wildfires News

California, Again, Leans on Natural Gas to Shore Up Energy Supplies

California on Thursday said it would increase the amount of natural gas stored at a Los Angeles-area facility that suffered a devastating leak six years ago, its latest loosening of environmental rules to shore up energy supplies. In a 4-0 …

PG&E Gets Subpoena Over Dixie Fire, Expects to Take $1.15B Loss

PG&E Corp said on Monday it had received a subpoena from the U.S. attorney’s office seeking documents from the California utility related to the Dixie Fire, and expects to take a loss of $1.15 billion from the blaze this year. …

‘Atmospheric River’ Drenches Drought-Stricken California

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A powerful atmospheric river storm that swept through California set rainfall records and helped douse wildfires. But it remained to be seen how much of a dent it made in the state’s drought. The weather system …

Drenching Rain Set to Bring California Fire Season Closer to End

A river from the sky is about to wash over California and the Pacific Northwest and it could bring some relief from the fire season that has charred millions of acres across the West. The first large atmospheric river of …

Greece: Severe Storm, Floods Batter Athens, Fire-Hit Island

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Severe storms swept across Greece Thursday, flooding hundreds of homes in Athens and prompting evacuations on the island of Evia that was ravaged by summer wildfires. Rescuers were also preparing to use helicopters to lift stranded …

California Wildfires Destroy Mobile Homes; 1 Man Burned

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Destructive California wildfires driven by intense winds caused damage at two mobile home parks, destroying some trailers, and one person suffered burns, officials said. The fires on Monday also toppled trees, whipped up blinding dust clouds …

California Encourages Prescribed Burns to Counter Wildfires

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is encouraging more use of fire to fight fire, such as when deliberately set burns were recently used to protect giant sequoias from a raging wildfire. But sometimes what are known as prescribed fires themselves …

Climate Scientists Created a SWAT Team for Weather Disasters

When weather disaster strikes, observers near and far ask the same question: Climate change—is it or isn’t it? The simplest answer, yes, lacks specificity. All weather is a joint human-nature venture, because we’ve made the atmosphere hotter than it’s been …

Homeowners Near California Wildfires Won’t Lose Insurance

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Homeowners and renters in 22 Northern California counties are guaranteed not to lose their property insurance policies over the next year after the state announced a moratorium on Monday for people who live near recent wildfires. …

After Fires, Europe’s Med Leaders Pledge Climate Cooperation

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The leaders of Europe’s Mediterranean countries pledged Friday to expand cooperation against climate change, at a meeting in Athens held in the aftermath of massive wildfires that ravaged parts of southern Europe. They expressed their “strong …