State Wildfire Preparedness level raised to Level 4 as high fire danger is forecast this week
Texas A&M Forest Service has raised the State Wildfire Preparedness level to Level 4 due to the recent increase in wildfire activity across the state and the growing potential for wildfires to become more severe, making them harder to control.
Nearly 3.8 million fish killed along Texas Coast during winter storm
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesTexas โ Millions of fish along the Texas Coast were killed during the winter storm, according to the Texas and Wildlife Department. An estimated minimum of 3.8 million fish were killed during the Feb. 2021 freeze event. According to the Texas and Wildlife Department, the massive fish kill consisted of at least 61 species. Non-recreational species contributed to 91% of the total mortality in numbers of fish. Likewise, the Upper Laguna Madre experienced black drum mortality at an estimated 82,600 fish killed.
Smoke wafting over parts of northeast Houston from wildfire in Anahuac refuge
ANAHUAC, Texas โ Smoke wafts over parts of northeast Houston from a large wildfire in the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Officials expect the fire to produce a lot of smoke throughout the day as they work to extinguish it. Officials said about 2,200 acres have burned as of WednesdayOfficials said the fire is about 50% contained and entirely within the refuge. Officials are bringing in a fire suppression helicopter in hopes the fire will be under control by Wednesday evening. Cooper said firefighters from other wildlife refuges and wildland specialists are assisting in the wildfire.
4 Porter firefighters return home after spending more than 3 weeks battling wildfires in California
HOUSTON โ Four firefighters from Porter have returned home after spending more than three weeks battling wildfires in California. Brandon Shafer, Joseph Sullivan, Ryan Johnson and Stephen Sever arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The crew worked on multiple fires in California, mainly trying to stop them from spreading further. The firefighters initially drove out west, which took about two days, and quickly got to work. The firefighters are looking forward to spending time with their families and said they would make the trip again, if needed.
Texas sending firefighters to help battle wildfires in California
HOUSTON โ Firefighters and support personnel across the state of Texas are being deployed to parts of California to help battle the devastating wildfires, Gov. In August, the governor deployed 44 firefighters, 10 fire trucks and two command vehicles to the region. The Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System will help mobilize those resources from the departments across the state. โTexas is ready to answer the call for help when disaster strikes -- whether itโs here in the Lone Star State or across the country,โ Abbott said. โI thank the brave men and women serving in our fire departments across Texas for stepping up to help Californians in need as these fires continue to burn.
'Evacuate now:' Wildfires grow in Oregon as 500K flee
This photo taken by Talent, Ore., resident Kevin Jantzer shows the destruction of his hometown as wildfires ravaged the central Oregon town near Medford late Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. Fearing for his life, he drove his car to the entrance of a nearby mobile home park, where his tires began melting. Oregon officials havenโt released an exact death count for the wildfires but at least four fatalities have been reported in the state. Oregon officials were shocked by the number of simultaneous fires, which stood at 37 Thursday, according to the state Office of Emergency Management. AP freelance photographer Paula Bronstein also contributed to this report from Talent and Phoenix, Oregon.
7 surreal photos: Wildfire smoke blankets San Francisco in a spooky orange glow
A number of Northern California wildfires sent a thick, orange-glowing haze over the San Francisco area Wednesday, leaving the Bay in an eerie darkness. A fire burning in Butte County, located northeast of San Francisco, has forced thousands to evacuate from their homes, according to The Associated Press. (2020 Getty Images)An orange glow fills the sky above the Embarcadero in San Francisco. (2020 Getty Images)Smoke from various wildfires blankets the San Francisco skyline in darkness and an orange glow, seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco. (2020 Getty Images)An exterior view of the ballpark in San Francisco, California.
These celebrities are donating money to the Australian bushfires
The bushfires in Australia are still ravaging parts of the country and are wreacking havoc on small communities and rural towns. The damage has been devastating and news of the bushfires has spread overseas with many activists and celebrities sharing photos of the devastation on social media. There are many different places where you can donate money to help with relief, and many celebrities have shared donation links and even donated themselves. I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires. Another Australian actor, Russell Crowe, who is in Australia right now, posted that he donated $105,000 to firefighters.
Local fire chief, who worked in Australia, explains why itโs so hard to contain the wildfires
MAGNOLIA, Texas โ Dozens of firefighters from the United States arrived in Australia on Monday to help fight the increasingly devastating wildfires burning throughout that country. More than one hundred fires have destroyed more than 14 million acres and thousands of homes and other buildings since September. Vincent worked as incident commander for the Tri-County wildfire, the largest in East Texas history. He has also traveled to Australia several times to work with firefighters there as a visiting teaching fellow. The local Greater Houston area task force, Texas Task Force 1, has not been asked to deploy at this time.