KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK — The thick scent of smoke hung in the midday air when a trail along the Kings River opened up to an ominous scene: flames in the trees and thick gray smoke shrouding canyon walls. Firefighters were on the job. In fact, they had started the...
Good News: Beauty From the Ashes and One Lucky Rabbit
Artist Shane Grammer is based in Los Angeles, but he a native of Chico. After the deadly Camp Fire devastated the community of Paradise, he responded in a way that has grabbed national attention. Since January, Grammer has made trips to what is left of Paradise, leaving behind evocative pieces...
New Threat to Fire-Damaged Notre Dame Cathedral: Heat Wave
PARIS — The chief architect of France's historic monuments says he's afraid that the heat wave sweeping Europe could cause the vaulted ceilings of fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral to collapse. Dozens of sensors dotted around the 12th-century monument have shown no indication that it's deteriorating, but architect Philippe Villeneuve is...
Agencies Try Hard to Stop Suicides of Wildland Firefighters
BOISE, Idaho — Shane Del Grosso spent some 30 summers crossing smoke-shrouded mountains and forests to fight increasingly devastating wildfires in the U.S. West. Toward the end, his skills and experience propelled him to lead a federal multi-agency team that responded to large-scale national disasters. On some days he directed...
Fire Levels Jim Beam Warehouse With 45,000 Barrels of Bourbon
FRANKFORT, Ky. — A fire destroyed a massive Jim Beam warehouse filled with 45,000 barrels of bourbon, sending flames shooting into the night sky and generating so much heat that firetruck lights melted, authorities said Wednesday. Firefighters from four counties responded to the blaze that erupted late Tuesday. Lightning might...
Jon Stewart Lashes out at Congress Over 9/11 Victims Fund
WASHINGTON — Comedian Jon Stewart scolded Congress Tuesday for failing to ensure that a victims' compensation fund set up after the 9/11 attacks never runs out of money. Stewart, a longtime advocate for 9/11 responders, angrily called out lawmakers for failing to attend a hearing on a bill to ensure the...
Official: Notre Dame Faced 'Chain-Reaction Collapse' in Fire
PARIS — Notre Dame Cathedral would have burned to the ground in a "chain-reaction collapse" had firefighters not moved as rapidly as they did to battle the blaze racing through the beloved landmark building, a French government official said Wednesday. The firefighters acted aggressively to protect wooden supports in the...
Northern California Wildfire Nearly Quadruples in Size
PARADISE — A wildfire that moved so fast that firefighters couldn't hope to stop it quadrupled in size Friday after destroying several thousand buildings and leveling much of a Northern California town of nearly 30,000 people, authorities said. Only a day after it began, the fire near the town of...
McConaughey Gives Back to First Responders in Texas Visit
HOUSTON — Firefighters, police officers and 911 operators in Houston, Texas, got a surprise lunch from a famous local as Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey showed up with roasted turkey to give thanks on National First Responders Day. The actor's appearance and catered lunch Sunday shocked those at a fire department. Later,...
Fresno Parks Tax Advocates, Foes to Meet in Public Forum on Thursday
Advocates and opponents of a new tax to support public parks in Fresno will debate the issue in a public forum Thursday night. Measure P would raise the local sales tax by 3/8 percent and generate close to $38 million per year to build, upgrade and maintain parks across Fresno for...