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Thread: 2018 Wildfires

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    Six dead, seven missing as California wildfire nears 90,000 acres...

    Six dead, seven missing as California wildfire nears 90,000 acres
    JULY 29, 2018 -- Six people people were killed and seven remain missing as a wildfire in Northern California that burned hundreds of structures grew to nearly 90,000 acres Sunday.
    ​​[quote]

    Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko said a sixth person died as a result of the Carr Fire, during an afternoon press conference. Bosenko didn't provide any further details about the victim, but said the case was under investigation. He added seven people remained missing after nine had been found safe on Sunday. "We're finding that there are a lot of communication issues" making it hard to locate residents," Redding Police Sgt. Todd Cogle said, according to CNN. "We spoke with several people who left their cellphones at their residences and in this day and age people don't remember people's phone numbers."


    The Carr Fire grew to 89,194 acres and remained at 5 percent containment, as 3,388 total fire personnel worked to combat the blaze that began on Monday, according to Cal Fire. "Extreme fire conditions continue to challenge firefighters last night," Cal Fire said. "Erratic winds and hot dry conditions resulted in greater growth and increased fire behavior during night operations."


    Five people, including 70-year-old Melody Bledsoe and her two great-grandchildren, were confirmed dead Saturday after they had been missing since Thursday and three Marin County Fire Department firefighters were injured. Authorities have ordered many evacuations and closed dozens of roadways due to the fire. The blaze has also destroyed 517 structures and damaged 135 more. Cal Fire said 5,012 structures are threatened by the fire.


    Several other wildfires burned throughout the state on Sunday, including the River Fire in Mendocino County, which has burned 11,028 acres and destroyed four residences and one outbuilding since it began on Friday. The Ranch Fire, which also started in Mendocino County on Friday, grew to 13,242 acres and was at 5 percent containment Sunday, Cal Fire said.


    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2018...32876995/?mp=2
    [/quote

    See also:


    Unchecked Northern California Fire Claims Sixth Life
    July 29, 2018 - The wildfire burning almost unchecked in Northern California has claimed it's sixth victim.
    ​​
    At a news conference Sunday, Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko said the victim, who was not identified, didn't evacuate despite receiving an evacuation warning. Other victims included two children and two firefighters. He said seven others are still missing in the Carr Fire near Redding, a city of 90,000 about 370 kilometers northeast of San Francisco.


    The National Weather Service has predicted continued hot and dry conditions, with wind gusts expected late Sunday afternoon. "Right now, it's going everywhere. We still have a lot of open line,'' said Anthony Romero, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.



    A firefighter surveys a wildfire-damaged neighborhood, Sunday, July 29, 2018, in Keswick, Calif.



    The fire has already forced tens of thousands to flee from their homes. Local officials estimate at least 517 structures have been destroyed and another 135 damaged -- a majority of them were homes. Keswick, a mountain town of about 450 people, was almost burned to the ground, officials said.




    The Carr Fire is the largest fire burning in the state Sunday, threatening more than 5,000 structures. The fire is just 5 percent contained. Wildfires across California have forced more than 50,000 people from their homes, said Lynne Tolmachoff, a Cal Fire spokeswoman. About 12,000 firefighters are battling 17 significant fires, she said Sunday. "We are well ahead of the fire activity we saw last year,'' Tolmachoff said. "This is just July, so we're not even into the worst part of fire season.''


    https://www.voanews.com/a/unchecked-...e/4505398.html

    Last edited by waltky; 07-30-2018 at 05:33 AM.

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    Lapland confronts wildfires...
    Everyone’s a firefighter as Lapland confronts wildfires
    Jul 31, 2018 - Until this month, nobody would have imagined that the bucolic Lapland town of Jokkmokk could be home to one of the world’s busiest fire brigades.

    ​​
    Nestled beside a bank of pink willowherb and the start line of the Arctic 220km ski marathon, the fire station normally has just three full-time employees and a team of volunteers. During the dark, freezing winters, that is enough hands to deal with the usual electric fires and traffic accidents. During the 24-hour sunlight of the summer, they can usually manage with the aftermath of lightning strikes and barbecue accidents. However, after two freakishly hot, dry months in Sweden and much of the Arctic and Europe, this station has found itself alarmingly overstretched. In just 12 days, the firefighters have had to tackle eight wildfires, the biggest of which tore across an area of boreal forest the size of 900 soccer pitches and sent smoke billowing through the Lule valley.


    To cope, they have called in reinforcements from neighboring regions, army personnel, home guard members and volunteers from the small local community, including refugees. They have hired helicopters, bulldozers and excavators. On some days, the team has swollen to 130 members. “We have forest fires every year, but never so many big ones in such a short time,” said Acting Fire Station Chief Gunnar Lundstrom, who went 43 hours without sleep during the peak period of the recent blazes. Earlier in the day, he surveyed the damage from a helicopter. “Look at the fire line,” he said, showing one mobile phone image of green forest meeting black and brown canopies. He then flicked over to another on the ground. “See? The streams have dried up,” Lundstrom said.

    Soon after he returned to the station, he was called off to another fire. It was almost midnight when he sat back in the canteen to explain the weather conditions that have turned this region into a tinderbox.​​ “It’s an extraordinary summer. We’ve hardly had rain in two months and it’s been very hot. We never used to get temperatures above 30°C,” he said. It has been a similar story across much of the world this summer, as temperature records are broken in North Africa, California and Georgia, droughts threaten the UK and Europe, and deadly heatwaves have killed hundreds of people in Greece and Japan. The Arctic Circle and surrounding northern climes might once have been considered a refuge, but global warming is more pronounced in these regions than elsewhere. Satellites have recently tracked massive fires in Siberia that have sent clouds of smoke across the north pole to Greenland and Canada.

    Norwegian authorities have reported three times more wildfires already than are normal in an entire year. Sweden has been hit by more than 60 forest fires this month, forcing the evacuations of three communities, disrupting train services and prompting appeals for help under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. France has dispatched soldiers, Italy sent water bombing aircraft, while Denmark, Norway and Estonia also provided firefighters and equipment. Most of the fires are in south and central Sweden, but even Lapland in the north has suffered. Overextended fire services have relied on local communities for help near the frontline. Among Jokkmokk’s population of 3,100, this has meant teachers, students, holidaymakers and asylum seekers taking up hoses to douse down the forest near the fires.

    MORE


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    Quote Originally Posted by waltky View Post
    Lapland confronts wildfires...
    Everyone’s a firefighter as Lapland confronts wildfires
    Jul 31, 2018 - Until this month, nobody would have imagined that the bucolic Lapland town of Jokkmokk could be home to one of the world’s busiest fire brigades.

    ​​
    All of this smoke has to affect the environment, similar to volcanic events. Couple this with the actual volcanic events and we're going to see even more "air pollution." I suspect that winters will be cooler and the summers, hotter. However, that being said, this is all part of nature and planetary change. You know that Lightening cause severe fires before Man ever walked on this planet and it destroyed vast areas as we see today.
    It's all Trump's fault! (sarcasm added)
    For waltky: http://quakes.globalincidentmap.com/
    "The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools."
    - Thucydides

    "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote" B. Franklin
    Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum

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    waltky (07-31-2018)

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    How to help the victims of the California wildfires...

    How to help the victims of the California wildfiresAug 1, 2018 - Fast-moving wildfires in California have claimed the lives of at least eight people and have destroyed more than 1,000 homes and buildings.
    The fires have been fueled by shifting winds, dry vegetation and record-setting temperatures. To date, they’ve burned through more than 260,000 acres of land, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people across the state. The largest blaze, the Carr Fire in Northern California, has burned more than 100,000 acres alone and is just 30 percent contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Officials say it’s already one of the 10 most destructive fires in California history. As firefighters struggle to contain the active flames, additional fires erupted overnight, threatening more structures.


    This all comes just less than a year after the worst fire season in California’s history, according to CalFire. Late last year, wildfires killed 44 people, burned more than 500,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes and cost the state $9 billion in insurance claims. Californians are still recovering from those fires, and thousands more will need additional assistance recovering from the blazes that are currently burning across the state — from San Bernardino in the south to Shasta County in the north.



    A firefighter uses a hose to knock down flames while battling the Ranch Fire (Mendocino Complex) north of Upper Lake, California, U.S., August 1, 2018.



    Here are some organizations seeking help in their recovery efforts.
    • The Salvation Army has deployed disaster response teams to help evacuees and first responders in Redding, California, where the Carr Fire has has already destroyed hundreds of buildings and threatens thousands more. The organization is collecting monetary donationsfrom the public, which it says will go directly toward relief efforts.
    • GoFundMe has created a list of verified campaigns that are raising money for those impacted by the Carr Fire. Donors can send money to help families, residents and firefighters.
    • Facebook has launched a crisis response page for those affected by the fires in Northern California. Users can create public posts on the page to request, find or offer help. They also have the option to donate money directly to relief efforts such as GlobalGiving.
    • The Shasta Regional Community Foundation is accepting donations for its Community Disaster Relief Fund. The money collected will be funneled to local nonprofits and disaster relief organizations.
    • The American Red Cross is providing shelter and aid for fire victims in Northern California. Those who want to help the organization can make $10 donations to the Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999 or by visiting its website, redcross.org.
    • The Wildfire Firefighter Foundation is accepting donations to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families.
    • CNN’s Impact Your World initiative has created a page to collect donations that will go toward seven organizations working on helping the victims of California’s wildfires. The organizations include The Community Foundation Sonoma County, Convoy of Hope and Direct Relief.
    • The California Community Foundation has created a list of resources to help Southern California residents impacted by the Cranston and Rock fires in San Diego and Riverside counties. People can use the list to support relief organizations and send donations.
    • The Haven Humane Society has evacuated and rescued hundreds of pets and other animals from the Carr Fire. The organization is asking the public for donations, including food and supplies, to further help the animals. A full list of supplies can be found on its Facebook page.
    • United Way of Northern California has established the Shasta County Fire Relief Fund to help victims of the Carr Fire. To donate, people can text CARRFIRE to 91999 or visit the organization’s website.
    • California Volunteers, a state office that manages volunteer programs in California, has created a list of services and donation options to help victims affected by the Carr, Ferguson, Mendocino Complex and Cranston fires. People can use the list to find information about donations and volunteering.
    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/how-to-help-the-victims-of-the-california-wildfires

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    Wildfires destroy homes, land and California’s budget...
    Wildfires destroy homes, land and California’s budgetFri, Aug 03, 2018 - Just a month into the budget year, the state has already spent more than one-quarter of its annual fire budget, at least US$125 million, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Mike Mohler said on Wednesday.
    Following years of drought and a summer of record-breaking heat, immense tracts of forests, chaparral and grasslands have become tinder that allows even a small spark to explode into a devouring blaze, authorities said. “We’re being surprised. Every year is teaching the fire authorities new lessons,” Californian Governor Jerry Brown said at a news conference. “We’re in uncharted territory.”

    More than 13,000 firefighters are battling fires with the help of crews from as far away as Florida, but Brown repeated predictions from fire officials that California can expect a future of devastating fires, in part because of the changing climate. “People are doing everything they can, but nature is very powerful and we’re not on the side of nature,” Brown said.


    The largest blaze burned in the Redding area, in Shasta County north of Sacramento. Six people, including two firefighters, have died and the fire has destroyed 1,058 homes and nearly 500 other buildings, state fire officials said. Tens of thousands of people remain under evacuation orders.


    The fire, which is nearly twice the size of Sacramento, was only 35 percent contained after more than a week. “Unstable conditions, shifting winds, steep terrain and dry fuels continue to challenge firefighters,” a state fire update warned, noting that 56.3kph wind gusts were expected on ridge tops that could whip up the flames.


    Meanwhile, at least three new fires erupted in the Sierra Nevada region, including a blaze in Placer County that had consumed 4km2 of land. North and east of San Francisco, two wildfires that began on Tuesday near the communities of Covelo and Yuba City continued to burn through grass, brush and timberlands. The fire near Covelo prompted evacuation orders for about 60 homes in the farming and ranching area on the edge of the Mendocino National Forest.


    Twin fires also burned in Mendocino and Lake counties. They burned 14 homes and threatened 12,000 more. A 259km2 fire near Yosemite National Park prompted evacuation orders for the community of Wawona inside the park, which has fewer than 200 residents. Yosemite Valley and other areas of the park have been closed to tourists since July 2​​5.


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    Portugal fights major wildfire as Europe’s heat wave lingers...

    Portugal fights major wildfire as Europe’s heat wave lingers
    Aug 06,`18 - Authorities said that more than 1,100 firefighters with 327 vehicles and eight aircraft were battling the blaze that erupted amid a heatwave caused by a mass of hot air from North Africa.
    Emergency services in Portugal kept up their fight Monday against a four-day wildfire on the south coast that threatened to engulf a hillside town overnight, as sweltering weather continued in Europe. The Civil Protection Agency said 44 people required medical assistance as the blaze passed by the outskirts of Monchique, 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Lisbon, in the dark. A 72-year-old woman was seriously hurt. Authorities said that more than 1,100 firefighters with 327 vehicles and eight aircraft were battling the blaze that erupted amid a heatwave caused by a mass of hot air from North Africa. The rest of Europe has also felt the torrid recent weather.


    In France, where four nuclear reactors have been temporarily closed due to the heat, three cities banned the most polluting cars from the roads because of heat-linked ozone pollution. The heat wave in France is expected to last until Thursday, with temperatures peaking Tuesday. In Norway, authorities warned motorists to watch out for reindeer and sheep taking shelter from the heat in tunnels. Neighboring Sweden has been fighting an uncommon number of wildfires this summer, even above the Arctic Circle, and a European Union official pointed his finger at climate change.
    [CENTER]

    Firefighters help to put out a forest fire next to the village of Monchique, Portugal August 6, 2018.

    After four days of intense heat that broke some records in Portugal, with temperatures surpassing 45 C (113 F), Portuguese authorities forecast a cooler period beginning Monday. The Algarve wasn’t expected to exceed 30 C (86 F), while Lisbon was expecting 33 C (91 F). Parts of the south and northeast of the country remained at “extreme risk” of wildfires, however, according to the national weather agency’s forecast. The falling temperatures helped create “much more favorable” conditions for firefighters tackling the Monchique blaze, local fire chief Abel Gomes told a news conference.


    Spain sent two Canadair water-dropping planes across the border Monday to help efforts around Monchique. Overnight, dozens of homes and a hotel were evacuated around the town of about 2,000 people which is known for its spa. The wind-driven fire has been racing across tinder-dry pine and eucalyptus forest in a largely inaccessible hill range behind the famous beaches of Portugal’s Algarve vacation region. Plumes of black smoke have blown across beaches popular with European tourists.


    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/portugal-fights-major-wildfire-as-europes-heat-wave-lingers
    See also:


    Mendocino Complex becomes largest wildfire in California history - state officials
    6 Aug.`18 - The Mendocino Complex became the largest wildfire in California state history on Monday as it raged at the southern tip of the Mendocino National Forest, state wildfire officials said.
    The Mendocino Complex Fire, made up of two separate conflagrations that merged, has burned 283,800 acres (114,800 hectares) and was still growing, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.


    The complex took over the top spot from the Thomas Fire, which burned 281,893 acres in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties in 2017.


    https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-wildfires-largest/mendocino-complex-becomes-largest-wildfire-in-california-history-state-officials-idUKKBN1KS09A
    Last edited by waltky; 08-06-2018 at 10:39 PM.

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    We don't get much weather reporting here from other countries....kind of made me wonder if they were having the same problems we are.
    For waltky: http://quakes.globalincidentmap.com/
    "The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools."
    - Thucydides

    "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote" B. Franklin
    Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum

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    Isn't this what we get when we stop thinning the forests and let the underbrush thrive? I wonder how much misery we will put up with before we turn our ire on the environmentalist wackos who are largely to blame.
    Call your state legislators and insist they approve the Article V convention of States to propose amendments.


    I pledge allegiance to the Constitution as written and understood by this nation's founders, and to the Republic it created, an indivisible union of sovereign States, with liberty and justice for all.

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    Australia And New Zealand helping out w/ western US wildfires...

    Western Fire Crews Get An Assist From Australia And New Zealand


    August 7, 2018 - Resources are wearing thin as wildfires burn in 11 western states. Firefighters are getting an international assist from Australia and New Zealand. Teams from the two countries spent the weekend in Idaho training before being deployed to the West Coast to battle flames in California, Oregon and Washington.
    Before they hit the fire lines, the 140-member team got an orientation and some last-minute training at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise. Across the western U.S., fires are burning on roughly 1.6 million acres. The National Preparedness Level is at five — the highest the index goes. That means there's a high level of wildfire activity across the country and that many resources have been committed to fight fires. Level 5 also lets fire managers call in help from the military and abroad. The last time firefighters were brought in from Australia and New Zealand was 2015.


    Techniques and tools


    In a field at the complex near the edge of town, training specialist Matt Skudlarek leads a practice involving personal fire shelters. Deploying one is a decision of absolute last resort when a fire is closing in. Skudlarek outlines a scenario where flames are bearing down on a group from the north. He points south, down the field, to a couple of cardboard boxes and says that's a good area to deploy the shelters. The drill begins and the visiting firefighters bolt down the field. "Let's go for it," Skudlarek calls out. "Drop those packs!" The firefighters drop to the ground and wrap themselves in what looks like a cross between a bright orange tarp and a sleeping bag. For most, it's the first time using a shelter. While standard issue here, they're uncommon in Australia and New Zealand. With only 25 shelters to go around, the group has to meticulously refold and repack them before the next bunch can practice.



    Firefighters conduct a controlled burn to defend houses against flames from the Ranch Fire, as it continues to spread toward the town of Upper Lake, Calif., last week.



    Peter McKechnie is watching the group perform the fire shelter drills. He's the liaison between the two South Pacific nations and the U.S. He says the personnel that've traveled half way around the world aren't the rank and file. "They're all supervisory in some ways," McKechnie says. "There's people looking after helicopters, people looking after crews. So, it is a mix in terms of the skills that have come across." The firefighting partnership between Australia, the U.S., and New Zealand dates back more than 50 years. McKechnie says ties are strong between the three nations and that the U.S. has answered the other countries' calls for assistance in the past. In a big warehouse across the base, another group of firefighters collect gear in what looks like a buffet line of equipment.

    Taking in the scene is Chris Eagle, a liaison officer from the Melbourne area. He says fighting fires Down Under is similar to here, but there are some differences — like terminology. "We were laughing because if we ask for a tanker at home, we get a truck with wheels on it," Eagle says with a smile. "If you ask for a tanker in America, you'll get an airplane to drop water on top of you. So it's things like that that if you don't know those little, little things, it gets a bit embarrassing when you get the wrong thing you didn't think were coming."


    "Ready to get out there"
    See also:

    Remotely Piloted Aircraft Become Mainstay of Wildfire Firefighting...


    Remotely Piloted Aircraft Become Mainstay of Wildland Firefighting
    7 Aug 2018 -- Five years after a proof-of-concept mission to use the California Air National Guard's remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) in support of domestic wildland firefighting operations, the MQ-9 Reaper has developed into a key asset in California's fight against wildfires, including the Carr and Mendocino Complex Fires, which are currently burning in Northern California. "It's a technology I never thought I'd see," said Jeremy Salizzoni, a fire technical specialist with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) who embedded with the Cal Guard's 163d Attack Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California, during 2013's devastating Rim Fire.
    More than a quarter of a million acres burned in August 2013 as the Rim Fire raged in Tuolumne County, California, to become the state's third largest wildfire on record, at the time. More than 100 structures were lost in the blaze, which took nine weeks to fully contain. Eleven days after the Rim Fire started, the wing launched a first-of-its kind mission to overfly the fire with an MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted reconnaissance aircraft and beam back real-time video footage of the fire to Salizzoni and wing intelligence analysts working in an operations facility at March. Through the Predator's footage, Salizzoni, who was used to driving for hours through rugged terrain to access overlook points and put eyes on the leading edge of a fire, could see any area of the fire he wanted, in real time and without ever leaving the operations facility.



    An aircrew from the 163d Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, fly an MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft to the Mendocino Complex Fire in Northern California, Aug. 4, 2018, during a mission to support state agencies.





    The remotely piloted aircraft's thermal imaging camera provided a view of the fire unlike anything he'd ever seen. Traditional aerial assets are important, but encounter limitations due to smoke, fuel, altitude and field of view, he said. "It was such a dramatic change from anything I'd seen in my career," Salizzoni said. "It was like being blind and then having vision in the blink of an eye." Salizzoni and his colleagues knew they had a new tool in their firefighting toolbox. "We saw things over the course of that fire that you couldn't have made up," he said. "I don't think there's a better intel resource at our disposal right now." During its eight-day emergency activation for the Rim Fire, the 163d Reconnaissance Wing -- the unit's name at the time -- logged more than 150 hours of fire support and was credited with helping firefighters expedite containment.


    In the five years since, the 163d has changed its name and the kind of airplane it flies, but one thing hasn't changed: the wing's dedication to domestic disaster response missions right here at home. The unit remains impassioned to innovate and provide first responders with instantaneous insight into what a fire is doing. RPAs are no longer just trying to prove their worth, said U.S. Air Force Maj. Mike Baird, the senior intelligence officer at the 163d. The wing's MQ-9 Reaper RPAs -- a big-brother to the recently-retired Predators -- are an in-demand incident awareness and assessment asset preferred by California's civil authorities when disaster strikes. The wing has supported more than 20 wildfires since 2013, but it takes more than just airplanes, Baird said. Keeping California safe takes a wing-wide effort. "What we've been doing behind the scenes from maintenance and communications to refining our deployment and personnel processes has led up to our ability to provide an unprecedented level of MQ-9 support," Baird said.



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    Active-Duty Army Engineers Being Sent to Fight California Wildfires6 Aug 2018 | About 200 troops from the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion at JBLM will get a course in becoming "wildland firefighters."
    About 200 active-duty troops from the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, will get a quick course in becoming "wildland firefighters" to battle the deadly wildfires devastating wide swaths of California, the Pentagon said Monday. The 200 troops, plus command and support staff, will get one day of classroom training from firefighters at JBLM this week and then two more days of field training once it's decided which of the 18 major wildfires burning across California they will be asked to help contain. The expectation is that the JBLM engineers will be on the ground in California by Aug. 13, said Army Col. Rob Manning, the Pentagon's director of press operations. "The soldiers will be outfitted with wildland fire Personal Protective Equipment and all of the gear they will need to serve as wildland firefighters," U.S. Northern Command said in a statement.



    A U.S. Air Force plane drops fire retardant on a burning hillside in the Ranch Fire in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018.




    The fledgling wildland firefighters from JBLM will be organized into 10 teams of 20 soldiers each, Manning said, but they won't be sent to battle a blaze on their own. While supporting the overstretched California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), they "will be accompanied by experienced wildland fire strike team leaders and crew bosses from wildland fire management," NORTHCOM said in a statement. It is not the first time active-duty troops from JBLM have been sent to help with California wildfires. Last August, JBLM soldiers gave support in battling blazes in northern California, said Army Lt. Col. Jamie Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. The 18 large wildfires burning across California have consumed about 559,000 acres, destroyed homes and forced thousands to evacuate.


    One of the wildfires, the "Carr fire" near Redding, California, on the Sacramento River about 120 miles south of the Oregon border, has claimed seven lives, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and scarred more than 163,200 acres, according to CAL FIRE. In Redding, the Northern California Health Care System (NorCal) of the Department of Veterans Affairs has battled to keep open the Redding Outpatient Clinic, which serves about 11,000 veterans in the area, despite Redding clinic employees losing their homes and being forced to evacuate. About 177 of the clinic's 199 staff have continued to report to work, NorCal said last Friday. "The VA NorCal staff in Redding has set a standard in their commitment to local veterans," said VA NorCal Director David Stockwell in a statement. "Despite personal loss in many cases, they've managed to not only keep open the Outpatient Clinic's doors, but travel deep into the community to ensure displaced veterans are receiving the care they need and deserve."



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    Last edited by waltky; 08-07-2018 at 02:55 PM.

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    Greek emergency chiefs resign amid blame for wildfires that killed 91...

    Greek emergency chiefs resign amid blame for wildfires that killed 91
    Aug. 6,`18 (UPI) -- Greek authorities have replaced multiple emergency chiefs in the wake of criticism over the wildfires that killed nearly 100 people near the capital, Athens.
    Yiannis Kapakis, the country's civil protection chief, resigned Monday over growing public criticism that the Greek government failed to warn residentsto evacuate ahead of the fire. Kapakis' resignation follows the resignations of the police and fire chiefs Sunday. Officials said Lt. Gen. Vasileios Matthaiopoulos will be Greece's new fire chief, replacing Sotirios Terzoudis. The prime minister's press office announced Lt. Gen. Aristides Andrikopoulos will take over as police chief, replacing Constantinos Tsouvalas.


    Firefighters and volunteers battle a wildfire near Athens, Greece. Criticism over failure to warn residents led to the resignations of Greece's civil protection, police and fire chiefs.


    A couple days earlier, Greek Civil Protection Minister Nikos Toskas resigned. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipiras accepted Toskas resignation, and Interior Minister Panos Skourletis will act as his replacement, his office said. The destructive wildfires spread rapidly due to strong winds and forced hundreds to escape to the coast. The government blamed arsonists for starting one of the fires and illegal construction for blocking escape routes.

    Tsipras took responsibility last month for the fires amid mounting criticism. "We have serious indications and significant findings of criminal activity concerning arson," Public Order Minister Nikos Toskas said. "We are troubled by many factors, and there have been physical findings that are the subject of an investigation." Toskas, though, said no "grave operational mistakes" were made by emergency services. The fires have been the deadliest Greece has seen in decades.



    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/08/06/Greek-emergency-chiefs-resign-amid-blame-for-wildfires-that-killed-91/2701533555075/?sl=10



    See also:

    Greece to demolish 3,200 illegal structures after deadly wildfire
    Aug. 7,`18 (UPI) -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsirpas announced thousands of illegal buildings will be demolished after the country's deadliest wildfire.
    Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsirpas announced thousands of illegal buildings will be demolished after the country's deadliest wildfire. Tsirpas said 3,200 buildings in the Attica region will be demolished immediately, after authorities said unlicensed construction hampered attempts to escape areas affected by the fire in Mati last month, which killed 91 people. "Whatever represents a danger will be torn down," Tsirpas said. "It is our duty to our dead, but more so towards the living."



    Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced plans Tuesday to demolish 3,200 illegal buildings in the aftermath of a wildfire that killed 91 people.




    Authorities said there were dozens of "afthereta" or "arbitrary" buildings in Mati, which blocked access to the coast during the fire. Such structures are initially constructed without permission from the government, before often being licensed in amnesties. Tsirpas didn't provide an exact timetable for when the process would be complete, but said the government would also focus on illegal fences on private properties. "The chaos of unchecked construction that threatens human lives is no longer acceptable," he said.

    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/08/07/Greece-to-demolish-3200-illegal-structures-after-deadly-wildfire/1631533688502/

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