SALEM, Ore. — Deadly wildfires in heavily populated northwest Oregon were growing, with hundreds of thousands of people told to flee encroaching flames while residents to the south tearfully assessed their losses. The number of people ordered to evacuate statewide because of fires rose to an estimated 500,000 — more...
10 Dead as California Fire Becomes Deadliest of Year
GRIDLEY — The terrible toll of California's wildfires became more evident as a mother confirmed her 16-year-old son was among those killed when an inferno tore through several hamlets in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada this week. Jessica Williams, who earlier pleaded for her missing son Josiah to call...
Think 2020’s Disasters Are Wild? Experts See Worse in Future
A record amount of California is burning, spurred by a nearly 20-year mega-drought. To the north, parts of Oregon that don’t usually catch fire are in flames. Meanwhile, the Atlantic’s 16th and 17th named tropical storms are swirling, a record number for this time of year. Powerful Typhoon Haishen lashed Japan and the Korean...
Massive Smoke Clouds, Thick Air Darken Western US Skies
SAN FRANCISCO — People from San Francisco to Seattle woke Wednesday to hazy clouds of smoke lingering in the air, darkening the sky to an eerie orange glow that kept street lights illuminated into midday, all thanks to dozens of wildfires throughout the West. “It's after 9 a.m. and there's still no sign of...
Firefighter Killed in NorCal Wildfire Was 63 Year Old Texas Mom
SAN FRANCISCO — A firefighter from Texas killed battling a wildfire in the Northern California forest was working the fire lines when her truck rolled off a remote backcountry road as she tried to escape the flames, fire officials said. Diana Jones, 63, was an emergency medical technician with the...
Scorching Valley Labor Day Forecast Renews Wildfire Concerns
After an August that delivered record-breaking temperatures, September also will be a scorcher for Valley residents, forecasters say. Based on National Weather Service Hanford data, August had produced 18 days with triple-digit temperatures heading into Monday. Among them: 112 degrees on Aug. 16, which bettered the mark of 110 set...
Walters: Do Crises Help or Hurt Tax Hikes?
Does the trauma enveloping California this year — pandemic, recession, heat waves, blackouts and disastrous wildfires — make voters more or less likely to vote for tax increases? Sponsors of a $12 billion a year hike in taxes on warehouses, office buildings, factories and other commercial property hope it’s more....
Some Californians Didn’t Get Evacuation Alerts in Wildfires
SAN FRANCISCO — When Debra DeAngelo went to sleep, she thought the flames chewing through Northern California wine country were too far away to be dangerous. Plus, she had signed up for all the alerts that emergency officials pressed on people after years of catastrophic wildfires. A frantic phone call...
Thousands Begin Returning Home as Gains Made on California Fires
SAN FRANCISCO — Thousands of people forced to flee their homes were allowed to return Thursday after firefighters made progress in their effort to put out massive and deadly wildfires in Northern California. Officials were working on plans to repopulate other evacuated areas. Cooler weather and higher humidity, along with...
Neighbors With Hoses Target Fires as Crews Urge Them To Stop
REDWOOD CITY — With California firefighters strapped for resources, residents have organized to put out flames themselves in a large swath of land burning south of San Francisco, defending their homes despite orders to evacuate and pleas by officials to get out of danger. They are going in despite California’s...