Category: Disasters

Posted on

Dental records show remains found at Carlton Reserve are those of Brian Laundrie, FBI says – East Idaho News

(CNN) — The FBI’s Denver office said Thursday that remains found a day earlier in a Florida nature reserve are those of Brian Laundrie, who disappeared last month just days after his fiancée Gabby Petito was reported missing.

The FBI said dental records confirmed the identification.

The identification came hours after police in North Port, Florida, said the remains that were found were skeletal and belonged to a human.

“They are human remains, no doubt there. I would say that the remains were consistent with one individual, you know skeletal remains,” North Port police spokesperson Josh Taylor told CNN.

Investigators also found clothing believed to be consistent with what Laundrie was wearing when he took off September 13, according to Taylor.

Less than a week after Laundrie went missing last month, authorities in Wyoming found Petito’s remains in a national forest. Her death was ruled a homicide by manual strangulation.

On Wednesday, investigators also found a backpack and a notebook belonging to Laundrie, 23, near the remains while they were searching the Carlton Reserve in North Port, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson.

“The notebook to my understanding has not been opened. You know, that will need to be processed,” Taylor said.

A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN the notebook is “possibly salvageable.” The source said the notebook was “outside of the dry bag.”

“It had been clearly wet and they are going to use any potential means to dry that out before opening it,” according to the source, who added: “They’ll be very careful with it.”

The source said it is unclear how the notebook ended up outside the dry bag.

When Taylor was asked about whether a weapon was found, he said he could not comment.

When asked if there is an ongoing search for the murderer of Gabby Petito, he responded, “That is certainly not in the North Port Police Department’s purview.”

During a search with police, Brian’s father, Chris Laundrie, was the first to spot an item belonging to his son, according to Taylor.

Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Wednesday that “the probability is strong that it is Brian’s remains.”

The discovery came on Wednesday morning when Laundrie’s parents and law enforcement searched an area of the reserve that had been underwater but recently reopened to the public.

“It’s quite sad, you can imagine as a parent, finding your son’s belongings alongside some remains. That’s got to be heartbreaking. And I can tell you that they are heartbroken,” Bertolino told Cuomo.

Search conditions had been very difficult

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said Thursday law enforcement had been searching in treacherous conditions, including nearly chest-high water full of snakes and alligators.

“These are very, very difficult conditions. You’re searching in areas that you just can’t walk up and look. It’s not like you’re searching a house or a car,” he said. “These areas are huge and they’re covered by water.”

The exhaustive search for Laundrie stretched over a month as authorities tried to piece together what happened to him and Petito during their road trip through the Western US this summer.

Petito, 22, disappeared on the trip amid tensions in their relationship, and her remains were later found near where the couple had last been seen together.

Laundrie, who had returned by himself to his parents’ home in Florida, refused to talk with investigators and didn’t return after telling his parents he was going to the nature reserve to hike.

He was not charged in Petito’s death, although he was indicted for allegedly using two financial accounts that did not belong to him in the days following her killing.

Authorities, including several K-9 units and off-road vehicles, returned to the reserve on Thursday morning to further search the area.

Brian Laundrie’s parents were on scene when remains were found

Laundrie’s family had declined to talk publicly following legal advice, but they had directed authorities to where they believed Laundrie may be staying in the reserve, Bertolino said.

The parents — Chris and Roberta Laundrie — joined in the search Wednesday morning and found a bag belonging to their son at the park, which their attorney described as “happenstance.”

According to Bertolino, Laundrie’s parents informed the FBI and the North Port Police Department on Tuesday night that they wanted to visit the park Wednesday morning to search for their son.

Law enforcement met them there and closely accompanied them as they entered the park, Bertolino said.

“As they went further in, Chris ventured off the trail into the woods. He was zigzagging in different areas, law enforcement was doing the same thing. And Roberta Laundrie was walking down the trail,” Bertolino said. “At some point, Chris locates what’s called a dry bag. The dry bag is a white bag, laying in the woods, say 20 feet or so off the trail.”

The dry bag was in some brambles and he didn’t want to move it because he wanted his law enforcement to see it, Bertolino said. However, Chris Laundrie couldn’t find law enforcement and didn’t want to leave the bag there with a news reporter standing nearby, so he picked it up, Bertolino explained.

“He did meet up shortly with law enforcement, they looked at the contents of the bag. At that time, law enforcement officers showed him a picture on the phone of a backpack that law enforcement had located also nearby and also some distance off the trail,” Bertolino told CNN.

“At that point, the Laundries were notified there was also remains near the backpack, and they were asked to leave the preserve.”

The remains were found “about 2 to 3 miles inside the Carlton Reserve, or about a 45-minute walk” from the entrance at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, Taylor said Wednesday.

When asked why the parents chose to go to the park on Wednesday, Bertolino said it was the first day it was reopened to the public.

“The parents had assumed that the experts, the FBI and all the tracking teams they had would be able to locate Brian based upon the information that we had provided them to the specific areas and trails in the park that Brian liked to visit,” Bertolino said. “The park had been closed to the public. There was really no other reason for the Laundries to go search anywhere else.”

Source: Dental records show remains found at Carlton Reserve are those of Brian Laundrie, FBI says – East Idaho News

Posted on

Pittsburgh Weather: Cleanup Efforts Underway After Thursday’s Severe Storms

By: KDKA-TV’s Erika Stanish, Jessica Guay and Royce Jones

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The day started off mild and seasonable, but that all changed this afternoon after severe weather hit western Pennsylvania.

READ MORE:Woodland Hills Varsity Football’s Friday Night Game To Limit Capacity Following School Fights

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for parts of Butler, Mercer, Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Beaver counties on Thursday, but all warnings have now expired.

Allegheny County says the Hampton Township Fire Department believes a microburst hit the area, causing extensive damage. There were no reported injuries.

 

In Hampton Township, the strong winds ripped the roof off a home on Kirk Avenue. Crews put a tarp over the roof to protect it from the elements. Another nearby home had its roof partially ripped off during the wild storms.

Fire officials in the township said they responded to about 30 calls on Thursday night.

 

On Middle Road, a homeowner described the scene after storms hit the area.

“It was terrible. Just trees down on one side of the road. Had to use the other side of the road. It was just scary driving with all the debris on the road,” Jen Koervel said.

READ MORE:Crews Working On Water Main Break On Magee Street In Uptown

Many neighborhoods in the area were left without power after tree branches fell on power lines.

The American Red Cross has set up a staging area at the Hampton Volunteer Fire Department to help impacted residents.

In Washington County, the Peters Township fire chief said several homes were impacted. The chief said one home has substantial damage. The family was home at the time, but no one was hurt.

The NWS will be out in the area on Friday morning to survey the damage.

MORE NEWS:Parkway North Inbound Lane Restriction Planned On Friday

Stay up to date with the KDKA app, which you can download here.

Source: Pittsburgh Weather: Cleanup Efforts Underway After Thursday’s Severe Storms

Posted on

LIVE: Lava from volcano destroys homes on Spain’s La Palma island

#LaPalma #volcano #CanaryIslands

LIVE: Lava from volcano destroys homes on Spain’s La Palma island

Lava continued to flow slowly from a volcano that erupted in Spain’s Canary Islands off northwest Africa, but the head of the regional government said Monday that he expected no injuries to people in the area after some 5,000 were evacuated. Lava was flowing on the island of La Palma toward the sea, moving at 2,300 feet per hour, according to the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute.

Posted on

Military plane crashes into Texas neighborhood, ejecting crew and damaging multiple homes

A military aircraft crashed in a Texas neighborhood Sunday afternoon, damaging several homes, police said.

The crash happened between the 4000 blocks of Tejas and Dakota in Lake Worth Texas, about 10 miles northwest of Fort Worth.

Source: Military plane crashes into Texas neighborhood, ejecting crew and damaging multiple homes

Posted on

Biden Declassifies Secret FBI Report Detailing Saudi Nationals’ Connections To 9/11

The families of 9/11 victims say the FBI document validates their claim that Saudi Arabia played a role in the attacks

The Biden administration has declassified a 16-page FBI report tying 9/11 hijackers to Saudi nationals living in the United States. The document, written in 2016, summarized an FBI investigation into those ties called Operation ENCORE.

The partially redacted report paints a closer relationship than had been previously known between two Saudis in particular — including one with diplomatic status — and some of the hijackers. Families of the 9/11 victims have long sought after the report, which painted a starkly different portrait than the one described by the 9/11 Commission Report in 2004.

While the Commission was largely unable to tie the Saudi men to the hijackers, the FBI document describes multiple connections and phone calls.

Source: Biden Declassifies Secret FBI Report Detailing Saudi Nationals’ Connections To 9/11

Posted on

Water main break closes road in Bethel Park

BETHEL PARK, Pa. —

A large water main break has closed a road in Bethel Park Monday morning.

Bethel Church Road at Logan Road is shut down due to the water main break.

The break was reported just before 5 a.m.

Rushing water was seen coming up from the ground.

Police said it is not known when the road will reopen.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has reached out to Pennsylvania American Water to see how many customers are impacted.

Source: Water main break closes road in Bethel Park

Posted on

Hurricane Ida is moving ashore with history-making power on the anniversary of Katrina – CNN

(CNN)Hurricane Ida is beginning to move ashore and is set to make landfall early this afternoon likely tied as Louisiana’s most powerful storm ever.

The current forecast calls for sustained winds of 150 mph when Ida hits on the 16th anniversary of the historically devastating Hurricane Katrina.
That’s just 7 mph below the Category 5 ranking, and if Ida arrives at that level, it would be just the fifth to do so on the US mainland.
Last year’s Hurricane Laura and the Last Island Hurricane of 1856 share the current record at 150 mph.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Sunday he expects Ida to be “a big challenge for us.”
Edwards told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that his state “is as ready as we can be,” but he expects Ida to be “a very serious test of our levy systems, especially in our coastal Louisiana.”
The state invested significantly in shoring up the levy system after the catastrophic fail after Katrina. Edwards said Ida “will be the most severe test,” but he expects the levees to hold. “The next 24, 36 hours are just going to be very, very critical for us here in Louisiana.”
Ida became a Category 4 storm early Sunday morning, rapidly intensifying to sustained winds of 150 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

It was 50 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, NHC forecasters said in a 10 a.m. ET update, as the storm continued its march toward Louisiana and the Gulf Coast at 15 mph.

Outer bands from the storm are already making their way onshore across the Gulf Coast, impacting southeastern Louisiana, including New Orleans. An elevated weather station at Pilot’s Station East near Southwest Pass, Louisiana, recently reported a wind gust up to 107 mph, the NHC said.

Source: Hurricane Ida is moving ashore with history-making power on the anniversary of Katrina – CNN

Posted on

Kabul airport explosions: US troops, Afghans killed – CNN

(CNN)Twelve US service members and dozens of Afghans have been killed in two bombing attacks outside Kabul’s airport, according to the Pentagon and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health.

The deadly blasts came as the United States and other Western countries raced to complete a massive evacuation of their citizens and Afghan allies following the Taliban takeover of the country.
An official with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health told CNN on Thursday that more than 60 people were dead and 140 wounded.
Fifteen US service members were injured in addition to the 12 dead, said Gen. Frank McKenzie, Commander of US Central Command.
US officials have been warning over the past week that a threat of a terror attack at the airport was becoming more acute. Earlier on Thursday local time, US diplomats in Kabul warned American citizens to “immediately” leave several gates into the airport, citing security threats.
A US defense official had also told CNN that officials were concerned by a “very specific threat stream” involving the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan.
US officials believe the group, ISIS-K, was likely behind today’s attack but are still working to confirm its involvement, according to a senior US official and another source briefed on initial assessments. The second source told CNN it may take a few hours before US officials are able to identify the specific individuals who carried out the apparent suicide bombing.

Source: Kabul airport explosions: US troops, Afghans killed – CNN

Posted on

Truck goes off road, catches fire on Pennsylvania Turnpike

Pittsburgh —

A truck went off the road and caught fire on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Wednesday.

The accident happened eastbound between Exit 48 (Allegheny Valley) and Exit 57 (Pittsburgh).

The truck has the name “N2 Solutions” written on it. N2 Solutions is a nitrogen services company.

Turnpike officials say the accident is affecting the right lane and drivers should expect delays.

No additional details have been released.

Source: Truck goes off road, catches fire on Pennsylvania Turnpike

Posted on

Tennessee flooding leaves 21 people dead and around 20 others missing – CNN

(CNN)At least 21 people are confirmed dead while about 20 others remain missing after severe flooding that swept through Humphreys County in Middle Tennessee, local officials said.

“We’ve experienced devastating loss of life over the last couple days,” Grant Gillespie, the police and fire chief of Waverly, Tennessee, said in a news conference Sunday evening.
Twenty of those killed in the flooding Saturday were confirmed dead within the city of Waverly, the county seat, a news release from the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency said. One other was confirmed dead elsewhere in the county.
Local officials revised the number of missing down from an earlier count of 45. Gillespie explained the figure was high because the storm had knocked out cell service, making it difficult for people to reach their loved ones.
In a separate news conference in Nashville, Gov. Bill Lee described a “tremendous loss of life” in Waverly, with “homes washed off their foundations, cars strewn around the community.”
“It is a devastating picture of loss and heartache,” he said.
The director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said his agency had confirmed 16 fatalities but acknowledged the discrepancy with local authorities, saying it was due to the state’s validation process.
“You might see a discrepancy in numbers sometimes, what’s coming from the sheriff or what’s coming from our official reports, and it’s really just a matter of process,” Director Patrick Sheehan said. “What we know is there are a number of people still missing.”

Source: Tennessee flooding leaves 21 people dead and around 20 others missing – CNN

Posted on

Two young boys steered their car to safety after their father was fatally shot while driving – CNN

(CNN)A pair of young brothers had to take control of their SUV and steer themselves to safety when their dad was fatally shot Friday night while driving on a Texas freeway.

Their father, a 29-year-old man, had been driving a Toyota Sequoia on Interstate 10 in Houston with his sons, ages 8 and 6, when he was shot just before 11 p.m., Houston Police Department (HPD) Public Information Officer John Cannon told CNN.
The victim’s sons then steered the SUV off the freeway to a strip mall parking lot where one of the children got out of the car and ran to get help, Cannon said.
Their father was pronounced dead at the scene and both boys were unharmed, he added.

Source: Two young boys steered their car to safety after their father was fatally shot while driving – CNN

Posted on

Thousands of holidaymakers and locals evacuated as ‘huge’ wildfire rages around St Tropez | Daily Mail Online

Thousands have been evacuated from their homes on the French Riviera after huge wildfires broke out in St Tropez, as firefighters battled to control the blaze.

BBC news presenter Geeta Guru-Murthy and her husband Philip Collins had to abandon their burning villa and their car as they escaped the raging fires bringing horror to holidaymakers.

As many as 6,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and holiday sites while others were locked down in a holiday centre for Air France employees.

Source: Thousands of holidaymakers and locals evacuated as ‘huge’ wildfire rages around St Tropez | Daily Mail Online

Posted on

Prototype military plane crashes outside Moscow, kills 3

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian prototype military transport plane crashed while performing a test flight outside Moscow on Tuesday, killing all three crew members on board, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation said.

The new light military transport plane, Il-112V, crashed in a forested area as it was coming in for a landing at the Kubinka airfield 45 kilometers (28 miles) west of Moscow, the corporation told the Tass news agency.

Two test pilots and a flight engineer were aboard the plane, and none survived, the corporation said.

Source: Prototype military plane crashes outside Moscow, kills 3

Posted on

Haiti earthquake has affected 1.2 million people, says UNICEF – CNN

(CNN)Around 1.2 million people, including 540,000 children, have been impacted by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake which struck southwestern Haiti on Saturday morning, according to UNICEF.

The quake left at least 1,941 people dead and more than 6,900 injured; that toll is expected to rise in the coming days, but search and rescue efforts are being hampered by a lack of resources and by heavy rains, which have caused mudslides that blocked roads in the region.
Tropical Storm Grace, which hit the same region late Monday “is further disrupting access to water, shelter, and other basic services,” UNICEF said in a statement Tuesday. “Flooding and mudslides are likely to worsen the situation of vulnerable families and further complicate the humanitarian response.”
On Tuesday, donor countries and humanitarian organizations increased efforts to help the country. The Pentagon announced it had formed a joint task force to assist USAID in disaster relief efforts, while the United Nation and the European Union allocated $8 million and $3.5 million respectively in aid to Haiti.

Source: Haiti earthquake has affected 1.2 million people, says UNICEF – CNN

Posted on

More than 50 people injured after tour bus crashes on NY Thruway

A bus full of tourists heading to Niagara Falls rolled over on the New York State Thruway Saturday, injuring all 57 people on board, officials said.

A bus full of tourists heading to Niagara Falls rolled over on the New York State Thruway Saturday, sending all 57 people on board to hospitals, officials said.

The bus from Dutchess County veered off I-90 some 25 miles west of Syracuse at 12:40 p.m. and landed on its side in the grass, State Police said.

Injuries ranged from minor to serious, according to cops. The passengers included children.

It wasn’t immediately clear what company operated the bus or what caused the crash.

Police photos of the scene showed papers and other items strewn around the white bus lying on its side off the shoulder of the highway.

Traffic was backed up for miles as one westbound lane of the Thruway was closed for hours following the accident.

Source: More than 50 people injured after tour bus crashes on NY Thruway

Posted on

At least 304 dead after earthquake in Haiti | TheHill

Over 300 people are dead in Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the country on Saturday.

Haiti’s Office of Civil Protection said search and rescue teams will be sent out, with at least 304 people confirmed dead from the earthquake, NBC News reported.

“The most important thing is to recover as many survivors as possible under the rubble,” Prime Minister Ariel Henry said.

“We have learned that the local hospitals, in particular that of Les Cayes, are overwhelmed with wounded, fractured people,” Henry added.

The prime minister has set a one-month state of emergency, as many buildings collapsed from the large earthquake.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken briefed President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris on the earthquake before Biden authorized assistance to Haiti.

The earthquake comes 11 years after Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which the country has still not fully recovered from.

A powerful local politician in Haiti is among the dead after his hotel collapsed during the earthquake.

Source: At least 304 dead after earthquake in Haiti | TheHill

Posted on

More than 200 people dead after 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Haiti – CNN

(CNN)At least 227 people have died after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti Saturday morning, according to the country’s civil protection service.

The US Geological Survey previously said it was likely that casualties would be “high,” saying the “disaster is likely widespread.”
One hospital in the southern city of Jeremie said it is overwhelmed with patients.
“There are a lot of people coming in — a lot of people,” an administrator at the Hospital Saint Antoine told CNN. “We don’t have enough supplies.”
The hospital has set up tents in its courtyard, the administrator said.
The earthquake was about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 10 kilometers deep, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
“There are reports of significant damage to homes, roads, and infrastructure,” American Red Cross spokeswoman Katie Wilkes said.

Source: More than 200 people dead after 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Haiti – CNN

Posted on

Well-known bakery in Latrobe badly damaged by fire

By WPXI.com News Staff

A well-known bakery in Latrobe was badly damaged when flames ripped through the building Thursday night.

The fire started at Dainty Pastry Shoppe on Depot Street around 9:45 p.m.

When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting out of the back of the building.

The bakery has been in Latrobe and run by the same family for 75 years.

Source: Well-known bakery in Latrobe badly damaged by fire

Posted on

Part of building collapses along East Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side

The building is located in the 1600 block of East Carson Street. There are bricks and debris on the sidewalk.

Officials said the collapse may have been weather-related.

Public Safety officials said the second floor was vacant and there were no injuries to patrons who exited the business below. The business below is Swirl Penguins, an ice cream shop.

A worker who was inside Swirl Penguins told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that she believes the building was struck by lightning.

Officials said a firefighter was treated for glass in his eye.

Public Safety officials said East Carson Street between S. 16th and S. 17th Street will be closed overnight.

The integrity of the building is being inspected.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE mobile app to stay connected with breaking news.

Source: Part of building collapses along East Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side

Posted on

Cargo ship snaps in two off Japan’s coast, 21 crew members rescued – CBS News

A fuel leak from the ship has spread around 15 miles, but the extent of any environmental impact was unclear.

A cargo ship ran aground and broke into two off northern Japan, the coast guard said Thursday, with the crew of the Panama-flagged vessel taken to safety. Aerial images showed the separated stern of the Crimson Polaris tipped upwards and the other part of the stricken boat listing into the sea.

A fuel leak from the ship has spread around 15 miles, a coastguard spokesman told AFP, but the extent of any environmental impact was unclear.

Source: Cargo ship snaps in two off Japan’s coast, 21 crew members rescued – CBS News

Posted on

Man struck and killed by train on Pittsburgh’s South Side

PITTSBURGH —

A man has died after being struck by a train on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

Pittsburgh Public Safety said the incident began a little before 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, when emergency responders were notified by a CSX conductor that a man on the train tracks near the 1100 block of Muriel Street was struck.

That man was found underneath a train car and pronounced dead a few minutes later.

Train traffic was halted while investigators examined the scene.

The man’s identity has not been released.

Source: Man struck and killed by train on Pittsburgh’s South Side

Posted on

Man arrested, charged with arson after Indiana County house fire

ARMSTRONG TOWNSHIP, Pa. —Pennsylvania State Police said a Shelocta man has been arrested on arson charges following a house fire in Armstrong Township, Indiana County, on Monday morning

Police said Kevin P. Olechovski, 37, was arrested without incident outside his 240 Vista Lane home after troopers learned that he had intentionally set fire to the home following a verbal argument with a family member.

Firefighters said one person had to be rescued from the home but no injuries were reported.

Police said the home is believed to be a total loss.

The Red Cross is assisting two adults following the fire.

“We were able to provide comfort kits, blankets and resources for immediate needs,” the Red Cross said in a tweet.

Police said Olechovski was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Susanne Steffee at 3:15 p.m. and was remanded to the Indiana County Jail in lieu of $50,000 monetary bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 24.

Source: Man arrested, charged with arson after Indiana County house fire

Posted on

Thousands Are Evacuated As Fires Rampage Through Forests In Greece : NPR

THRAKOMAKEDONES, Greece — Wildfires rampaged through some of Greece’s last remaining forests for yet another day Saturday, encroaching on more inhabited areas after burning scores of homes, businesses and farms during the country’s worst heat wave in three decades.

One of the massive fires advanced up the slopes of Mount Parnitha, a national park north of Athens and one of the last substantial forests near the Greek capital. The blaze sent choking smoke across the capital region, where authorities set up a hotline for residents with breathing problems. Throughout the day, fire crews struggled to contain constant flare-ups.

Thousands of residents and vacationers in areas where fires broke out days ago have fled by land and by sea as firefighters and volunteers battled through the night.

In apocalyptic scenes overnight and into Saturday morning, ferries evacuated 1,153 people from a seaside village and beaches on Evia, an island of rugged, forested mountains popular with holidaymakers and campers, after approaching flames cut off other means of escape. People clutched babies and helped elderly people traverse a pebble beach to the small ferries. Behind them, towering flames and smoke blanketed the forested hills.

Source: Thousands Are Evacuated As Fires Rampage Through Forests In Greece : NPR

Posted on

Dixie Fire becomes largest single wildfire in California history – POLITICO

The Dixie Fire burning in two Northern California counties is now the largest single wildfire in recorded state history, exploding in size overnight as drought-stricken lands continue to fuel the flames.

The fire, which has burned for 23 days and forced mass evacuations, razed the Gold Rush town of Greenville on Thursday, destroying 91 buildings and damaging five others. Smoke from the blaze has blown to lower parts of Northern California, including the state capital of Sacramento where the air quality index on Friday reached “unhealthy” levels.

The troubling development reflects not just the dire effects of climate change and neglected forest management, but also that the electric grid remains prone to sparking wildfires. Pacific Gas & Electric disclosed last month that its equipment may have caused the catastrophic blaze.

The Dixie Fire is eerily similar to the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive blaze in state history — and sparked by PG&E. The two fires started less than 10 miles apart from each other in the Feather River Canyon, a heavily wooded area with decrepit transmission lines.

The Camp Fire leveled the towns of Paradise and Concow, destroying nearly 19,000 structures and killing 85 people. The blaze pushed PG&E to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Last summer, the utility pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges for the disaster.

By Friday morning, the Dixie Fire had burned 432,813 acres and was just 35 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The blaze’s overnight growth gave it the grim distinction of becoming the largest standalone fire in state history, but it still ranks behind two multi-fire conflagrations.

The lightning-ignited 2020 August Complex burned over 1 million acres in seven counties, and the 2018 Mendocino Complex burned more than 459,000 acres in four counties. The latter was infamously caused by a man trying to plug a wasp’s nest with a hammer and stake.

Source: Dixie Fire becomes largest single wildfire in California historyPOLITICOSearchSearchClose

Posted on

Four killed in Northern California helicopter crash

Colusa County sheriff’s deputies and Sacramento River Fire Division personnel discovered the bodies after they responded to a report around 1:15 p.m. that a helicopter had gone down near a highway in the small town of Colusa, about 70 miles northwest of Sacramento, the sheriff’s said in a statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash with the Federal Aviation Administration, said the helicopter was a Robinson R66. Robinson Helicopter Co. described the R66 as a five-seat turbine helicopter powered by a Rolls-Royce turboshaft engine.

No further details were immediately available.

 

Source: Four killed in Northern California helicopter crash

Posted on

1 dead after tanker crashes, spilling fuel and causing large fire

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – One person was killed and a large fire broke out following a fuel tanker crash on Sunday afternoon.

According to authorities, the driver of a large fuel tanker lost control of the vehicle, causing it to fall off of the ramp from I-595 westbound to the Turnpike southbound.

There has been no word from officials on whether any other vehicles were involved.

Authorities have also not provided any information on the identity of the person who died.

All eastbound lanes of I-595 in the area of Davie Blvd. were closed, as was the southbound entrance ramp from the Florida Turnpike to I-595, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Source: 1 dead after tanker crashes, spilling fuel and causing large fire

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress
%d bloggers like this: