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As if they aren't already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather. The National Weather Service warned Tuesday that the combination of high winds and severely dry conditions have created a particularly dangerous situation in which any new fire could explode in size. The advisory, which runs into Wednesday, didn't mention tornadoes, but meteorologist Todd Hall said they're possible given the extreme conditions. A look at fire tornados: What is a fire tornado? Fire whirl, fire devil, fire tornado or even firenado scientists, firefighters and regular folks use multiple terms to describe similar phenomena, and they don't always agree on what's what. Some say fire whirls are formed only by heat, while fire tornados involve clouds generated by the fire itself. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group's glossary of wildland fire terms doesn't include an entry for fire torna
Multiple massive wildfires tore across the Los Angeles area with devastating force Wednesday, destroying more than 1,000 structures and killing at least two people as desperate residents escaped through flames, ferocious winds and towering clouds of smoke. Three major blazes were burning in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, home of the famed Rose Parade. With thousands of firefighters already attacking the flames, the Los Angeles Fire Department put out a plea for off-duty firefighters to help, and weather conditions were too windy for firefighting aircraft to fly, further hampering the fight. Fire officials hoped to get the flights up later Wednesday. In addition to the two deaths, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said many others were hurt in the fires, which threatened at least 28,000 structures. Images of the devastation showed luxurious homes that had collapsed in a whirlwind of flaming embers. The tops of palm trees whipped against
The remaining seven victims continue to receive treatment at the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute in Hubbali
Southern California firefighters made progress against a wildfire that has destroyed 132 structures, mostly houses, and was fanned by gusty winds that began easing Friday, allowing some people to return to sort through the charred remains of their homes. Maryanne Belote returned to her hillside neighbourhood in Camarillo, a city northwest of Los Angeles, after making a harrowing escape with her cat, her dog and her horses as the blaze raged in the area. The only thing standing was a rock wall she built. If I hadn't gotten the horses, I would have been devastated, but I have my family and I have my animals so, I'm OK. I will rebuild, she said standing outside the remains of her home of 50 years while her dog stayed in her car. The Mountain Fire started Wednesday morning in Ventura County and had grown to 32 square miles (about 83 square kilometers). It was 14% contained Friday evening. Bill Nardoni and his family sifted through the rubble of their Camarillo home on Friday afternoon
An engine failure on a passenger plane taking off from Sydney, Australia on Friday prompted the aircraft to circle before a safe emergency landing, the airline Qantas said. At the same time, a grass fire broke out along one side of a runway, Sydney Airport said in a statement. It was not known if the two events were linked. The fire has been brought under control, but flight delays are expected. Qantas did not say how many passengers were on board the twin jet Boeing 737-800 bound for Brisbane when the engine failed with a loud bang. No injuries were reported. We understand this would have been a distressing experience for customers and we will be contacting all customers this afternoon to provide support," Qantas Chief Pilot Captain Richard Tobiano said in a statement. We will also be conducting an investigation into what caused the engine issue. Sydney Airport said its main runway was still in service. The grass fire broke out along the side of a parallel runway which was being .
A massive fire broke out in a fire in factory located in outer Delhi's Alipur area on Saturday evening, an official said. A call regarding the fire at the factory in the Firni area of Alipur was received around 4 pm and 30 fire tenders were pressed into service, the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official said. No one has been injured in the blaze and a dousing operation is underway, he said.
Florida's storm-battered Gulf Coast raced against a Category 5 hurricane on Monday as workers sprinted to pick up heaps of appliances and other street debris left over from Helene two weeks ago and highways were clogged with people fleeing ahead of the storm. The centre of Hurricane Milton could come ashore on Wednesday in the Tampa Bay region, which has not endured a direct hit by a major hurricane in more than a century. Scientists expect the system to weaken slightly before landfall, though it could retain hurricane strength as it churns across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean. That would largely spare other states ravaged by Helene, which killed at least 230 people on its path from Florida to the Carolinas. This is the real deal here with Milton, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told a news conference. If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100 per cent of the time. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Monday that it was imperative for debris from Helene to be cleared ahead
Realtors' body NAREDCO has signed an agreement with Fire and Security Association of India (FSAI) to enhance standards related to fire safety in real estate projects. The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FSAI to collaborate on improving fire safety, life safety, and security standards in India's real estate sector, according to a statement. FSAI is a leading organization with expertise in fire protection, life safety, security, building automation, loss prevention, and risk management. NAREDCO said the partnership aims to foster the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and technical advancements in fire protection, life safety, and security systems for the benefit of real estate stakeholders across the country. G Hari Babu, National President of NAREDCO, said, "The combined efforts of both organizations will enhance building safety, streamline regulations, and promote sustainable practices in India's urban ...
The wildfire that killed at least 102 people on Maui last year erupted from an earlier brushfire caused by downed power lines that firefighters believed they had extinguished, officials confirmed on Wednesday as they presented their findings on the cause of the tragedy. The August 8, 2023, blaze -- the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century -- was long known to have emerged in the afternoon, in the same area as the blaze that began early that morning. Driven by strong, erratic winds, the fire raced through the historic town of Lahaina, destroying thousands of buildings, overcoming people trapped in their cars and forcing some residents to flee into the ocean. It has been unclear whether the blaze was a rekindling of the morning fire after firefighters spent hours dousing it or a separate one. The answer could prove significant to questions about liability for the destruction, though a tentative USD 4 billion settlement has been reached. In presenting their findings, officials
Footage shared on social media captured the horrifying moment the bus was completely engulfed in flames
A flame that towered over a southeast Houston suburb subsided Tuesday but was still burning following a pipeline explosion that happened when a vehicle drove through a Walmart parking lot fence and struck an above-ground valve, officials said. Progress has been made as first responder crews worked through the night. The fire is significantly smaller, according to a statement from Deer Park. The city said Energy Transfer, the Dallas-based owner of the pipeline, expects the fire to burn itself out later Tuesday. City officials said police and FBI agents found no preliminary evidence to suggest a coordinated or terrorist attack, and said it appears to be an isolated incident," but they haven't offered any details on how they came to that conclusion. Investigators were trying to learn more about the driver of the vehicle. The car was incinerated by the explosion, which scorched the ground across a wide radius, severed nearby power transmission lines, melted playground equipment and ...
Deputy Chief Fire Officer M K Chattopadhyay said that the fire spread due to explosion in LPG cylinder and it has been brought under control
Thousands of firefighters battling a wildfire in Northern California received some help from the weather Saturday hours after it exploded in size, scorching an area greater than the size of Los Angeles. The blaze was one of several tearing through the western United States and Canada, fueled by wind and heat. Cooler temperatures and an increase in humidity could help slow the Park Fire, the largest this year in California. Its intensity and dramatic spread led fire officials to make unwelcome comparisons to the monstrous Camp Fire, which burned out of control in nearby Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people and torching 11,000 homes. Paradise again was near the danger zone. The entire town was under an evacuation warning, one of several communities in Butte County. Evacuation orders were also issued in Plumas, Tehama and Shasta counties. An evacuation warning calls for people to prepare to evacuate and await instructions, while an evacuation order means to leave immediately. Temperatur
The fire damaged a uniform manufacturing shop and a cafe located near the Neelam Mata Temple
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be on a visit to Ahmedabad city in Gujarat on Saturday, where he will address party workers, a leader said. Gandhi will also meet the family members of those who lost their lives in various tragedies in Gujarat in the recent past, including the Rajkot game zone fire, the boat capsize incident in Vadodara and Morbi bridge collapse. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is visiting Gujarat days after BJP and Congress workers clashed outside the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) office here over alleged anti-Hindu remarks made by Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. Following the clash, complaints were lodged against each other by both sides and FIRs were registered, leading to the arrest of five Congress workers. Talking to reporters on Friday, Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil said Gandhi will also meet the family members of those five Congress workers who are currently in police custody. "Rahul Gandhi will arrive at the GPCC office
Fire tenders reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident and extinguished the fire
Fire has taken 83 lives and injured over 390 people so far this year in the national capital, according to an official data. According to the data by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), 16 people were killed in fire in January, another 16 in February, 12 in March, four in April, seven in May and 24 till June 24. On Tuesday (June 25), four members of a family were suffocated to death in Chhawala area of Delhi's Dwarka. Fire incidents led to 51 injuries in January, 42 in February, 62 in March, 78 in April, 84 in May and 77 till June 24. From January 1 to June 24, the DFS received 12,687 fire-related calls. According to the data, 39 people had lost their lives during the same period in 2023. "The number of fire calls increased to 48 per cent this year. According to the data, a total 7,774 calls related to the fire were received from January 1 to June 24 last year, but this year the number has gone up by more than 48 per cent with 12,687 fire related calls during the same period," an offi
The fire on Monday, which began at a factory with 35,000 lithium batteries, produced thick smoke that spread quickly
Four members of a family suffocated to death after a fire broke out at their home in Dwarka's Prem Nagar area, a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said on Tuesday. He said the department was informed about the fire around 3.30 am and two fire tenders were sent to the spot. The deceased were identified as Heera Singh Kakkar (48), his wife Neetu (40) and their sons Robin (22) and Lakshay (21). Kakkar was a photographer by profession and the house was owned by the family, police said. According to the DFS official, the fire was caused by an inverter and it spread to an adjacent sofa on the first floor of the two-storey building, leading to the four victims inhaling smoke. Police said the main gate was locked from inside. Firefighters broke it down, rescued the family members and rushed four of them to the Rao Tularam Memorial Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Heera Singh Kakkar's mother Sita Devi was sleeping on the ground floor of the building, a police officer said, addi
Live TV footage showed firefighters spraying the damaged steel and concrete building