More people in northern New Mexico are being warned they might have to flee as the largest wildfire burning in the United States heads toward mountain resort towns.
Many homes near America’s largest wildfire survived the latest barrage of howling winds and erratic flames, but New Mexico’s governor said Tuesday the risk of more destruction is high and that the long-term costs of recovering from the massive blaze will soar.
The Locklin fire is now 30% contained, and it has grown to 106 acres. This is the fifth fire in Bisbee since March, marking a new record for the small town.
During an evacuation, you don’t have much time. Red Cross says there are three things you should do: create an evacuation plan, build an emergency kit, and stay informed and up to date on the latest fires.
“It was that hot dry air that we felt was good for the lungs,” Arizona family physician Dr. Andrew Carroll said. “And that’s why a lot of people moved here.” However, as more and more people have moved to Arizona, air pollution has gotten worse.
Southern Arizona’s abnormally dry conditions can result in an earlier than normal start to wildfire season and climate change is playing a growing role.
By PATTY NIEBERG, BRADY McCOMBS and COLLEEN SLEVIN
At least one first responder and six other people were injured in the blazes that erupted outside Denver on Thursday morning, unusually late in the year, following an extremely dry fall and amid a winter nearly devoid of snow so far.
The Tucson Firefighters Association shared what they call concerning news with the community today, as the Station 6 fire house closed due to staffing shortages.
The Alisal Fire in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara grew only slightly since Thursday morning to 26.4 square miles, and containment of the blaze jumped to 41%, up from 5% 24 hours earlier. The improved situation allowed authorities Thursday evening to reopen U.S. 101, the region’s main highway, and a rail line that runs next to the highway. They had been closed since Monday.
A twin-engine plane that killed at least two people and left a swath of destruction in a San Diego suburb nose-dived into the ground after repeated warnings that it was flying dangerously low, according to a recording.
As the deadly storm moved from the Gulf Coast through the Northeast, members of Congress said the deluge offered irrefutable evidence that power lines, roads, bridges and other infrastructure are deteriorating even as storms and other extreme weather are strengthening.
