Wildfires, Smoky Skies Take Toll on State Tourism Industry
Alarmed by as much as $20 million in lost tourism revenue in July due to visitors' fear of wildfires, the state tourism agency is struggling to reassure tourists it's safe to visit.
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Alarmed by as much as $20 million in lost tourism revenue in July due to visitors' fear of wildfires, the state tourism agency is struggling to reassure tourists it's safe to visit.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for a neighborhood near Healdsburg where a brush fire quickly spread to within yards of homes.
Officials with Cal Fire confirmed Monday evening that a firefighter has died from injuries sustained while fighting the Ranch Fire in Lake County.
A grass fire that burned one home and scorched 2,162 acres near Interstate 80 in Fairfield is completely contained as of Sunday morning.
A heavy equipment operator assigned to the Cal Fire crews battling the Carr Fire was killed Thursday in a traffic accident, authorities said.
Cal Fire officials have issued a ban on all outdoor burning due to extreme fire conditions from Contra Costa County to Santa Clara County and western San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
Wildfire victims from the Bay Area rallied at the California State Capitol Wednesday to push back against a plan to shield utility companies from financial liability in large fires.
Some 14,000 firefighters, including inmate volunteers, are battling 18 major blazes burning thousands of square miles throughout California with aircraft, assorted vehicles and picks and shovels.
Wildfires fueled by dry vegetation and hot, windy weather continued to grow Saturday in Mendocino and Lake counties, destroying 55 homes and forcing thousands of residents to flee.
There is nothing easy or simple about the battle being waged against the 16 major wildfires raging throughout California.
Gov. Jerry Brown and other state officials Wednesday warned California residents to be prepared for larger and more destructive wildfires this year.
Since it broke out last Monday, the Carr fire has scorched 154 square miles, but they worst may be over for neighborhoods near Redding.
A Redding man who lost his wife and two grandchildren on Sunday told the heartbreaking story of hearing their last words as they asked for help as the Carr Fire raced up a hill to engulf their home.
Additional mandatory evacuations for Trinity County were announced Sunday night for the massive Carr Fire, according to authorities.
President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for California on Saturday, allowing counties affected by wildfires to receive federal assistance.
Fire officials said they expect by Saturday evening to completely contain the 247-acre Marsh Fire that started Wednesday south of Clayton.
The death count from the rapidly-growing Carr Fire rose to five Saturday after two young children and their great-grandmother who had been unaccounted for were confirmed dead.
Two blazes burning 30 miles apart are threatening dozens of buildings and have prompted mandatory evacuations in Mendocino County and Lake County.
The Carr Fire has now damaged or destroyed 500 structures and it is threatening 5,000 more. More than 37,000 people have been evacuated.
The Carr Fire tore through two small communities Thursday before reaching the city of Redding, killing a bulldozer operator, burning three firefighters, destroying dozens of homes and forcing thousands to flee.
Firefighters are starting to get an upper hand on a wildfire that started Wednesday afternoon and burned quickly south of Clayton.
The Ferguson fire burning just west of Yosemite National Park is steadily growing Saturday after two more firefighters were injured while battling the flames in blazing summer heat.
Gov. Brown ordered flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff to honor firefighter Braden Varney who died fighting the still-growing Ferguson Fire in the Sierra foothills.
A Cal Fire heavy equipment operator was killed Saturday while battling a wildfire burning near Yosemite National Park.
The County Fire burning in Yolo and Napa counties east of Lake Berryessa is 95 percent contained this morning, Cal Fire said.
