2026 US wildfire season and federal response
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US disaster survivors still await at least $10bn in federal aid
Survivors of the 2020 earthquakes in Puerto Rico waited 655 days after the disaster was declared for CDBG-DR funding to be allocated, according to a Bipartisan Policy Center report.
An estimated 137 million people lived in areas of the US affected by a disaster in 2024 alone, according to an analysis by the International Institute for Environment and Development.
Government officials estimate more than $10bn is needed in long-term disaster recovery funding to rebuild affected communities in Los Angeles county and St Louis, Missouri, alone.
Fast-moving California wildfire burns six homes, injures two firefighters
There were no reports of resident injuries or deaths from the Norte fire as of Friday.
The NWS red flag warning for parts of southern California was in effect through Saturday night.
More than 118,000 customers in California were without electricity as of Friday, according to poweroutage.com.
California wildfires destroy homes, leave thousands without power
Wind gusts of up to 50-70 miles (80-110 kilometers) per hour were recorded in the mountains.
The Orange County Fire Authority said the Norte fire had scorched about 465 acres (188 hectares).
The Orange County Fire Authority said at least four homes had been impacted in San Juan Capistrano.
Wildfire prompts thousands of evacuation orders in Orange County
At least six homes have burned.
Firefighters are battling fast-moving wildfires in California's southern Orange County.
Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate due to the wildfires.
Multiple wildfires ignite in hot, windy California, evacuations issued
Pacific Gas and Electric Company began proactively turning off power on Wednesday night.
The Bryson fire in Malibu was roughly 80 acres by 6pm.
The Henderson fire consumed more than 1,000 acres.
Southern California brush fires destroy homes and prompt evacuations
The Bryson fire broke out on the outskirts of Malibu on Thursday and burned about 147 acres with 17 percent containment as of Friday according to Cal Fire.
The Norte fire started in San Clemente on Friday and moved to San Juan Capistrano.
California governor Gavin Newsom secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from FEMA to support suppression of the Norte fire.
“By securing this federal assistance, we are ensuring our local and state partners have the critical resources they need,”
Brush fires and evacuations in Los Angeles and Orange counties
Evacuation warnings and orders for the Bryson Fire burning in the hills of Malibu have been lifted.
Officials reported no structures lost or damaged and only minor injuries to fire personnel from the Bryson Fire.
All roads closed in response to the Bryson Fire have reopened.
Extreme heat warnings issued for southern California
Burbank recorded a temperature of 39C on Saturday.
The October temperature record for the Burbank region was set in 1987.
The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings for parts of southern California, including Los Angeles, until Thursday.
October heat wave bakes California, breaking temperature records
An excessive heat warning was issued across Southern California, including for Los Angeles, Riverside and Temecula, where highs are expected to be in the triple digits on Sunday.
At least 37 million people are under heat alerts on Sunday as a multi-day October heat wave continues across nearly all of California.
Temperatures in California are expected to be 20 degrees above normal, reaching the 90s and 100s from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Mexico border.
Bouquet wildfire burns in California national forest
The Bouquet wildfire burned in the Angeles National Forest north-east of Santa Clarita, California.
Firefighters battled the Bouquet wildfire from the ground and air.
The Bouquet wildfire had spread to 1,000 acres by Saturday evening.
Helicopter crash kills two pilots battling wildfire in Yosemite
The helicopter was a Super Puma using a water bucket to suppress the Dome Fire when it crashed near a lake.
The crash site was southeast of Ostrander Lake, about seven miles northeast of Wawona and roughly nine miles south of Yosemite's El Capitan.
The pilots were the only people aboard the aircraft.
Helicopter fighting Yosemite fire crashes, killing two
A helicopter involved in firefighting operations in Yosemite National Park crashed, killing the two pilots on board.
Yosemite National Park remains open, though some trails are closed due to the fire.
The helicopter was owned by contractor FlyPrecision.
“Fire behavior will remain moderate, with spotting behavior being a big challenge in the full suppression efforts of this fire.”
Officials suspect arsonists behind inferno in vacation paradise
As of mid-week, fire crews were still working to extinguish remaining hot spots in areas around the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula.
The state road was closed to ensure safe firefighting operations.
Guida said she believes the cause of the fires was likely arson, citing simultaneous fires across Vico Equense, Agerola, Amalfi and Positano as indicating a coordinated plan.
New video of man launching fireworks that sparked deadly wildfire
Authorities say new video shows a suspect launching fireworks from a moving truck.
Police say a man launching fireworks sparked a deadly wildfire.
The 18-year-old suspect faces multiple charges, including first-degree manslaughter.
Firefighters say US government is failing them amid intense wildfire season
Wildfires are overrunning firefighters at the highest rate in two decades, according to data from the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center.
Bobbie Scopa is a retired fire chief who now serves as a vice-president for the firefighter advocacy group Grassroots Wildland Firefighters.
There have been 14 reported on-duty firefighter fatalities this year, including three who died battling Colorado's Knowles fire.
“that teams have worked more fires than is safe, using temporary supervisory structures because fully qualified personnel are not available”