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A fast-moving wildfire sweeping through parts of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens has scorched over 20 square miles (52 square kilometers), but officials confirmed Wednesday that no injuries have been reported. The blaze, which is affecting Lacey and Ocean townships in southern New Jersey, is expected to continue spreading in the coming days until rain arrives later this week. While the fire has destroyed a commercial building and several vehicles, it has not resulted in any fatalities or injuries so far. Approximately 5,000 residents were evacuated as a precaution but have since been allowed to return to their homes. As of Wednesday evening, 12 structures remained at risk as firefighting crews continued to battle the flames. Officials are closely monitoring the situation, warning that conditions could shift before the anticipated weather brings relief. “This is still a very active fire,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. “As we continue to get this under full control the expectation is that the number of acres will grow and will grow in a place that is unpopulated.” Officials said the fire is believed to be the second-worst in the last two decades, smaller only than a 2007 blaze that burned 26 square miles (67 square kilometers). The Garden State Parkway, one of New Jersey's busiest highways, reopened Wednesday morning after officials closed a roughly 7-mile (12-kilometer) stretch in the southern part of the state. Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency early Wednesday as officials said they've contained about 50% of the wildfire. Video released by the state agency overseeing the fire service showed billowing white and black clouds of smoke, intense flames engulfing pines and firefighters dousing a charred structure. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities said. Forest fires are a common occurrence in the Pine Barrens, a 1.1 million-acre (445,000-hectare) state and federally protected reserve about the size of the Grand Canyon lying halfway between Philadelphia to the west and the Atlantic coast to the east. The region, with its quick-draining sandy soil, is in peak forest fire season. The trees are still developing leaves, humidity remains low and winds can kick up, drying out the forest floor.   It's a vast wilderness in the country's most densely populated state. LaTourette, the DEP commissioner, said the fire is straddling an area on the edge of wilderness and residential areas. “It’s the interface where the environment and development meet,” he said. The area had been under a severe drought until recently, when early spring rains helped dampen the region, but officials cautioned recent low humidity and a dry stretch have heightened the risk of fire. The Jersey Central Power and Light Company cut power to about 25,000 customers at the request of the Forest Fire Service and the wildfire’s command post Tuesday evening. By late Wednesday afternoon, power had been restored.  

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has called on the Trump administration to abandon its plan to kill over 450,000 invasive barred owls in West Coast forests, arguing that it would be excessively costly. The lawmakers, numbering 19 and including Republican Rep. Troy Nehls from Texas and Democrat Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove from California, said the plan would cost $3,000 per owl. Tk 20 crore fines imposed in nationwide anti-pollution drives They questioned whether the killings would benefit the native northern spotted owl populations, which have been controversial due to logging restrictions in their habitats since the 1990s, as well as the closely related California spotted owl. Barred owls, native to eastern North America, began appearing in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970s, quickly displacing the smaller spotted owls that require larger territories to breed. Federal officials estimate that 100,000 barred owls now inhabit the region, compared to just 7,100 spotted owls. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's plan, approved last year, would involve trained shooters targeting barred owls over 30 years across 23,000 square miles (60,000 square kilometers) in California, Oregon, and Washington. The plan did not provide a cost estimate, but the lawmakers suggested it could exceed $1.3 billion, based on costs from a grant awarded to the Hoopa Valley Native American Tribe to kill up to 1,500 barred owls. In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers described the plan as an inefficient and inappropriate use of taxpayer funds, accusing the federal government of attempting to control environmental outcomes at great expense. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not immediately respond to questions about the cost estimate and the owl removal program. The plan calls for the removal of more than 2,400 barred owls this year, with the number increasing to over 15,500 annually by 2027. Since 2009, researchers have been experimenting with shooting barred owls, and the results suggest that this strategy could halt the decline of spotted owls. About 4,500 barred owls have been killed on the West Coast in this research effort. The practice of removing one bird species to protect others has sparked debate among wildlife advocates, echoing past government actions, such as killing sea lions and cormorants to save salmon or removing cowbirds to protect warblers. The barred owl removals would be one of the largest efforts involving birds of prey. Nylon fence erected in 40 kms of Sundarbans to tackle human-wildlife conflict Researchers believe the barred owls spread into the Pacific Northwest through the Great Plains or Canada’s boreal forests, both of which have become more suitable for them due to climate change. Their presence has undermined decades of restoration efforts aimed at protecting spotted owls, which included logging restrictions during President Bill Clinton's administration that temporarily slowed the spotted owl's decline.

Government emergency alert systems are designed with a simple purpose: to provide residents with critical information about nearby hazards and safety instructions, reports AP. However, as seen in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires and other emergencies, these alerts depend on a complex communication chain involving first responders, government officials, third-party companies, and the public. At times, this system fails. When powerful winds ignited wildfires in Southern California on Jan. 7, evacuation orders for certain neighbourhoods—particularly the part of Altadena where most fatalities occurred—were issued long after houses had already caught fire. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County officials authorised an external review of the alert system’s performance during the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire in response to residents’ concerns. City authorities refused to answer AP’s inquiries about delays in some Palisades Fire alerts, though Fire Captain Branden Silverman noted that assessing a fire and determining evacuation protocols can take time. Progress made on huge fire north of Los Angeles while new fires erupt in Southern California This problem is increasingly common. After-action reports and investigations have identified failures in alert systems in other major fires: the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which claimed 22 lives in Santa Rosa; the 2018 Camp Fire, which resulted in 85 deaths in Paradise; the Woolsey Fire, which broke out the same day and killed three in Malibu; Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire, which destroyed over 1,000 homes near Denver; and Hawaii’s 2023 Lahaina Fire, which devastated the historic town and killed 102 people. It may take months to determine why some evacuation orders were delayed during the Los Angeles wildfires. Several residents who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire told The Associated Press they never received any notifications about their area. For others, the first warning came as a frantic text message in the middle of the night. Susan Lee Streets, who had registered for the Nixle alert app, did not receive any alerts specific to her West Altadena neighbourhood before she and her family evacuated on their own around 10 p.m. after losing power and mobile service. “If we had been informed that houses and other structures were burning, we would have understood the gravity of the situation,” she said. “We almost went to bed that night with two kids, a dog, and two cats in the house.” Her phone finally received an alert after 3 a.m. By then, her home—and irreplaceable family heirlooms, including her children’s Christmas ornaments—had been reduced to ashes. “We lost everything. Absolutely everything,” Streets said, her voice breaking. Tricia Wachtendorf, director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware, emphasised that alerts must be clear and specific. Research has shown that for alerts to be effective, people must hear, understand, believe, personalise, and confirm them before taking action. “Sending a message at 3 a.m. doesn’t guarantee that someone will hear it,” Wachtendorf said. The period between midnight and 3:30 a.m. was particularly difficult for first responders in Los Angeles County, according to an AP review of scanner traffic recordings and data from CalFire, FEMA, and the Watch Duty app. Resources were stretched thin, and hurricane-force winds had grounded aerial firefighting support, making it harder for authorities to assess the fire’s spread from above. Emergency calls reporting burning homes flooded in as embers ignited rooftops and gardens. During a 30-minute window, firefighters were dispatched to 17 new addresses while some crews ran dangerously low on fuel. By 12:07 a.m., CalFire records showed that dozens of neighbourhoods east of Altadena’s North Lake Avenue had been ordered to evacuate due to the Eaton Fire. However, no warnings had been issued for the western areas—where all 17 confirmed fatalities occurred—even though house fires had been reported there more than an hour earlier, as first reported by the Los Angeles Times. Over the next three hours, firefighters shifted from requesting reinforcements for the eastern edge of the fire to urgently notifying command that the flames were spreading west along the foothills near Sunset Ridge. At 3:30 a.m., evacuation orders were significantly expanded, with residents in 12 Altadena neighbourhoods and beyond told to “leave now.” Jodi and Jeff Moreno first learned about the fire from a neighbourhood app. The first official warning they received came around 2:30 a.m., when authorities shouted through a bullhorn instructing them to evacuate. They quickly gathered their three daughters, their dog, and essential documents before fleeing. They received no text alerts until after they had left. “On the neighbourhood apps, some people were leaving, while others were staying. There was a wide range of responses. We had to figure things out on our own,” Jodi Moreno said. “It was hard to determine exactly where the fire was and where embers were landing… That’s the kind of information we expect from authorities.” Desperate for updates, both the Morenos and Streets downloaded the Watch Duty app, which consolidates evacuation maps and real-time information from multiple sources. Since launching in 2021, the app has expanded to cover 22 states and became an essential tool for many residents. “The best warning system is one that actually informs people,” said Nick Russell, vice president of operations at Watch Duty. Over 50,000 under evacuation orders or warnings as wildfire imperils homes north of Los Angeles “There is a necessary process in issuing official evacuation warnings, orders, or shelter-in-place instructions,” he added. “But transparency is key—people need to understand why those discussions are happening between law enforcement and fire officials. That’s what we provide.” The process of issuing evacuation orders begins when firefighters or other personnel on the ground recommend action, Russell explained. The decision then moves up the chain of command until the sheriff’s office officially issues an order. During major emergencies, communication can be hindered by factors like poor radio signals, wind noise, or technical issues. Incident command centres may struggle to process vast amounts of data from different agencies, making it difficult to grasp the full scope of a disaster like a wildfire. In Los Angeles County, residents who sign up for emergency alerts through the AlertLACounty website are directed to a list of 57 links to local or city-specific alert systems, along with a general one covering 19 cities. The city of Los Angeles and the Sheriff's Department also operate their own alert services. It remains unclear how these overlapping systems, which use different software, integrate with each other—or whether officials coordinate their alerts effectively. A 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan instructed the city’s Emergency Management Department to identify gaps in alert systems in areas with poor mobile coverage and implement a solution. However, this objective was assigned only a “medium” priority and a long-term timeline, with completion expected within the next decade. Meanwhile, the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan—last updated in 2020—did not prioritise emergency alerts or public notifications. Instead, its primary objectives focused on educating residents about how wind increases wildfire risk and improving community wildfire protection efforts. Officials at the County’s Coordinated Joint Information Center declined to comment, stating only that an independent review of evacuations and emergency notifications is planned. The Office of Emergency Management, County Fire Department, and Sheriff’s Department have committed to fully participating in the review.

Staggered after one of the most destructive natural disasters in Southern California history, thousands of heartbroken families, burned-out business owners and beleaguered leaders across Los Angeles County are beginning to ponder another monumental task: rebuilding what was lost and charting a path forward. Alex Rosewood and nearly her entire family in Altadena, northeast of Los Angeles, lost their homes — her father, whom she and her husband were living with, and her aunt, uncle and cousin next door. Lost were the keepsakes of a lifetime of family relationships: Rosewood's grandmother’s playing cards and unfinished quilt. Her wedding photos. Heirlooms from her grandfather, who served in the Navy. All things she wished she could have saved in their frantic flight as smoke turned the sky gray and her cousin’s house began to catch fire. But Altadena remains home. “We all plan to rebuild, for sure,” she said. The traumatized region made it through Wednesday without another major fire breaking out, after forecasters had warned of another round of particularly dangerous winds. Firefighters continue battling LA wildfires amid dangerous weather warning Yet even with flames still leaping in two of the largest fires, which have killed 25 and destroyed more than 12,000 structures, government officials talked Wednesday of the epic job that will unspool over years: clearing Altadena, Pacific Palisades and other ravaged communities of toxic ash and debris, then rebuilding homes, restaurants, schools, boutiques, banks and houses of worship — all while finding financing for it all. Because of the ongoing firefighting battle and the likelihood of dangerous refuse in burned areas, many anxious residents have yet to return to see what, if anything, is left of their homes. The losses range from multimillion-dollar ocean-view mansions to modest homes that once welcomed returning World War II GIs. While talking of rebuilding can be a comfort for those eager for a return to normalcy, much remains unknown. What will the new neighborhoods look like? Will fire-resistant materials and designs be used? Are more and wider roads needed to allow swifter evacuations and easier access for fire engines during future infernos? In the coveted seaside hills, there always is the impulse to rebuild after fires — it’s happened many times. But there are inevitable questions about whether it’s sensible to keep rebuilding in known high-risk areas, especially in an age of climate change. Californians race to save pets as LA wildfires advance “It’s going to be a while before we can get in there and build anything,” said Michael Hricak, an adjunct professor of architecture at the University of Southern California., referring to the dangerous chemicals and rubble left behind. As for new construction, “it’s not being tougher than Mother Nature. It's being somewhat respectful of Mother Nature and knowing what the challenges are.” “Are we just inviting another problem down the road?” Hricak said. The fires struck at a challenging time, with the city in the midst of a post-pandemic transition that has reordered work life and left many downtown buildings with high vacancy rates. Meanwhile, planning is underway to host the 2028 Olympics and the region contends with perhaps the nation’s worst homeless crisis — the latter had been Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ priority before the fires broke out last week. The government has not yet released damage estimates, but private firms have expect they will climb into the tens of billions and it could become the costliest fire disaster in U.S. history. The Northern California community of Paradise, where the state's deadliest wildfire killed 85 people in 2018, offers a glimpse into how painstaking and difficult recovery and rebuilding can be. That fire destroyed about 11,000 homes — some 90% of the community's structures. Four years later, as of last November, just about 3,000 homes and apartments have been rebuilt. The town, which previously a population of 26,000, has struggled under high construction costs, expensive insurance premiums and the uncertainty over funds to be paid to people who lost homes by Pacific Gas & Electric, which was found liable for sparking the devastating blaze. In Los Angeles — a city notorious for dense layers of bureaucracy and government red tape — Bass issued an executive order this week intended to clear the way for residents to rebuild quickly. “As we prepare to make it through the rest of this emergency, we also have to start putting in place what we need to do to rebuild,” the mayor said Wednesday. The federal government already has approved spending $100 million to remove paints, cleaners, asbestos, batteries and other household waste from the rubble before crews can begin clearing debris. Robert Fenton Jr., a regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, called the plan a first step to getting people back in homes. New LA-area fire prompts more evacuations as over 10,000 structures burned Elsewhere, the agency is handing out assistance to help people with short-term lodging. Peter Dolan, who lived in Santa Monica, said he and his best friend both lost their apartments on the same day. They visited the disaster recovery center together to figure out their next steps. “This is what I got,” the 55-year-old said, pointing to his outfit: a leather jacket, shorts and sneakers, the clothes he had on the day the flames hit. Dolan didn’t have renter’s insurance, but he was able to apply for FEMA assistance and thinks he’ll get $750 and possibly his stay at a hotel covered for a few months. Michele Baron and her daughter were among those who came to a recovery center in West Los Angeles to figure out how to get new birth certificates and social security cards. Baron lost nearly everything when her Pacific Palisades apartment of 21 years burned to the ground. Her daughter made her way back to the property and salvaged a ring and pottery she made as a child. Despite the trauma, the plan is to stay put. “Now that I can go anywhere, I kind of don’t want to,” Baron said.

Firefighters confronted extensive wildfires early Thursday in the Los Angeles region, struggling to contain blazes that have killed five people, devastated communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena, and forced thousands to evacuate their homes in haste, reports AP. While the ferocious winds that fanned the flames have subsided somewhat, offering firefighters a critical chance to gain control, the fires remain widespread, with significant activity in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. On Wednesday evening, a new fire erupted in the Hollywood Hills, inching closer to the heart of Los Angeles and its entertainment hub. Despite the encroaching flames, just a mile away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, bustling streets reflected the city’s resilience as visitors captured the burning hills on their phones. What to know about wildfires raining embers onto the Los Angeles area The Sunset Fire saw significant containment efforts, with Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott crediting swift action and more favourable weather conditions. A day earlier, hurricane-force winds had fueled the Palisades and Eaton fires, destroying nearly 2,000 structures and necessitating the temporary grounding of firefighting aircraft. The fires have collectively scorched around 42 square miles (108 square kilometres), displacing 130,000 residents under evacuation orders. The Palisades Fire has become the most destructive in Los Angeles history, with the Eaton Fire claiming five lives. Educational institutions have not been spared, with over six schools damaged or destroyed, including Palisades Charter High School, a location often featured in Hollywood productions. UCLA has cancelled classes for the week due to the fires. Pasadena’s fire chief, Chad Augustin, cited stretched water resources and power outages as challenges, compounded by winds that propelled embers miles ahead of the flames. Residents like Jose Velasquez fought valiantly to save their homes, though many in his Altadena neighbourhood lost everything while away at work. Thousands flee as wildfires devastate Los Angeles In Pacific Palisades, a hillside enclave with many celebrity homes, the devastation has revealed blocks of charred remains, melted vehicles, and soot-filled swimming pools. Fires also struck Sylmar in the northern San Fernando Valley, another area familiar with destructive blazes. The fires have swept through dense neighbourhoods primed to burn in dry conditions, leaving residents and police scrambling for safety. In Pacific Palisades, gridlocked roads forced many to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot. Affluent areas, including Calabasas and Santa Monica, were not spared. Celebrities such as Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes, Paris Hilton, and Billy Crystal suffered the loss of homes. The Crystals, who lost their 45-year family home, reflected on the memories tied to their property. In Palisades Village, landmarks such as the public library, grocery stores, banks, and boutique shops were reduced to ashes. Residents, like Dylan Vincent, returned to scenes of total destruction, with blocks flattened and schools obliterated. California’s worsening fire seasons, driven by higher temperatures and reduced rainfall linked to climate change, have lengthened fire activity into traditionally cooler months. Dry winds like the Santa Anas, combined with a lack of rain since May, have exacerbated the conditions. Wind speeds peaked at 80 mph (129 kph) on Wednesday but are expected to decline into Friday. President Joe Biden issued a federal emergency declaration after meeting with Governor Gavin Newsom at a Santa Monica fire station. National Guard troops have been deployed to assist. The fires have also disrupted Hollywood, halting productions and leading to the closure of Universal Studios' theme park. Landmarks like Malibu’s Reel Inn seafood restaurant were heavily damaged, with its owners determined to rebuild. Teddy Leonard, the owner, emphasised the importance of family safety, remarking, “As long as everyone’s alive, you’re still winning, right?” Over 330,000 residents remain without power as the fires continue to challenge Southern California.

Thousands of residents have fled as wildfires ravage areas around Los Angeles, destroying homes and overwhelming roads, reports AP. Firefighters are battling intense winds that are propelling the flames, and several fires remain uncontained.One fire, which began Tuesday evening near a nature preserve in the foothills northeast of LA, spread so rapidly that staff at a senior living centre had to evacuate residents, some of whom were over 100 years old. They waited in parking lots under a red sky until they could be transported to safety. Staying safe in a wildfire: What to pack and when to evacuate Another fire, which started earlier, ravaged the Pacific Palisades, an upscale coastal area. As people fled, the roadways became gridlocked, forcing many to abandon their cars and escape on foot, some carrying bags and children. Emergency vehicles struggled to reach the area, and a bulldozer had to clear a path through the abandoned cars. Destruction along the Pacific Coast Highway was widespread. A third fire broke out in Sylmar around 10:30 p.m., triggering evacuations. The fires were fanned by Santa Ana winds of up to 70 mph, with some areas experiencing gusts up to 100 mph. The Los Angeles Fire Department appealed for off-duty firefighters to assist, while high winds prevented aircraft from assisting with firefighting efforts. Governor Gavin Newsom reported that over 1,400 firefighting personnel were deployed, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided support. California will soon require insurers to increase home coverage in wildfire-prone areas Authorities haven't provided an estimate of the damage caused by the Pacific Palisades fire, but about 30,000 people were under evacuation orders, and 13,000 structures were at risk. Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency, and many homes in the area were destroyed. The fire spread through Temescal Canyon, a popular hiking area, and damaged parts of the Palisades Charter High School. By evening, the flames had reached Malibu, where several people were treated for burn injuries, and a firefighter sustained a serious head injury. By early Wednesday, three fires were still raging, including one that had burned 1.6 square miles, another that had scorched 500 acres, and the largest, which had consumed 4.5 square miles. Power outages affected over 200,000 people in Los Angeles County. The region's persistent dry conditions and strong winds, exacerbated by the Santa Anas, have contributed to the severity of the fires. Many areas have not received significant rain since May, heightening the risk of wildfires. The Pacific Palisades, located along the coast near Malibu, saw dramatic scenes of homes burning as residents fled. Actor James Woods shared footage of the flames near his home, and the Getty Villa reported some damage to its grounds. Wildfire tears through Southern California community after burning dozens of homes Amid the chaos, several events were cancelled, including movie premieres, and schools in the affected areas were temporarily relocated. The Getty Museum confirmed that its staff and collection remained safe despite the nearby fire.

California Mandates Insurers to Offer Coverage in Fire-Prone Areas Under New Regulation Insurance companies that previously halted home coverage for hundreds of thousands of Californians in wildfire-prone areas must resume offering policies if they want to continue operating in the state, according to a regulation unveiled on Monday by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.  Ancient climate crisis offers warning on modern ocean acidification: study The new rule requires insurers to gradually expand coverage in high-risk zones, marking a first for the state. Insurers must increase their coverage in such areas by 5% every two years, eventually reaching 85% of their market share. For instance, an insurer writing 20% of California’s policies must eventually write 17% in high-risk zones. This regulation aims to stabilize California’s insurance market as major providers like State Farm and Allstate have withdrawn from issuing new policies due to significant wildfire risks. In return for expanding coverage, insurers will be allowed to pass reinsurance costs onto consumers, a practice not previously permitted in California. Reinsurance, often used by insurers to mitigate potential catastrophic payouts, could result in increased premiums for policyholders, with critics warning of potential hikes of up to 40%. 16 acres of grabbed forest recovered in 4 months : Rizwana Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court criticized the rule, calling it “a plan of the insurance industry, by the insurance industry, and for the industry.” The regulation is pending approval from the Office of Administrative Law and is expected to take effect within 30 days. “Californians deserve a reliable insurance market that doesn’t retreat from communities most vulnerable to wildfires and climate change,” Lara stated, describing the move as a “historic moment for California.” The rule complements another recent regulation allowing insurers to factor climate change into pricing, which takes effect this week. Insurers had previously restricted new policies in the state, citing their inability to include climate change in rate calculations. The changes aim to reduce reliance on the California FAIR Plan, a last-resort insurance option for high-risk areas that provides limited coverage. FAIR Plan enrollment has more than doubled since 2020, reaching nearly 452,000 policies this year. Dhaka’s air the world's 2nd worst this morning California has faced increasingly severe wildfires as hotter, drier conditions fuel larger and more destructive blazes. Fourteen of the state’s 20 most destructive wildfires have occurred since 2015, including the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, which claimed 85 lives and destroyed 11,000 homes. Steve Crowder, mayor of Paradise, said his town has struggled with insurance availability since the disaster. Crowder, whose family enrolled in the FAIR Plan, said their $5,000 premium covers their home for $100,000 less than its value, with contents only half-insured. Crowder noted premiums have surged from $1,200 annually before the Camp Fire to as much as $20,000 for larger homes, forcing some residents to forego insurance entirely. While the town has introduced fire safety ordinances to attract insurers, Crowder remains cautious. “Anything that will help get insurance in California, period, is helpful,” he said. “But let’s wait and make sure it happens before we get excited.”

A Greek air force water-dropping plane crashed while diving into a wildfire in southern Greece on Tuesday, killing both pilots, as authorities battled blazes that have been raging for days across the country amid a return of heat wave temperatures. Summer wildfires blamed on climate change have also struck other Mediterranean countries, leaving at least 34 people dead in Algeria in recent days and two people dead in southern Italy on Tuesday. A state ERT TV video showed the bright yellow CL-215 aircraft releasing its load of water on the island of Evia before its wingtip apparently snagged in a tree branch. Moments later it disappeared into a deep fold in the ground from which a fireball erupted. 5 killed in Poland as plane crashes into hangar The air force said the pilots, aged 34 and 27, both died in the crash. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cancelled a planned visit to Cyprus for Wednesday, and Greece’s armed forces declared three days of mourning. Six killed when small plane crashes, bursts into flames in field near Southern California airport “They offered their lives to save lives,” Mitsotakis said of the pilots. “They proved how hazardous their daily missions in extinguishing fires are ... In their memory, we continue the war against the destructive forces of nature.” A third successive heat wave in Greece pushed temperatures back above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) Tuesday amid a string of evacuations from fires that have raged for days, whipped on by strong winds. It's still unclear how they started, although tinder-dry conditions and the summer heat mean the slightest spark can ignite a blaze that will spread fast if not quickly quenched. Several people have been arrested or fined across Greece in recent days for accidentally starting fires. Philippine plane crash kills 2, another carrying 6 missing EU officials have blamed climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires across the European continent, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 2017. Greek police said a burned body believed to belong to a sheep farmer who had been missing since Sunday in southern Evia — a day before the fire broke out there — was found on Tuesday. It was unclear whether he had been killed by the fire or had died of other causes beforehand. A fire service spokesman said the worst blazes on Tuesday were on the southeastern island of Rhodes and the northwestern island of Corfu — both popular tourist destinations. “On the other fronts, we have to deal with many cases of the fire flaring up again,” Ioannis Artopios said. Four villages on Rhodes were ordered evacuated on Tuesday as a fire burning for eight days continued to move inland, torching mountainous forest areas, including a part of a nature reserve. Another five evacuations were ordered on Corfu, and one overnight on Evia. On Rhodes, desperate residents, many with wet towels around their necks to stave off the scorching heat, used shovels to beat back flames approaching their homes, while firefighting planes and helicopters resumed water drops at first light. “For the twelfth day, under extreme conditions of heat and strong winds, we are fighting nonstop on dozens of forest fire fronts. ... The Greek Fire Service has battled more than 500 fires — more than 50 a day,” said Vassilis Kikilias, the minister for climate crisis and civil protection. Authorities said more than 20,000 people have been involved in successive evacuations on the island, mostly tourists over the weekend when fires swept through two coastal areas in the southeast of Rhodes. Among them was Serbian basketball star Philip Petrusev, a player for the Philadelphia 76ers who was vacationing on Rhodes with his partner Tiana Sumakovic. In a series of online posts, Sumakovic described frantic scenes as she and Petrusev escaped the fire. “The fire got got very close and we had to run,” Sumakovic wrote, captioning videos of the fire. “We were choking on the smoke and ran as far as we could ... we eventually made it to safety.” Rhodes is highly popular with Nordic tourists, who are expected to continue heading for the island this week. Two full charter flights were scheduled to depart from Sweden on Wednesday, Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet said. Tour operators said holidaymakers would be heading to resorts in the so-far unaffected northern part of Rhodes. In Athens, authorities resumed afternoon closing hours at the ancient Acropolis, as part of broader measures to cope with the high heat. The European Union has sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven planes from 10 member states, while Turkey, Israel, Egypt and other countries have also sent help. Contributing nations included Italy, which has its own fires and extreme weather too. On the island of Sicily, two people were found dead Tuesday in a home burned by a wildfire that temporarily shut down Palermo's international airport, according to Italian news reports. Regional officials said 55 fires were active on Sicily, amid temperatures in the 40s Celsius. In Puglia, further north, some 2,000 tourists were evacuated from three hotels in Vieste as flames got perilously close. But in Italy's northern Lombardy region, a powerful storm accompanied by heavy hail caused flooding and power outages and was blamed for the death of a 16-year-old girl at a scouts' camp. In southeastern France, fire crews fought scattered wildfires, including one near Arles in Provence involving 300 firefighters and a water-dropping helicopter. Authorities banned access to several forested areas along the French Riviera and in Corsica. In Turkey, authorities evacuated a dozen homes and a hospital as a precaution on Tuesday after a wildfire raged through a rugged forest area near the Mediterranean resort of Kemer, in Antalya province. Another wildfire in the western province of Manisa, was brought under control a day after it burnt at least 14 homes.    

Firefighters made progress against a huge Northern California wildfire that was still growing and threatening thousands of mountain homes on Sunday, while crews also battled major blazes that blanketed large swaths of Oregon and Washington in smoke. The Mosquito Fire in foothills east of Sacramento spread to nearly 65 square miles (168 square kilometers), with 10% containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. “Cooler temperatures and higher humidity assisted with moderating some fire activity,” but higher winds allowed the flames to push to the north and northeast, according to a Cal Fire incident report Sunday. More than 5,800 structures in Placer and El Dorado counties were under threat and some 11,000 residents of communities including Foresthill and Georgetown were under evacuation orders. In Southern California, cooler temperatures and rain brought respite to firefighters battling the massive Fairview Fire about 75 miles (121 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles after sweltering heat last week. Read: Storm’s fierce winds complicate California wildfire fight The 44-square-mile (114-square-kilometer) blaze was 45% contained Sunday. The fire has destroyed at least 30 homes and other structures in Riverside County. Two people died while fleeing flames last Monday. A helicopter assisting with operations in the Fairview Fire crashed in a residential backyard while attempting to land at a local airport Saturday afternoon, fire officials said. Injuries to the pilot and two others were not critical. The southern part of the state welcomed the cooler weekend weather as a tropical storm veered off the Pacific Coast and faded, helping put an end to blistering temperatures that nearly overwhelmed the state’s electrical grid. Thunderstorms and the risk of flooding persisted in mountainous areas of greater Los Angeles on Sunday. But after Hurricane Kay made landfall in Mexico last week it quickly was downgraded and weakened further until it largely disappeared, forecasters said. To the north, remnants of Kay caused flooding Saturday that stranded about 40 vehicles and closed a stretch of State Route 190 in Death Valley National Park. The park was still cleaning up from floods five weeks ago that closed many key roads. In Washington state, fire officials were scrambling to secure resources in the battle against a blaze sparked Saturday in the remote Stevens Pass area that sent hikers fleeing and forced evacuations of mountain communities. There was no containment Sunday of the Bolt Creek Fire, which had scorched nearly 12 square miles (31 square kilometers) of forestland about an hour and a half east of Seattle. “The fire will continue to advance in areas that will be unstaffed. With limited resources, only point protection will be in place while resources continue to mobilize to the fire,” said a Sunday morning incident report. California's Mosquito Fire has covered a large portion of the Northern Sierra region with smoke. California health officials urged people in affected areas to stay indoors where possible. Organizers of the Tour de Tahoe canceled the annual 72-mile (115-km) bicycle ride scheduled Sunday around Lake Tahoe because of the heavy smoke from the blaze — more than 50 miles (80 km) away. Last year’s ride was canceled because of smoke from another big fire south of Tahoe. Read: 2 killed in Northern California wildfire: Sheriff The Mosquito Fire’s cause remained under investigation. Pacific Gas & Electric said unspecified “electrical activity” occurred close in time to the report of the fire on Tuesday. Scientists say climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. In the last five years, California has experienced the largest and most destructive fires in state history. And the rest of the West hasn’t been immune. There were at least 18 large fires burning in Oregon and Washington, leading to evacuations and targeted power outages near Portland as the challenge of dry and windy conditions continued in the region. Sprawling areas of western Oregon choked by thick smoke from the fires in recent days were expected to see improved air quality on Sunday thanks to a returning onshore flow, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. South of Portland, more than 3,000 residents were under new evacuation orders because of the 134-square-mile (347-square-kilometer) Cedar Creek Fire, which has burned for over a month across Lane and Deschutes counties. Firefighters were protecting remote homes in Oakridge, Westfir and surrounding mountain communities. According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, this weekend there were more than 400 square miles (1,035 square kilometers) of active, uncontained fires and nearly 5,000 people on the ground fighting them in the two northwestern states.

Two people have died in a blaze that ripped through a Northern California town, said Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue. LaRue shared the news of the fatalities Sunday afternoon during a community meeting held at an elementary school north of Weed, the rural Northern California community charred by one of California's latest wildfires. He did not immediately provide names or other details including age or gender of the two people who died. “There’s no easy way of putting it,” he said before calling for a moment of silence. Both LaRue and other officials acknowledged uncertainties facing the community, such as when people would be allowed back into their homes and power would be restored. About 1,000 people were still under evacuation orders Sunday as firefighters worked to contain the blaze that had sparked out of control Friday at the start of the holiday weekend. The blaze, known as the Mill Fire, hadn’t expanded since Saturday morning, covering about 6.6 square miles (17 square kilometers) with 25% containment, according to Cal Fire. But the nearby Mountain Fire grew in size on Sunday, officials said. It also started Friday, though in a less populated area. More than 300 people were under evacuation orders. Read: California wildfires prompt evacuations amid heat wave Power outages, smoky skies and uncertainty about what the day would bring left a feeling of emptiness around the town of Weed the morning after evacuation orders were lifted for thousands of other residents. “It's eerily quiet," said Susan Tavalero, a city councilor who was driving to a meeting with fire officials. She was joined by Mayor Kim Greene, and the two hoped to get more details on how many homes had been lost. A total of 132 structures were destroyed or damaged, fire officials said Sunday, though it wasn't clear whether they were homes, businesses, or other buildings. Three people were injured, according to Cal Fire, but no other details were available. Two people were brought to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta, Cal Fire Siskiyou Unit Chief Phil Anzo said Saturday. One was in stable condition and the other was transferred to UC Davis Medical Center, which has a burn unit. It's unclear if these injuries were related to the deaths reported Sunday. Weed, home to fewer than 3,000 people about 280 miles (451 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco, has long been seen by passersby as a whimsical spot to stop along Interstate 5. But the town, nestled in the shadow of Mt. Shasta, is no stranger to wildfires. Phil Anzo, Cal Fire’s Siskiyou Unit Chief, acknowledged the toll fires have taken on the rural region in recent years. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen lots of fires in this community, we’ve seen lots of fires in this county, and we’ve suffered lots of devastation," Anzo said. Dominique Mathes, 37, said he’s had some close calls with wildfires since he has lived in Weed. Though fire dangers are becoming more frequent, he’s not interested in leaving. “It’s a beautiful place,” he said. “Everybody has risks everywhere, like Florida’s got hurricanes and floods, Louisiana has got tornadoes and all that stuff. So, it happens everywhere. Unfortunately here, it’s fires.” Read: Spain: 10 injured while leaving stopped train near wildfire The winds make Weed and the surrounding area a perilous place for wildfires, whipping small flames into a frenzy. Weed has seen three major fires since 2014, a period of extreme drought that has prompted the largest and most destructive fires in California history. That drought persists as California heads into what traditionally is the worst of the fire season. Scientists say climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. Crews battled flames while much of the state baked in a Labor Day weekend heat wave, with temperatures expected to top 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in Los Angeles, exceptionally warm weather for Southern California. Temperatures were expected to be even hotter through the Central Valley up to the capital of Sacramento. The California Independent System Operator issued its fifth “flex alert,” a plea for people to use their air conditioners and other appliances sparingly from 4 to 9 p.m. to protect the power grid.