fight against Portugal forest fires

by Featured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

The European Commission has deployed two firefighting airplanes to support Portugal with the country’s ongoing wildfire emergency.

Following a request for assistance, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism facilitated the immediate pre-positioning and then deployment of two Canadairs from Greece, which are currently operating in the most affected districts in northern Portugal.

On this occasion, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said: “As wildfires continue to threaten people and resources across our continent, we need to stay alert and ready to deploy assistance as rapidly as possible from fire breakouts. We stand in solidarity with Portugal facing this emergency and have mobilised planes from Greece who are putting European solidarity into action.” 

The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in close contact with Portuguese authorities to support the coordination of firefighting operations in the area and mobilise further assistance in case of need.

In addition, the EU’s Copernicus satellite service has been activated to collect data vital to first responders on the areas burned. 

Forest fire devastates Northern Algeria

by Breaking NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

At least 26 people have been killed and dozens more injured on Wednesday in forest fires that decimated parts of northern Algeria, the country’s interior minister Kamel Beldjoud said.

In El Tarf, near the border with Tunisia, 24 people were killed as well as a mother and daughter in Setif. Firefighters, supported by helicopters, were still trying to contain several blazes on Wednesday evening and around 350 residents have been evacuated across various provinces.

Wednesday’s toll brings the total number of Algerians killed in wildfires this summer up to 30.

The civil protection agency said that El Tarf was the worst hit area with 16 fires in progress.

Northern Algeria sees forest fire activity every year with 90 people thought to have died as a result last year and more than 100,000 hectares of woodland burnt.

Last August, Beldjoud blamed a spate of fires in Algeria’s Kabyle region on arson. He claimed “only criminal hands” could explain “the simultaneous outbreak of about 50 fires across several localities”.

King’s College London designing better methods to mitigate wildfire

by Featured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

As parts of Europe face their worst ever wildfire season, experts at King’s College London are working with partners across the continent to design and implement better methods for mitigating this threat.

King’s experts from the Department of Geography and the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society are working on improved detection and monitoring of fires as well as helping estimate the effect of the smoke on air quality and people’s health.

The work falls under FirEUrisk, a European-funded project that fosters knowledge transfer between European countries, with the aim of preventing and managing the threat posed by major wildfires. The project is a multi-million Euro project made up of 39 expert partners which aims to develop guidelines, directives and recommendations that can be adopted by all European countries.

Professor Martin Wooster said: “This project aims to deliver a step-change in how wildfires are managed across Europe. Particularly bad fires are unfortunately quite frequent in parts of southern Europe such as Portugal and Spain, but hotter, drier conditions in the UK and Northern Europe may see more fires in those environments as well.

“With the wealth of expertise at King’s in this area, we’re able to contribute vital capabilities such as how to use satellites for the early detection and ongoing monitoring of wildfire events. Working with others, we can also better understand how the smoke from these fires affects the health of the location population, which can be quite significant even hundreds of kilometres downwind.”

Aided by European satellites, the King’s team use algorithms to translate the raw satellite data into digestible information and support the early detection and ongoing monitoring of fires across Europe.

They are also able to use the satellite data to estimate the amount of smoke released by the fires the impact this has on the quality of the air people breathe and how this air pollution affects people’s health.

American Red Cross seeks volunteers for wildfire season

by Featured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

Due to the ongoing threat from wildfires, the American Red Cross North Texas Region has put out a call asking for individuals to become Red Cross volunteers and take part in future relief efforts.

Since March 1, the Red Cross has responded to more than 160 wildfires in greater North Texas. Red Crossers provided immediate and long-term aid, staff shelters and evacuation points and set up canteen services for firefighters. Disaster Action Team, Disaster Recovery Casework, Mass Care Team and Shelter Services volunteers are on the frontlines of recovery response, and they are especially needed now.

Katrina Farmer, Red Cross North Texas Disaster Officer said: “Our volunteer workforce is critical in carrying out the mission of the American Red Cross. Volunteers respond to house fires, tornadoes, floods and more, offering the immediate assistance that our neighbours need. Please join our more than 1,600 North Texas volunteers and support your community.”

Carla Signoret, Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteer commented: “The way the Disaster Action Team works is we wait for a call or a text letting us know we are needed. When a fire happens, we get the address and relevant details about the event. We try to reach the client within the first couple of hours. Our job is to be there, offer support and get their information so that those affected can get assistance.”

Wildfire prevention

The American Red Cross also issued some advice on preventing wildfires, pointing out that people cause 85 percent of wildfires by burning debris, using equipment improperly, discarding cigarettes carelessly, leaving campfires unattended and by arson.

It advised:

  • Don’t drive your vehicle onto dry grass or brush. Hot components under your vehicle can spark fires.
  • Use equipment responsibly. Lawn mowers, chain saws, tractors, and trimmers can all spark a wildfire.
  • Use caution any time you use fire. Dispose of charcoal briquettes and fireplace ashes properly, never leave any outdoor fire unattended, and make sure that outdoor fires are fully extinguished before leaving the area.
  • If residential debris burning is allowed – use caution! After obtaining any necessary permits, ensure that burning is not currently restricted in your area.
  • Store combustible or flammable materials in approved safety containers away from the house. 
  • Keep the gas grill and propane tank at least 15 feet away from any structure. Do not use the grill during potentially dangerous fire weather conditions. Always have a fire extinguisher or hose nearby.

London Mayor calls for public caution amid extreme weather conditions

by Featured News

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has joined the call led by London Fire Brigade urging public caution during the ongoing heatwave.

The Mayor visited Leytonstone near Hollow Ponds which last week saw two large grass fire scene to look at the damage caused and to thank firefighters for their efforts in protecting the capital in such arduous conditions.

During the visit the Mayor expressed his gratitude to firefighters for their hard work, after working in extreme temperatures for several weeks now. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “We are currently experiencing the driest year since 1976 and the unprecedented high temperatures mean that the grass in London is tinderbox dry. The smallest of sparks can start a large and dangerous fire which could cause significant damage to our green spaces, homes and businesses and put lives at risk.

“That’s why it’s so important amid the ongoing heatwave and drought that we all play our part in preventing further fires and reducing the pressure on our emergency services.

“That means disposing of your litter – particularly glass – responsibly, putting out cigarettes properly, not using disposable barbecues and avoiding barbecues in open spaces or on balconies. We also need to stay away from the dangers of deep water in our canals, rivers and reservoirs, which can be deadly – even for strong swimmers. 

“Even though we have a drought warning in place, we are expecting rain this week. The ground is rock hard and can’t absorb rain as usual. This means the rain won’t fix the drought conditions and, if the downpour is heavy, there is a risk of flash flooding across London as water pools on the surface or overwhelms the drains.

“From City Hall, we’ve written to tens of thousands of households living in basements to raise awareness of the risks of flash flooding and steps to take to be prepared. Londoners should check their local council’s website for more information on action to take in case of a flood.”