15 years since Highway 31 Fire raged through 19,000+ acres in South Carolina

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Monday marked 15 years since the massive and destructive wildfire on Highway 31 that consumed more than 19,000 acres. The South Carolina Forestry Commission said it was the most destructive wildfire in South Carolina history and was started by an escaped debris burn near Myrtle Beach. The blaze, known as the Highway 31 Fire, destroyed 76 homes, damaged another 97 and forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents. The South Carolina Forestry Commission urges all citizens to exercise vigilance when conducting outdoor burning of any kind and always heed weather, wind and burning advisories.
WPDE-TV ABC/CW 15 Florence

Evacuation order to remain in place for Bowers Fire in Arizona

VIDEOS: The Whetstone Fire Department released new information about the Bowers Fire in Whetstone that caused evacuations near Sanders and Bowers roads late Monday, April 22. Whetstone Fire Chief Sam Foster says the 20 acre fire has destroyed three houses and several outbuildings so far. He said two people have been hurt. One person suffered smoke inhalation and the other suffered burns. Both victims were trying to save their homes. Whetstone Fire says the Bowers Fire is about 20% contained as of this morning and crews from several agencies will continue fire suppression efforts today. The fire chief says the Bowers Fire got out of control Monday night due to strong winds and the amount of fuel such as high grass and cottonwoods. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
KOLD-TV CBS 13 Tucson

Understanding wildfire behavior and fuel types in western South Dakota

VIDEO: Wildfire season in Western South Dakota is approaching as temperatures begin to rise. To prepare, it's important to understand the differences in vegetation and how they burn across the region's distinct habitats: the Black Hills and the Western Plains. Mike Reed, District Program Manager at SD Wildland Fire, says, "In the plains area, it’s grass field type. The primary carrier there is grass, and then until you get into some of the river breaks, and we'll have some timber in there." Reed says that in the Black Hills, the primary vegetation consists of Ponderosa pine trees, with a grass or brush understory. Understory refers to the fuels on the forest floor. In the Black Hills, it's essential to manage the understory burn while preserving the canopy of trees to maintain the ecosystem's health.
KNBN-TV NBC/MyNetworkTV/YTA TV 21 Rapid City

Preparing Tomorrow’s Firefighters: The 2024 Alaska Basic Wildland Firefighter Academy

From April 21st to April 30th, 25 aspiring firefighters from across Alaska are gathered at Birchwood Camp in Chugiak for the 2024 Alaska Basic Wildland Firefighter Academy. Cadets are pushed to their limits, both physically and mentally. Through teamwork, discipline, and unwavering determination, they learn to overcome obstacles, persevere in the face of adversity, and emerge as stronger, more confident wildland firefighters. The Alaska Basic Wildland Firefighter Academy is more than just a training program; it is a rite of passage. Over the course of ten intense days, cadets undergo rigorous physical training, classroom instruction, and hands-on firefighting exercises. From grasping the intricacies of firefighting tools, portable pumps, and chain saws, to gaining insight into fire behavior and safety protocols, they delve into a comprehensive curriculum crafted to lay the groundwork for their careers.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information

Range Fire in Arizona burns 1,100+ acres; 85% contained

A wildfire continues to burn outside of a small Pinal County town this weekend. According to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the Range Fire started on Saturday and has burned 1,183 acres near the Arizona National Guard Weapons Training Range along State Route 79, just outside of Florence. In an update on Sunday evening, officials said that warm weather has increased fire activity and pushed it east off the Arizona National Guard Training Range onto State Trust lands. The fire was 85% contained as of 8 p.m. Sunday and will continue to be monitored by aircraft. Officials said that due to safety reasons, crews had to wait for the fire to come out of the National Guard area before they could fight the flames. The department says 54 people are working to put out the blaze.
KTVK-TV CBS 3 & KPHO-TV CBS 5 Phoenix (AZ Family)

Rash of wildfires break out across Maine

A host of wildfires broke out across Maine Friday amid windy and dry weather. The Maine Forest Rangers reported Friday night there were wildfires and open burns that got out of control in 18 communities: Anson, Hodgdon, Brownville, Orneville, Township, Whiting, Manchester, Kenduskeag, Greenwood, Wiscasset, Staceyville, Deer Isle, Albion, Sangerville, Sumner, Oakfield, Fairfield, Clinton, and Woodville. The Orneville fire spread across 8.5 acres, the rangers said. Though there's been a lot of rain this spring, moisture levels have been low recently for "fine fuels" like grass, needles, and small twigs that can easily catch fire, the rangers said in a Facebook post. "These fuels dry out very rapidly in direct sunlight, with light winds and with low relative humidity," the rangers said. "Fires in these fuels start easily, burn intensely and spread rapidly."
WCSH-TV NBC 6 Portland

Colorado researcher finds wildfires are increasing in wildland-urban interface

VIDEO: A new study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) shows that burned areas in the wildland-urban interface have increased by 35% since 2005 and that trend will likely continue for at least two more decades. The Marshall Fire in 2021 happened in the wildland-urban interface, or WUI, which is where the urban population starts to blend with the wildland vegetation. Wildfires in that type of area are expanding across the globe. NCAR researcher Wenfu Tang used machine learning and satellite data to map out the increases, including in North America, between 2001 and 2020. She said there has been an increase because the wildland-urban interface is expanding as more people move closer to forested areas. More people means more potential fire ignitions – and more potential damages.
KUSA-TV NBC 9 Denver