Posts tagged wildfire

30 Acre Wildfire
Van Nuys

More than 100 firefighters responded by ground and air to battle a fast-moving thirty-acre grass fire in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area on Monday, July 16, 2012. Light but variable winds fanned flames in three-foot tall grass that led to thicker and more volatile vegetation, as the fire quickly grew. City companies were soon joined by five LACoFD handcrews and an LACoFD helicopter to collectively contain the fire in just 47 minutes.

Firefighters suspect that a radio-controlled model aircraft from the nearby Apollo XI Model Aircraft Flying field may have landed unintentionally in the tinder dry grass, sparking the blaze. Los Angeles Police Officers interviewed witnesses at the scene for what remains an active investigation.

Photos by Mike Meadows, EPN

theatlantic:

In Focus: The Terrifying, ‘Epic’ Wildfire in Colorado

Colorado Springs Fire Chief Rich Brown described the blaze as “a fire of epic proportions,” as tens of thousands of Colorado residents and tourists have been evacuated ahead of the growing, potentially disastrous Waldo Canyon fire. This fire joins several others across the state, including the High Park fire, which has consumed nearly 90,000 acres since June 9. While no reports of deaths or injuries have surfaced, hundreds of homes have been destroyed, with many more threatened. Fire crews are doing their best to contain the fires and save what homes they can, as authorities urged residents to flee affected areas.

See more. [AP, Reuters, Colorado National Guard]

Stay safe out there, folks.

buzzfeed:

thedailyfeed:

Devastating scenes from the massive wildfire burning its way across Colorado.

In just two days, the fire — some 15 miles west of Fort Colllins — has torn up more than 37,000 acres, destroyed at least 118 buildings and forced hundreds from their homes. One death has been reported, but authorities refused to confirm whether the victim was a person reported missing from a house that burned.