SCOTTS VALLEY — Aided by weather and reinforcements, firefighters were cautiously optimistic Tuesday about their progress to pen in California wildfires that have killed at least seven people and burned more than 1,200 homes and other buildings. A warning about dry lightning and strong winds that could spark more fires...
Firefighting Crews Make Slow Progress With California Fires
SAN FRANCISCO — Fire crews made slow progress Saturday battling some of the largest wildfires in California history — thanks to improved weather conditions and additional resources coming from others states. But danger loomed with the threat of thunderstorms and lightning forecast for Sunday that could spark new fires and...
Reinforcements Arriving to Help in Deadly California Fires
SAN FRANCISCO — Firefighters and aircraft from 10 states began arriving in California Friday to help weary crews battling some of the largest blazes in state history as weekend weather threatened to renew the advance of flames that have killed six people and incinerated hundreds of homes. Some 560 wildfires...
Pilot Killed Fighting Coalinga Wildfire Leaves Grieving Family
The helicopter pilot who died fighting one of the hundreds of wildfires raging across California was making water drops over hilly, rugged terrain when his aircraft suddenly plunged to the ground, leaving behind a grieving family as authorities begin a painstaking effort to try to determine what caused the tragedy....
California Scrambles for More Firefighters Amid Pandemic
SACRAMENTO — As California enters wildfire season, the state is scrambling to find sufficient firefighters amid the coronavirus outbreak that has depleted the ranks of inmates who usually handle some of the toughest duties and caused a budget deficit that derailed plans to hire 600 new state firefighters and support...
Boys, 13, Charged With Murder in Porterville Library Fire
PORTERVILLE — Murder charges have been filed against two 13-year-old boys suspected of starting a blaze that killed two firefighters at a central California library. Police said the boys were arrested after they were seen running from Porterville City Library shortly after flames erupted on the afternoon of Feb. 18....
Heavy Rain, Floods Lash Eastern Australia, Help With Fires
CANBERRA, Australia — Heavy rains lashed parts of the wildfire and drought-stricken Australian east coast on Friday, bringing some flooding in Sydney and relief to firefighters still dealing with dozens of blazes in New South Wales. New South Wales is the state hardest hit by wildfires that have killed at...
California Firefighters Return From Battling Australia Fires
LOS ANGELES — Twenty firefighters from California returned to the United States on Wednesday after spending nearly a month battling wildfires in Australia. The firefighters based at Angeles National Forest arrived at Los Angeles International Airport and were scheduled to reunite with their families at a city fire station. The...
Firefighting Plane Crashes in Australia, Killing 3 Americans
SYDNEY — Three American crew members were killed Thursday when a C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker crashed while battling wildfires in southeastern Australia, officials said. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the crash deaths in the state's Snowy Monaro region, which came as Australia grapples with an unprecedented fire...
Australia Firefighters Save World's Only Rare Dinosaur Trees
CANBERRA, Australia — Specialist firefighters have saved the world’s last remaining wild stand of a prehistoric tree from wildfires that razed forests west of Sydney, officials said Thursday. Firefighters winched from helicopters to reach the cluster of fewer than 200 Wollemi Pines in a remote gorge in the Blue Mountains...