Tag: Wildfire Risk

San Jose brush fire burns near homes before progress stopped

Posted on by Leave a comment
firefighters standing on the grass

A brush fire burned close to homes in San Jose on Friday before firefighters stopped its forward progress. The fire burned in the Communications Hill area of South San Jose near the Sunshine Hill Cross and began at around 11:15 a.m. The San Jose Fire Department said it burned about seven acres close to the Chateau La Salle mobile home park. The fire’s forward progress was stopped at 12:03 p.m., the Fire Department said.  No structures were burned and there were no reports of any injuries. The cause of the fire was not immediately determined.

Source: San Jose brush fire burns near homes before progress stopped – CBS San Francisco

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:4

Climbing Your Mountain

Pip: A mountain village, a wandering stranger, a mother weaving a basket by the river — Drink of Jesus has been building a world where ancient scripture lands…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Utah declares emergency, limits fireworks ahead of July Fourth as crews battle largest U.S. wildfire

Posted on by Leave a comment

Utah restricted fireworks and declared a state of emergency Friday ahead of July Fourth celebrations as the United States’ largest wildfire expanded its reach across more tinder-dry forest, as crews rush to fight new blazes in the arid state. The National Weather Service issued a rare “Particularly Dangerous Situation” warning as dry, windy conditions provided fuel for more fires across the western U.S. The Cottonwood Fire in a sparsely populated area of southern Utah started Monday. It ballooned to more than 112 square miles by Friday, burning unchecked as strong winds grounded air support, forestry officials said.

One of six large wildfires burning in Utah, it severely damaged the Eagle Point ski resort in Beaver County, forcing mandatory evacuations.  As of Friday evening, Utah had 10 active wildfires burning across more than 144,700 acres, according to the state’s wildfire dashboard. The Cottonwood Fire had burned nearly 72,000 acres and is at 0% containment.  “We have the 35 miles-per-hour sustained winds that they predicted, and we definitely have the 45 miles-per-hour gusts,” said Alyssa Mason, a spokesperson assigned to the fire. “So there has been a great increase in the fire activity. We are seeing extreme fire behavior out there with some crown runs and definitely some spotting.”

The smoke has been pushing to the east and northeast, meaning air quality at popular vacation spots like Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks — located far south of the flames — hasn’t been significantly affected beyond some haze in the Bryce area. Still, visitors to Bryce have posted videos on social media showing the giant plume in the distance. The smoke could be seen for hundreds of miles, all the way to Colorado, as authorities put roughly 1,300 residents in the towns of Marysvale, Junction and Circleville on notice that they should be prepared to leave if conditions worsen and the fire pushes farther.  State forester Jamie Barnes had said Thursday that it’s like nothing seen in recent memory. She said fires are spreading farther and faster “under conditions that defy historical expectations.”

Bruce Brown, 76, accompanied the sheriff on Thursday to find that his cabin and others in the area were gone. He found a burned-out moonscape with power poles tipped over along the canyon. Alyssa Olsen, 27, said her family’s cabin also burned. It was the last place they gathered for family photos with her grandmother before she died of cancer. Her brother was planning to get married there in two months. “That stuff you can’t just build back,” Olsen said. Gov. Spencer Cox set the temporary fireworks restrictions through July 5 as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, saying “this year is different.” The weather service in Salt Lake City, for the first time in the office’s history, issued a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” warning for five Utah counties, including the area of the Cottonwood Fire.

The rare alert was first used to warn of tornado conditions. A red flag warning was also issued for most of the state. “Prepare now for rapid fire growth,” it said. A similar “dangerous situation” warning had been issued for the 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. A federal judge declared a mistrial Friday in the arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of sparking that fire. The jury said it couldn’t agree on a verdict. While the Cottonwood Fire’s cause was unknown, Cox’s order noted that humans have been the cause of most fires in the state so far this year. Utah has seen 376 wildfires this year, and 273 of those were caused by humans, according to Utah’s wildfire data.

wildfire spreads through poprad woodlands

The governor’s order gives Barnes power to restrict or prohibit fireworks displays in Utah’s cities and towns, instead of leaving those decisions to the communities. With extreme fire conditions persisting, Rocky Mountain Power issued a public safety power shut-off watch/warning for areas of central, southern and eastern Utah through the weekend. Crews were also battling the Iron Fire southwest of Salt Lake City. The flames on Thursday forced the temporary evacuation of Eureka, population 1,000. Red flag warnings, which mean conditions such as low humidity, warm temperatures and strong winds can create an extreme wildfire risk, were in effect Friday and stretched from Idaho to southern Arizona and New Mexico.

The warnings extended into Saturday, with forecasters predicting winds of 25 to 35 miles an hour and very low humidity levels. The worst conditions were expected from northern Arizona into central and southern Utah. Much of Utah already is experiencing severe to extreme drought, while parts of Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico are experiencing severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Tim Brown, a research professor and director of the Western Regional Climate Center, said the potential for extreme fire behavior will remain as long as it’s hot, dry and windy. “I would not be surprised to see a lot of restrictions come out as we get closer to the July Fourth weekend,” he said.

“People really need to be aware of their surroundings if they’re going to be out in the forested campground areas and grassland areas.” Even in Florida, where there have been multiple brush fires, authorities are urging people to skip the personal fireworks and instead leave the pyrotechnics to professionals putting on carefully planned shows. In Utah, federal land managers have closed public lands near the Cottonwood Fire as a precaution, and in New Mexico, forest officials closed campgrounds and trails near a wildfire burning in the Jemez Mountains. Nationally, nearly 3 million acres have burned since the start of the year, pushing the U.S. ahead of the 10-year average. The National Interagency Fire Center said firefighters are making progress on containing fires from Alaska to Florida. 

Source: Utah declares emergency, limits fireworks ahead of July Fourth as crews battle largest U.S. wildfire – CBS Colorado

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 3:21-22

Peace in the Storm

God does not always remove the storm immediately, but He promises peace in the middle of it. His presence calms fearful hearts.  Bible Verse: “Peace I leave with…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Northern Minnesota wildfire prompts evacuations near Burntside Lake

Posted on by Leave a comment
photo of burning forest

Officials ordered residents to evacuate Monday afternoon as crews work to extinguish a wildfire in northern Minnesota. The U.S. Forest Service says the fire is located in the Superior National Forest northwest of the North Arm of the Burntside Lake area, approximately eight miles northwest of Ely. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said agencies initially responded to the report of black smoke coming from the north side of Birch Bay on Burntside Lake around 2:56 p.m. Evacuations are in effect in the area of Lindskog Road and the southernmost part of North Arm Road in Morse Township as a precaution, according to the sheriff’s office. On Monday afternoon and evening, fire personnel and aircraft were responding to the fire, which is estimated to be 30 acres in size. The sheriff’s office says the Forest Service will monitor it overnight and firefighting efforts will start again on Tuesday morning. As of Monday night, no structures have been lost as a result of the blaze.

Source: Northern Minnesota wildfire prompts evacuations near Burntside Lake – CBS Minnesota

Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You.
Psalm 38:9

Prayer for Boldness; Acts 4:24-31

When opposition rises against God’s people, the natural response is often fear. Yet the early church teaches us that the answer to intimidation is not retreat, but prayer to have supernatural boldness.…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Minnesota governor declares peacetime emergency, activates National Guard for wildfire response

Posted on by Leave a comment
national guard soldiers on duty outdoors

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the National Guard to help battle several major wildfires in the state. In Crow Wing County, the Flanders Fire has grown to an estimated 1,200 acres. As of Sunday morning, it is 0% contained. Another fire, several miles north of Two Harbors, has burned more than 350 acres and is 30% contained. “Unpredictable and fast-moving wildfires are putting Minnesota communities at risk,” Walz said.

“This emergency declaration ensures we can fully mobilize the resources needed to protect lives, support evacuations, and help communities respond and recover. I’m grateful to the firefighters, members of the Minnesota National Guard, and all our first responders working around the clock to keep Minnesotans safe.” Walz says the peacetime emergency will remain in effect “until emergency conditions subside” or on June 7, whichever happens first.

Source: Minnesota governor declares peacetime emergency, activates National Guard for wildfire response – CBS Minnesota

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Robin Williams as the American Flag

Robin Williams portrays the American flag in “I Love Liberty,” a two-hour television special created by Norman Lear and presented by People For the American Way. Source: (630) Robin Williams…

Keep reading

The Story of America: John Adams

The White House Salute to America 250 Task Force has partnered with Hillsdale College to provide a history series that tells the remarkable story of American Independence. It will highlight…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Wildfire burns around 100 acres in northeastern Minnesota; evacuations advised

Posted on by Leave a comment
burning bonfire with sparkles in darkness

Crews are working to put out a wildfire in Lake County that has burned around 100 acres, the Minnesota Incident Command System said Friday night. The blaze, identified by the agency as the Stewart Trail Fire, was detected on Friday afternoon near Lake County Highway 3 and Highway 61, north of Two Harbors, Minnesota. Officials said in a Facebook post at 8:27 p.m. that the fire was 0% contained and that multiple local, state and federal agencies were responding to it.  “

Firefighters are working to establish a containment line around the fire with handlines and heavy equipment, such as dozers, and are expected to remain engaged overnight as conditions permit,” the agency said in the social media post Friday. Evacuations have been advised between where the fire was first detected and Castle Danger Brewery, according to a map created by county officials. Officials said Highway 61 at Highway 2 and West Castle Danger Road in Lake County were closed Friday night due to the blaze, and Betty’s Pies, a popular restaurant in Two Harbors, posted on social media that it closed early on Friday. 

Source: Wildfire burns around 100 acres in northeastern Minnesota; evacuations advised – CBS Minnesota

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 6:14

George Washington on Freedom of Speech

George Washington never wrote a single famous statement that exactly says “freedom of speech” in the way many internet memes claim. However, throughout his writings and public addresses, he strongly supported the principles of…

Keep reading

Why Waiting on God is Always Worth It

What feels late to us is often perfectly timed by God. Heaven’s clock never runs behind schedule. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise… but is longsuffering to us-ward.” — 2 Peter 3:9…

Keep reading

ICE Deports MS-13 Member With Cartel Ties

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has deported a self-admitted MS-13 gang member with ties to Mexico’s Cartel del Noreste after he completed a prison sentence in Texas, Newsmax learned exclusively Thursday. According to the…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Red flag warning issued in central, northwestern Minnesota Friday afternoon

Posted on by Leave a comment
aerial view of wildfire in south african grassland

A red flag warning will go into effect Friday afternoon in northwestern and central Minnesota due to extreme fire risk conditions, the state’s Department of Natural Resources says. The warning is issued for 24 counties and will last from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

The impacted counties include: Becker, Benton, Cass, Chippewa, Clay, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Norman, Otter Tail, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Wadena and Wilkin.

The DNR says it will not issue or activate burning permits during that time, and will dissuade people from starting campfires. Residents are also encouraged to check any recent burn sites to ensure the fires are completely out. “Fine fuels, such as grass and small twigs, can dry out quickly when the relative humidity is so low and wind pick up,” said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist. “These fine fuels can easily ignite and start a wildfire that spreads quickly.”

Source: Red flag warning issued in central, northwestern Minnesota Friday afternoon – CBS Minnesota

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Dry conditions, high winds, feeding wildfire risk in parts of Michigan

Posted on by Leave a comment
the straits of mackinac under the mackinac bridge

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says elevated fire danger has been observed across parts of the state.  The conditions are fueled by downed trees and branches left by the March 2025 ice storm. The severe weather at the time damaged around 3 million acres of land. “Even with the heavy rains this spring, recent drier weather in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Michigan means that last year’s grasses and leaves are becoming dry and will readily burn,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  “In the ice storm area from last spring, the downed wood has been on the ground for a year, is starting to dry out, and can contribute to much hotter and more dangerous conditions if a fire gets started. While the temperatures have dropped, we are expecting to see elevated fire danger continue as we get closer to the weekend.” 

Source: Dry conditions, high winds, feeding wildfire risk in parts of Michigan – CBS Detroit

How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.