US wildfire dangers seen spreading east as climate risks grow
2 years, 7 months ago

US wildfire dangers seen spreading east as climate risks grow

Al Jazeera  

American states face an increasing risk of forest blazes, posing danger to more than 30 million properties ‘no matter where you live’. From New Jersey to Georgia, US states thousands of kilometres from wildfire hotspots in the west face a growing risk from forest blazes as global warming makes “safe havens” increasingly rare, researchers have warned. Wildfires pose at least a moderate risk to more than 30 million properties across the United States, according to modelling by First Street Foundation, a nonprofit that maps climate risks. “Wildfire risk is increasing so much faster than even flood risk is across the US,” said Ed Kearns, the group’s chief data officer, on Monday. “And it’s likely to affect areas that aren’t thought of as wildfire-prone areas right now, but will be soon.” Well beyond hard-hit states such as California and New Mexico, East Coast areas including South and North Carolina are among those with the most properties threatened by fires, research found.

Climate Change Properties Climate States Wildfire Risk California South East Wildfire Risk  seen  dangers  climate  including  risk  moderate  risks  face  wildfire  million  east  change  states  properties  spreading  grow

History of this topic

California wildfires are spreading and intensifying faster, putting more people in danger
1 month, 4 weeks ago

California wildfires are spreading and intensifying faster, putting more people in danger

LA Times  

San Bernardino County firefighters work to save a home in Wrightwood as they battle the Bridge Fire in September. A new paper in the journal Science puts that sentiment to the test, with startling findings: California fires spread almost four times faster in 2020 than they had in 2001. “People are pretty good at putting out all fires,” said Park …

Map reveals where Americans are safest from deadly weather
2 months ago

Map reveals where Americans are safest from deadly weather

Daily Mail  

The devastation wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton has left many of those afflicted in the Southeast wondering if they need to move permanently to escape future natural disasters. 'For folks looking to homestead or live off-grid in a small community, any of those counties would be a good bet to avoid the worst of what climate change might throw …

Wildfires are coming to the Southeast. Can landowners mitigate the risk in time?
2 months ago

Wildfires are coming to the Southeast. Can landowners mitigate the risk in time?

Salon  

Courtney Steed often burns barefoot. “You have these dynamics playing out in the region, then you throw in changes in climate and potentially warmer and drier conditions,” Donovan said, “and you set yourself up for more destructive wildfires.” Such dynamics played out in April, 2023, when a blaze in North Carolina’s Croatan National Forest jumped from 7,000 acres to 32,000 …

Halfway through ‘danger season,’ nearly all of America has been touched by extreme weather
4 months, 1 week ago

Halfway through ‘danger season,’ nearly all of America has been touched by extreme weather

LA Times  

The United States is halfway through the period commonly known as summer, or what some scientists are now calling the “danger season” — the stretch of time from May to October when extreme weather events are peaking and likely to overlap due to the exacerbating influence of climate change. So far this season, 99% of the country’s population has been …

Wildfires threaten communities in the West as Oregon fire closes interstate, creates its own weather
5 months ago

Wildfires threaten communities in the West as Oregon fire closes interstate, creates its own weather

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Firefighters in the West are …

US reels under scorching temperatures, heavy flooding
6 months ago

US reels under scorching temperatures, heavy flooding

Al Jazeera  

More than 50 million people in the US under heat warnings while hundreds are evacuated from flooding in the Midwest. Soaring temperatures have placed more than 50 million people in the United States under extreme heat advisories, while flooding has spurred rescue operations and evacuations throughout the Midwest. The National Integrated Heat Health Information System said on Monday that about …

West wildfire risk is growing because of a plant that grows everywhere
9 months ago

West wildfire risk is growing because of a plant that grows everywhere

CNN  

CNN — A ubiquitous, resilient and seemingly harmless plant is fueling an increase in large, fast-moving and destructive wildfires in the United States. “Any 10-foot area that’s not paved is going to have some kind of grass on it.” Grass fires are typically less intense and shorter-lived than forest fires, but can spread exponentially faster, outrun firefighting resources and burn …

The worst wildfire in Texas' history has a complex link with climate change
9 months, 2 weeks ago

The worst wildfire in Texas' history has a complex link with climate change

BBC  

The worst wildfire in Texas' history has a complex link with climate change Getty Images The Smokehouse Creek Fire burned more than 1.2 million acres and killed thousands of cattle The worst wildfire in Texas' history is leaving wide scars on the landscape. "Climate change may have affected the amount of vegetative growth that provided fuel for the fire," says …

Wild weather's coming: West readies for snow as Midwest gets a taste of summer
9 months, 4 weeks ago

Wild weather's coming: West readies for snow as Midwest gets a taste of summer

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The National Weather Service said …

Chile risks repeat of deadly wildfires because of climate change, report says
10 months ago

Chile risks repeat of deadly wildfires because of climate change, report says

The Hindu  

Deadly wildfires like those that burned through central Chile and killed at least 133 people this month will become more likely in the South American country as climate change makes the world hotter and drier, according to a report released on Thursday. The report from World Weather Attribution, an international group of scientists that studies the effects of climate change …

As climate hazards converge, more Californians are living in harm’s way
10 months, 3 weeks ago

As climate hazards converge, more Californians are living in harm’s way

LA Times  

State health officials know that extreme heat can cost lives and send people to the hospital, just like wildfire smoke. Explore the section In a study published Friday in the journal Science Advances, researchers determined that wildfire smoke and extreme heat together create a previously unrecognized “synergistic effect” or additional burden on people’s health — raising their risk of hospitalization …

Extreme heat, wildfire smoke harm low-income and nonwhite communities the most, study finds
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Extreme heat, wildfire smoke harm low-income and nonwhite communities the most, study finds

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Extreme heat and wildfire smoke are independently harmful to the human body, but together their impact on cardiovascular and respiratory systems is more dangerous and affects some communities more than others. The authors found that the combined harm of extreme heat and inhalation of wildfire smoke increased hospitalizations and disproportionately impacted low-income communities and Latino, Black, Asian …

How does climate change threaten where you live? A region-by-region guide.
1 year, 1 month ago

How does climate change threaten where you live? A region-by-region guide.

Raw Story  

This story was originally published by Grist. “Whether it’s wildfires or floods or drought, whether it’s extreme heat or storms, we know that climate change has made its way into our lives and it’s unfolding as predicted.” The report outlines steps every level of government can take to combat the climate crisis. — Akielly Hu Northwest Idaho, Oregon, Washington Climate …

Climate change boosts risk of explosive wildfire growth in California by 25%, study says
1 year, 3 months ago

Climate change boosts risk of explosive wildfire growth in California by 25%, study says

LA Times  

Sierra Cobras fire crew member Gustavo Cisneros keeps an eye on a hillside as flames roil the Sequoia National Forest during the 2021 Windy fire. “So it’s important to look at more direct on-the-ground solutions to the problem like fuel reduction.” Although previous studies have looked at the impact of climate change on broader metrics like annual area burned, as …

In Hawaii, concerns over ‘climate gentrification’ rise after devastating Maui fires
1 year, 4 months ago

In Hawaii, concerns over ‘climate gentrification’ rise after devastating Maui fires

Associated Press  

Kim Cuevas-Reyes, a 38-year-old cellphone store owner, snuck into Lahaina last Friday to see the remnants of her home with her own eyes. With a housing crisis that has priced out many Native Hawaiians as well as families that have been there for decades, concerns are rising that the state could become the latest example of “climate gentrification,” when it …

Fires, floods, heatwaves. Is the extreme weather from coast to coast ‘a new abnormal’?
1 year, 5 months ago

Fires, floods, heatwaves. Is the extreme weather from coast to coast ‘a new abnormal’?

LA Times  

Wildfire smoke engulfed the iconic skyline of New York, blotting out the Empire State Building in a dystopian orange haze. “I’d say this is unbelievable, but that word has been losing its meaning lately,” said Brian McNoldy, a senior research scientist at the University of Miami, as the city’s heat index hit 109.9 on Monday — Miami’s 30th consecutive day …

Red flag wildfire warnings issued across at least nine states
1 year, 8 months ago

Red flag wildfire warnings issued across at least nine states

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Red flag warnings have been issued across at least nine US states on Wednesday as …

Feds send $930 million to curb 'crisis' of US West wildfires
1 year, 11 months ago

Feds send $930 million to curb 'crisis' of US West wildfires

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We need to have a …

Thousands evacuated as wildfires spread across western US
2 years, 3 months ago

Thousands evacuated as wildfires spread across western US

Al Jazeera  

Massive Oregon blaze threatens more than 2,000 homes as drought, extreme heat spark fires across western United States. The Creek Fire is the latest to hit the western United States, where dozens of blazes in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington state have scorched more than 3,100sq km so far this summer. Meanwhile, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that more …

What’s behind the heatwaves impacting the United States?
2 years, 4 months ago

What’s behind the heatwaves impacting the United States?

Al Jazeera  

Millions of Americans are under heat warnings as the nation braces for record-breaking temperatures and dangerous heat. That is resulting in swings in the North Atlantic jet stream, which in turn lead to extreme weather events like heatwaves and floods, according to Jennifer Francis, senior scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center. “Climate change is making extreme and unprecedented heat …

Op-Ed: Wildfires have changed. Firefighting hasn’t
2 years, 5 months ago

Op-Ed: Wildfires have changed. Firefighting hasn’t

LA Times  

Already this year, both Colorado and New Mexico have seen the most destructive wildfires in their states’ histories. In an interview with NPR, Boulder’s wildland fire chief Brian Oliver likened the futility of fighting some wildfires with “trying to fight a hurricane.” I came across this strange comparison often in interviews with wildland firefighters. Success created other risks: As one …

Wildfires are getting worse across the globe. How does California compare?
2 years, 10 months ago

Wildfires are getting worse across the globe. How does California compare?

LA Times  

An alarming new United Nations report warns that the number of extreme wildfires is expected to increase 50% globally by the end of the century, and that governments are largely unprepared for the burgeoning crisis. “We hear that people in D.C. think of fire as a Western issue, or a Californian issue, but it really isn’t — it’s a global …

Wildfires to increase up to 30 per cent by 2050: experts
2 years, 10 months ago

Wildfires to increase up to 30 per cent by 2050: experts

The Hindu  

Exhausted firefighters have been battling blazes in northern Argentina for weeks. "At the same time, climate change is made worse by wildfires, mostly by ravaging sensitive and carbon-rich ecosystems like peatlands and rainforests," said the authors of the report. That destruction — to crops and homes, human health and the natural environment — means wildfires "disproportionately affect the world's poorest …

Wildfires will increase and worsen globally, U.N. warns
2 years, 10 months ago

Wildfires will increase and worsen globally, U.N. warns

NPR  

Wildfires will increase and worsen globally, U.N. warns Enlarge this image toggle caption Ivan Nikiforov/AP Ivan Nikiforov/AP BILLINGS, Mont. — A warming planet and changes to land use patterns mean more wildfires will scorch large parts of the globe in coming decades, causing spikes in unhealthy smoke pollution and other problems that governments are ill prepared to confront, according to …

US plans $50B wildfire fight where forests meet civilization
2 years, 11 months ago

US plans $50B wildfire fight where forests meet civilization

Associated Press  

— The Biden administration said Tuesday it will significantly expand efforts to stave off catastrophic wildfires that have torched areas of the U.S. West by more aggressively thinning forests around “hot spots” where nature and neighborhoods collide. “The time to act is now if we want to ultimately over time change the trajectory of these fires.” Specific projects weren’t immediately …

Editorial: Colorado winter wildfire shatters the illusion of safety in Western suburbs
2 years, 11 months ago

Editorial: Colorado winter wildfire shatters the illusion of safety in Western suburbs

LA Times  

A view of a Boulder County neighborhood that was destroyed by a wildfire is seen from a Colorado National Guard helicopter during a flyover by Gov. The winter wildfire that ripped through grasslands near Boulder, Colo., and engulfed suburban neighborhoods with ferocious speed last week was unexpected and frightening. Hurricane-force winds gusted at over 100 mph, whipping the Marshall fire …

Climate change is causing wildfires that are amplifying Covid
3 years, 3 months ago

Climate change is causing wildfires that are amplifying Covid

CNN  

A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. “Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations have been climbing precipitously in the Reno area over the past several weeks,” according to CNN’s report. “Coronavirus cases in Washoe County on Monday were up 24% compared to the week before, and hospitalizations increased by more than 18%.” A study published in the journal …

Tourist sites threatened by raging US wildfires
3 years, 3 months ago

Tourist sites threatened by raging US wildfires

Al Jazeera  

The Caldor Fire in California and Greenwood Lake Fire in Minnesota are fuelled by climate change, a new report concludes. Enormous wildfires in California and Minnesota are forcing tourists to change their plans in two US vacation spots as a new study blames climate change for creating conditions that fuel the massive blazes. The Greenwood Lake fire burning in the …

Fires charring range set up ranchers for hardship in US West
3 years, 4 months ago

Fires charring range set up ranchers for hardship in US West

Associated Press  

— Wildfires tearing through Montana and elsewhere in the U.S. West are devouring vast rangeland areas that cattle ranchers depend upon, setting the stage for a potential shortage of pasture as the hot, dry summer grinds on. The fire crept within about a mile of the eastern edge of the evacuated town of Lame Deer Wednesday night, Northern Cheyenne Tribe …

The Climate Change Link To More And Bigger Wildfires
3 years, 4 months ago

The Climate Change Link To More And Bigger Wildfires

NPR  

The Climate Change Link To More And Bigger Wildfires Enlarge this image toggle caption inciweb.nwcg.gov inciweb.nwcg.gov Across the country people have been experiencing hazy skies from big wildfires in Western states. Nick Mott, editor of the Montana Public Radio podcast, Fireline, sat down with NPR to talk about the role climate change is playing in the west's worsening fire seasons. …

Wildfire 2021: As smoke spreads, who’s at risk?
3 years, 5 months ago

Wildfire 2021: As smoke spreads, who’s at risk?

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “These fires are going to be …

The Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away
3 years, 5 months ago

The Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away

NPR  

The Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away Enlarge this image toggle caption Julie Jacobson/AP Julie Jacobson/AP Smoke traveling from the Western wildfires is reaching all the way across the U.S., bringing vibrant red sunsets and moon glow to the East. Julie Malingowski, an emergency response meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told NPR that smoke pushed high into …

Western US wildfires force hundreds from their homes
3 years, 5 months ago

Western US wildfires force hundreds from their homes

Al Jazeera  

A growing wildfire in a bone-dry forest in the Western United States has forced hundreds of people from their homes as it charred more than 854sq km and showed no signs of slowing on Wednesday amid a blistering heatwave and drought. Tim McCarley, one of the evacuees, told the Reuters news agency earlier this week that sheriff’s deputies and state …

California hit by record-breaking fire destruction: ‘Climate change is real, it’s bad’
3 years, 5 months ago

California hit by record-breaking fire destruction: ‘Climate change is real, it’s bad’

LA Times  

Plumes of smoke rise above Frenchman Lake as the Sugar fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex, burns in Plumas National Forest on Thursday. Though last year was the worst wildfire season California has seen — with over 4 million acres burned — the potential to surpass it is there, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Lynne Tolmachoff. In Southern California, all three …

Over 100 fire scientists urge the U.S. West: Skip the fireworks this record-dry 4th of July
3 years, 5 months ago

Over 100 fire scientists urge the U.S. West: Skip the fireworks this record-dry 4th of July

Salon  

The heat wave hitting the northwestern U.S. and Canada has been shattering records, with temperatures 30 degrees Fahrenheit or more above normal. That's why over 100 fire scientists, including us, along with fire officials across the West, are urging people to skip the fireworks this Fourth of July and to avoid other activities that could start a blaze. Adapting to …

Could Climate Change Put Your Home At Risk? Here's What To Ask : Life Kit : NPR
3 years, 8 months ago

Could Climate Change Put Your Home At Risk? Here's What To Ask : Life Kit : NPR

NPR  

Is Your Home At Risk From Climate Change? More than 10 million apartments and houses have a substantial risk of flooding in the next 30 years — from sea level rise and storm surge along the coasts, and heavy rain and river flooding inland. Sponsor Message And yet, in most parts of the country, it is easy to move into …

Undisclosed: Fire And Flood Risk In The United States : Short Wave
4 years, 1 month ago

Undisclosed: Fire And Flood Risk In The United States : Short Wave

NPR  

Undisclosed: Fire And Flood Risk In The United States Enlarge this image toggle caption Ryan Kellman/NPR Ryan Kellman/NPR There have been many climate-related disasters this year, and along with those events come a heavy emotional and financial toll for residents. But what NPR climate reporters Rebecca Hersher and Lauren Sommer have found is that most people don't realize their wildfire …

Is Your Home At Risk Of Wildfire In A Changing Climate? 6 Questions To Ask
4 years, 2 months ago

Is Your Home At Risk Of Wildfire In A Changing Climate? 6 Questions To Ask

NPR  

Is Your Home At Risk Of Wildfire In A Changing Climate? 6 Questions To Ask Enlarge this image toggle caption Kaz Fantone/NPR Kaz Fantone/NPR Bigger and more destructive wildfires are on the rise in the U.S., driven in great part by a changing climate. So check with your local fire station, agency or community wildfire group, known as a fire …

Wildfire smoke in US exposes millions to hazardous pollution
4 years, 2 months ago

Wildfire smoke in US exposes millions to hazardous pollution

Associated Press  

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Wildfires churning out dense plumes of smoke as they scorch huge swaths of the U.S. West Coast have exposed millions of people to hazardous pollution levels, causing emergency room visits to spike and potentially thousands of deaths among the elderly and infirm, according to an Associated Press analysis of pollution data and interviews with physicians, health …

Opinion: Wildfires are increasingly destructive. We need to reevaluate how and where we build our homes
4 years, 2 months ago

Opinion: Wildfires are increasingly destructive. We need to reevaluate how and where we build our homes

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Alice Hill is the David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations and previously served as senior director for resilience policy in the Obama White House. In fact, a recent analysis of some areas that burned in Australia earlier this year revealed that “once a building catches fire, regardless of …

Wildfires have devastated my city. They’ll only get worse unless we force businesses to change (opinion)
4 years, 3 months ago

Wildfires have devastated my city. They’ll only get worse unless we force businesses to change (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Bob Litterman is a founding partner at Kepos Capital, the former head of risk management at Goldman Sachs and chaired the CFTC subcommittee that produced the Managing Climate Risk in the U.S. Financial System report. But last week, I found hope in – of all places – a Commodity Futures Trading Commission subcommittee charged with studying the threat …

Weather aids fight against US wildfires, but death toll climbs
4 years, 3 months ago

Weather aids fight against US wildfires, but death toll climbs

Al Jazeera  

Tens of thousands of people on the US West Coast have evacuated their homes as massive blazes continue to rage. Improved weather conditions on Saturday offered some hope to weary firefighters battling massive wildfires on the United States’ West Coast, authorities said, but the death toll linked to the fires has been steadily rising and tens of thousands of people …

Latest: Washington governor blames climate change for fires
4 years, 3 months ago

Latest: Washington governor blames climate change for fires

Associated Press  

The Latest on wildfires in the U.S. West : 3:30 p.m. SEATTLE — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says the fires devastating California and the Northwest shouldn’t be called wildfires, but “climate fires.” At a news conference Friday, the Democrat noted that the roughly 980 square miles burned in Washington in just the last five days amounts to the state’s second …

US wildfires: How climate change is spurring deadly blazes
4 years, 3 months ago

US wildfires: How climate change is spurring deadly blazes

Al Jazeera  

Increasingly dry conditions in arid western US states are making wildfires bigger and tougher to contain, expert says. San Francisco, United States – As deadly wildfires continue to burn in the US, from the Pacific Northwest down to the California-Mexico border, LeRoy Westerling has a sombre projection for beleaguered residents and exhausted firefighters: “It’s going to get worse.” Westerling, a …

‘Vote like your life depends on it — because it does’: Obama shares alarming pictures of West Coast fires in stark message about climate crisis
4 years, 3 months ago

‘Vote like your life depends on it — because it does’: Obama shares alarming pictures of West Coast fires in stark message about climate crisis

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Barack Obama has underlined the connection between the raging wildfires in America’s West and the …

Why wildfires are everyone’s problem
4 years, 4 months ago

Why wildfires are everyone’s problem

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “People globally should start to perceive wild land fires as part of the global climate crisis, and then, try …

Science Says: Climate change, people stoke California fires
4 years, 4 months ago

Science Says: Climate change, people stoke California fires

Associated Press  

If you want to build a fire, you need three things: Ignition, fuel and oxygen. The state burns regularly because of fierce autumn winds, invasive grasses that act as kindling, fire-happy native shrubs and trees, frequent drought punctuated by spurts of downpours, a century of fire suppression, people moving closer to the wild, homes that burn easily, people starting fires …

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