Wildfires and other fire incidents

[weatheriscool]

Chicago has the worst air quality in the world due to Canadian wildfire smoke

BY CAITLIN O'KANE
UPDATED ON: JUNE 27, 2023 / 4:02 PM / CBS NEWS

Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit had some of the worst air quality in the world Tuesday as wildfire smoke from Quebec, Canada, seeps into the Midwest. The raging fires have been impacting parts of the U.S. since earlier this month, and all three cities hit the purple zone of the AQI, or air quality index. ... At one point on Tuesday, Chicago was at level 228, veering into the purple or "very unhealthy" zone, and nearby Milwaukee was at level 221, according to AirNow, a government site that measures air quality.

Maps that depict the current air quality in the U.S. show Illinois, Wisconsin and parts of surrounding states like Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan are in the red or "unhealthy" zone and some people may experience health effects, according to AirNow.

The East Coast of the U.S., which suffered dangerous air quality from the Canadian wildfires earlier this month, now appears mostly clear, but some areas are in the yellow or "moderate" zone, which means the air quality is acceptable but could pose a risk for some people.

According to IQ Air, which monitors the air quality index around the world, major midwestern cities Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit had some of the worst air quality in the world, with Dubai as well as Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan, also high on the list. Chicago topped the list at times Tuesday.

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Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicago-wo ... e-27-2023/

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[Powers]

https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/interactive-map
https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/maps/fw

[weatheriscool]

Smoke from Canadian wildfires creates unhealthy conditions from Montana to Ohio
Source: AP

Published 10:56 AM CDT, July 16, 2023

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency posted air quality alerts for several states stretching from Montana to Ohio on Sunday because of smoke blowing in from Canadian wildfires.

“Air Quality alerts are in place for much of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern High Plains,” the National Weather Service said. “This is due to the lingering thick concentration of Canadian wildfire smoke over these regions. While the concentration of smoke in the atmosphere should begin to wain by Monday, there is still enough smoke to support unhealthy air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of these regions into the start of the upcoming week.”

The U.S. EPA’s AirNow air quality page rated the air in Chicago as “unhealthy” as of 9 a.m. CDT Sunday. And in Michigan, state environmental officials said the air “is unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advised people in the state to check the Air Quality Index regularly to decide if they should be participating in outdoor activities.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/air-quality- ... 2a998abde9

[wjfox]

Greece fires: Thousands flee homes and hotels on Rhodes as fires spread

12 minutes ago

Thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and hotels on the island of Rhodes, according to Greece's fire service.

Private boats have joined the Greek coastguard in helping to pick up people from beaches on the east of the island.

Greek navy vessels are also reported to be heading to the area, which is popular with tourists.

Greece's deputy fire chief said the fires on Rhodes are the most difficult his service is currently facing.

No injuries have been reported, according to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Greece.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66279520

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[weatheriscool]

Greek authorities evacuate some 19,000 people as wildfire blazes on the island of Rhodes
Source: AP

By DEMETRIS NELLAS
Published 4:14 AM CDT, July 23, 2023

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Some 19,000 people have been evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires continued burning for a sixth day on three fronts, Greek authorities said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection said it was “the largest evacuation from a wildfire in the country.”

Local police said that 16,000 people were evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea from 12 villages and several hotels. Six people were briefly hospitalized with respiratory problems and were later released. A person who fell and broke their leg during a hotel evacuation and a pregnant woman remain hospitalized, the latter in good condition, authorities say.

Package holiday companies TUI and Jet2 have canceled flights to Rhodes. Jet2 said it was canceling five flights due to leave for Rhodes on Sunday. It said it would fly the five planes to Rhodes empty to bring back customers on the island. TUI said it was canceling all its flights to the island until at least Tuesday.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-rho ... 2afa7fafd1

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[raklian]

Looks like the right wingtip grazed the treetops.

[wjfox]

Wildfires latest: Landmines 'explode' near Dubrovnik after wildfires

Updated 6 minutes ago

Landmines exploded near Croatia’s southern city of Dubrovnik as a wildfire raged in the area, local media reported.

Fire-fighters and water-bombing planes battled the blaze, which was located roughly 7.5 miles from the famous medieval city, authorities said.

The fire reportedly triggered landmines that still litter the outskirts of Dubrovnik, relics of Croatia’s war of independence in the early 1990s.

There were no evacuations of the nearby population, according to the firefighters association.

The incident came as deadly fires have ravaged swaths of the Mediterranean region in recent days, including neighbouring Greece and across the Adriatic in Italy.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/ ... y-updates/

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Brush fire kills 2 and destroys 9 homes in suburban Tacoma, Washington
Source: AP

Updated 9:23 PM CDT, August 4, 2023

LAKEWOOD, Wash. (AP) — A fast-moving brush fire killed two people and destroyed nine mobile homes Friday in a suburb of Tacoma, Washington, according to fire officials.

Firefighters responded to the fire in Lakewood on Friday afternoon, West Pierce Fire & Rescue said. The blaze started as a brush fire that extended to the Jamestown Estates Mobile Home Park, officials said.

Nine mobile homes are total losses, and five others sustained heavy damage.

Firefighters found two victims during the process of accounting for all the residents Friday evening, officials said. No additional information about the people who died was immediately released. Firefighters were still working to gain access to all of the homes involved, officials said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/fire-homes-d ... 33f38c2dba

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At least 6 killed in wildfires that devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui, official says

BY JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER

KAHULUI, Hawaii (AP) — A wildfire tore through the heart of Maui on Wednesday with alarming speed and ferocity, destroying dozens of homes and businesses in a historic tourist town, killing at least six people and injuring at least two dozen others, and forcing panicked residents to jump into the ocean to flee the flames.

Fire was widespread in Lahaina Town, including on Front Street, a popular shopping and dining area, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said by phone early Wednesday.

Photos posted by the county overnight showed a line of flames blazing across an intersection and leaping above buildings in the town center that dates to the 1700s and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Aerial video from after sunrise revealed entire blocks of buildings reduced to ash and thick smoke in the air.

Fire crews on Maui were battling multiple blazes concentrated in two areas: the popular tourist destination of West Maui and an inland, mountainous region. It wasn’t immediately known how many buildings had burned, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said in a phone interview late Tuesday.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildf ... 98263720db

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[weatheriscool]

At least 36 people have died in fires burning through Hawaii, county reports

Source: AP

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — At least 36 people have died in the Lahaina fire in Hawaii, Maui County wrote in a statement posted to the county website Wednesday evening.

Wildfires, whipped by strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south, took the island of Maui by surprise, leaving behind burned-out cars on once busy streets and smoking piles of rubble where historic buildings had stood. Flames roared throughout the night, forcing adults and children to dive into the ocean for safety.

Officials said earlier that 271 structures were damaged or destroyed and dozens of people injured.

On Wednesday, crews were continuing to battle blazes in several places on the island. Authorities urged visitors to stay away.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildf ... d7f10faa94