TheRepublic.com - Natural hazards News

New Colo. wildfire prompts evacuations of homes

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:28:21 -0400

EVERGREEN, Colorado - A new wildfire in the foothills southwest of Denver forced the evacuation of dozens of homes Wednesday as hot and windy conditions in the West made it easy for fires to start and spread.

Hundreds more allowed back home in Calif. wildfire

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:26:28 -0400

MARIPOSA, California - Hundreds of Northern California residents were allowed to return to their homes, as crews aided by lower temperatures and higher humidity extended their lines Wednesday night around a wildfire near a main route into Yosemite National Park, officials said.

Wildfire burning 5 miles east of Tusayan

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:01:04 -0400

TUSAYAN, Arizona - Authorities say there's a new wildfire burning in northern Arizona and smoke is visible from Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding areas.

Hundreds displaced by wildfire near Prescott

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:26:12 -0400

PRESCOTT, Arizona - Firefighters largely kept control of a blaze burning in Arizona's Prescott National Forest and spared any homes from destruction but were preparing for what should be another windy, hot day Thursday.

Investigators 'zeroing in' on Colo. wildfire start

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:40:22 -0400

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - Rain helped firefighters douse Colorado's most destructive wildfire in state history, while a new wind-whipped blaze in California forced evacuations and threatened homes Monday near Yosemite National Park.

Colorado Editorial Roundup

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:23:32 -0400

A sampling of recent editorials from Colorado newspapers:

Alaska receives donation for debris removal

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:07:08 -0400

JUNEAU, Alaska - The state has received a $19,000 donation for marine debris cleanup on Alaska shores.

Week-old SoCal wildfire 63 percent contained

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:47:05 -0400

BANNING, California - Firefighters are making slow but steady progress against a wildfire that has been burning in a rugged wilderness area of the San Bernardino National Forest near Banning for a week.

Southwestern Colo. fires prompt health warning

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:16:23 -0400

PAGOSA SPRINGS, Colorado - Two backcountry wildfires in southwestern Colorado are expected to continue sending smoke into nearby towns, including Pagosa Springs.

Crews tackle small wildfire northwest of Flagstaff

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:40:04 -0400

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona - Forest officials have shut down a popular lava tube cave near Flagstaff as crews tackle a small wildfire burning in the area.

Claims seek payment for damages from 2011 NM fire

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:17:32 -0400

SANTA FE, New Mexico - The federal government is being asked to cough up more than $60 million for damages from the 2011 Las Conchas fire and subsequent flooding in northern New Mexico.

Wildfires prompt Pecos Wilderness trail closures

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:15:25 -0400

TAOS, New Mexico - Officials on the Carson National Forest have decided to close trails in the Camino Real Ranger District that access the Pecos Wilderness.

Southern California wildfire slowly grows

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:37:35 -0400

BANNING, California - A Southern California forest fire continues to grow and has now burned an outbuilding in a remote and rugged area east of Los Angeles.

Dud artillery shells left above Yellowstone pass

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:50:11 -0400

JACKSON, Wyoming - An unknown number of dud artillery rounds litter the slopes above a remote pass inside Yellowstone National Park, but there are no plans to find and safely detonate them or stop the avalanche control program that uses artillery shells to keep the pass open during the winter.

Dud artillery shells left above Yellowstone pass

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:39:10 -0400

No-go for Wash. to use drone to combat wildfires

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 13:07:36 -0400

SEATTLE - As the dry weather sets in and the wildfire season beckons, Washington state won't have an aerial drone to help combat the expected blazes.

Fire danger prompts closures in Albuquerque area

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:04:18 -0400

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - High fire danger is prompting land managers around Albuquerque to close some areas.

E. Oregon fire fears not eased by late May rain

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:41:13 -0400

BAKER CITY, Oregon - A soggy end to May made Eastern Oregon's drought look a trifle less dire on paper, but Jason Simmons isn't worried about paper.

NM wildfire threatens native cutthroat trout

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:58:20 -0400

PECOS, New Mexico - Nearly 50 native Rio Grande cutthroat trout have been rescued from a creek that's being threatened by a wildfire in northern New Mexico.

Fenton Lake closed due to safety issues

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:02:00 -0400

JEMEZ SPRINGS, New Mexico - Officials with the New Mexico State Parks division have decided to close Fenton Lake due to safety issues related to firefighting efforts.

Forest Service to hire 500 fewer firefighters

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:23:56 -0400

WASHINGTON - As dry conditions set the stage for another difficult fire season, the Forest Service said Tuesday it will hire 500 fewer firefighters than last year because of automatic spending cuts imposed by Congress.

Lull in winds aids fight against Calif. wildfire

Tue, 28 May 2013 23:01:25 -0400

SANTA BARBARA, California - Firefighters took advantage of a lull in winds on Tuesday to gain ground against a forest fire in mountains northwest of Santa Barbara, California, as some crews were diverted to a second fire that broke out nearby and jumped two highways.

Hurricane center: Beware of the storm surge

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:49:14 -0400

MIAMI - During a hurricane, storm surge is one of the greatest threats to life and land, yet many people don't understand the dire warnings from forecasters to get out of its way. So this season, they hope to offer easy-to-understand, color-coded maps and change the way they talk to the public.

Wildfire bills get Colorado governor's signature

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:06:10 -0400

CORTEZ, Colorado - Wildfire prevention measures passed after Colorado's tragic wildfire season last year have been signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

1-3 tropical cyclones expected for central Pacific

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:10:14 -0400

HONOLULU - It's looking like it'll be a below-normal hurricane season for the central Pacific.