forest fire Archives - Disasters News

Jan152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

January 2025 USA in Fire Los Angeles Disaster Wildfires Destroy Thousands of Homes

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

January 2025 has brought devastating wildfires to the Los Angeles area with investigators racing to uncover their origins. The fires, driven by fierce winds, have ravaged thousands of homes, leaving communities in ruins. Early findings suggest that human activities, utility infrastructure, or equipment failures may be to blame, as lightning was absent during the outbreaks. Human activities play a significant role in igniting these blazes. The deadly 2023 Maui fire, for example, began with a broken power line, while California’s largest fire in 2024 started when a burning car was pushed into a ravine near Chico, destroying over 700 structures. This year’s fires are yet another reminder of the devastating impact of human-related ignitions. Wildfires thrive on three elements: conduc...

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Amazon Fires Intensify as Groundwater Depletion El Niño Fuel Catastrophic Events

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A groundbreaking study has demonstrated a clear link between climatic phenomena and the rising propensity for fires in the Amazon rainforest. Researchers have identified compromised groundwater storage, exacerbated by El Niño-driven droughts, as a critical factor in escalating fire risks. The findings, backed by satellite data and fire reports, could pave the way for more effective prevention strategies. Role of Groundwater and El Niño in Amazon Fires The study highlights that regions with depleted groundwater storage are at greater risk of fires during extreme droughts. Researchers observed that during El Niño events, prolonged dry conditions impact three key water reservoirs: topsoil, the tree root zone, and groundwater, with groundwater being the slowest to recover. El Niño, chara...

Oct12024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Virtual Training for Firefighters: iFire System Revolutionizes Preparedness for Extreme Wildfires

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

As summer draws near, the growing threat of bushfires in regions like Australia and the U.S. has intensified, with climate change making these fires larger, hotter, and faster than ever before. Notable events like Australia's 2019/2020 "Black Summer" megafires and the recent August 2023 Maui wildfires highlight the increasing frequency of these devastating disasters. Despite the crucial role firefighters play in battling these blazes, many are not fully prepared for the unpredictable and extreme nature of modern wildfires, putting their safety and decision-making at risk. In response to this, the University of New South Wales' (UNSW) iCinema Research Centre has developed a groundbreaking solution: iFire, an immersive virtual training system designed to prepare emergency responders for r...

Sep232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Wildfire Activity in Siberia Has Doubled Driven by Climate Change and Feedback Loops

Breaking News, Disasters

Wildfire activity in central Siberia has doubled over the past two decades, with vast areas of forest scorched and massive amounts of carbon released from rich soils and permafrost. While Arctic warming is known to exacerbate wildfires, the specific factors driving these events have been difficult to pinpoint, complicating future predictions. New research by Huang et al. sheds light on the key mechanisms behind this surge in wildfire activity. The team found that the increase in Siberian fires is strongly linked to drought, drying soils, and decreased rainfall all symptoms of Arctic climate change. More worryingly, they identified a feedback loop in which wildfires further suppress precipitation, worsening drought conditions and making the region even more fire-prone. How Wildfires S...

Sep232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Researchers Develop Advanced Imaging Method to Probe Volcanoes

Breaking News, Disasters

A team of researchers from the CNRS and the Paris Institute of Planetary Physics has developed an innovative method for creating high-resolution, deep imaging of volcanoes' internal structures. This breakthrough technique leverages a network of geophones devices that detect seismic waves to capture not only the strong movements caused by earthquakes but also the subtle seismic noise from wind, ocean waves, and human activities. The researchers applied this method to La Soufrière volcano in Guadeloupe, providing an unprecedented 3D view of the volcano’s internal structure to a depth of 10 kilometers with a resolution of around 100 meters. This new imaging technique confirmed the existence of a large magma storage zone, organized as a network of interconnected magma pockets beneath the vo...

Sep182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Finds Children Born in 2020 to Face Twice as Many Wildfires as Those Born in 1960

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Children born in 2020 are projected to experience double the number of wildfires over their lifetimes compared to those born in 1960, according to recent studies. In regions like California, wildfires have become a common occurrence during the summer and fall seasons, releasing harmful particulate matter (PM₂.₅) into the air that poses significant health risks. Wildfire-produced PM₂.₅ can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing immediate respiratory issues. While short-term exposure is linked to acute health problems like asthma, the long-term effects of repeated exposure are still unclear. A major challenge is accurately measuring wildfire-related PM₂.₅ exposure, as the intensity of pollution can vary drastically from day to day. Current methods of measuring annual average PM₂.₅, whi...

Apr292024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Forest Fires Rage On in Uttarakhand, New Blazes Ignite as Firefighting Efforts Continue

Breaking News, Disasters

Despite concerted efforts to bring the raging forest fires under control in Uttarakhand, the situation remains dire as eight new blazes erupted in the last 24 hours, further exacerbating the firefighting operation in the hill state. The Kumaon region, particularly Nainital district, has emerged as a hotspot for forest fires, with multiple areas engulfed in flames. Latest Updates: The fresh fires, which erupted on Saturday evening, have consumed 11.75 hectares of forest land, adding to the devastation that has ravaged 735.815 hectares since November 2023. According to the state forest department, many of the fires in Nainital and Pauri Garhwal were man-made, highlighting human negligence as a significant factor in exacerbating the crisis. Law enforcement agencies have taken ac...

Apr272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Nainital Forest Fire: Uttarakhand CM Calls Emergency Meeting as Blaze Threatens High Court Colony

Breaking News, Disasters

Since inception in 2000, Uttarakhand has witnessed over 54,800 hectares of forest land succumbing to the ravages of these fires, underscoring the urgent need for sustained efforts to mitigate this environmental crisis. Since November 1, 2023, Uttarakhand has witnessed a staggering 575 forest fire incidents, resulting in the destruction of over 689.89 hectares of forest land. The damage is widespread, with significant losses recorded in both the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, as well as in administrative wildlife areas. In the face of a relentless forest fire raging through Nainital district in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced an emergency meeting to address the escalating crisis. The inferno, which has persisted for over 36 hours, poses a grave threat to the...

Feb52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Deadly Forest Fires Ravage Chile, Leaving Dozens Dead and Thousands Displaced

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

In a devastating turn of events, Chile finds itself engulfed in a state of emergency as raging forest fires tear through the central regions of the country, claiming lives, destroying homes, and prompting widespread evacuations. With the death toll climbing and thousands displaced, authorities scramble to contain the infernos amid a sweltering heatwave exacerbating the crisis. The toll of the infernos is harrowing, with at least 64 lives lost and fears mounting that the number will soar as the blazes continue to ravage swathes of land. President Gabriel Boric, addressing the nation, grimly acknowledged, "We know that figure is going to grow, it’s going to grow significantly," underscoring the gravity of the situation. Amidst a Heatwave The fires, ignited two days ago, coincide wit...