Jan 14 Watch 6:09 What the California wildfire destruction means for homeowners and insurance By Amna Nawaz, Azhar Merchant One of President-elect Trump's most controversial nominees was the first to face the scrutiny of a Senate confirmation hearing. Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth was questioned Tuesday about alleged sexual and financial misconduct as well as concerns he lacks the experience… Continue watching
Jan 14 Here’s how small airborne embers play a big role in the spread of wildfires By Holly Ramer, Associated Press Contrary to popular belief, experts say most homes destroyed by wildfires aren't overcome by a racing wall of flames, but burn after being ignited by airborne embers, also called firebrands. Continue reading
Jan 14 Lawsuits claims Southern California Edison equipment sparked devastating Eaton Fire By Jason Dearen, Associated Press Authorities still haven't determined an official cause for any of the fires, which began last Tuesday amid hurricane-force winds and have killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area. Continue reading
Jan 14 Strong winds threaten more Los Angeles blazes as firefighters deploy widely and residents prepare to flee By Christopher Weber, Julie Watson, John Seewer, Associated Press LA County's fire chief says crews are better prepared but warns that everyone in the potential fire zones should be ready to evacuate. Continue reading
Jan 13 Watch 9:46 Dangerous winds pick up as crews continue to battle devastating LA-area fires By Geoff Bennett, Jackson Hudgins, Eliot Barnhart Dangerous wind conditions are picking up speed and threatening to spread devastating fires in Southern California. Four of the major fires have burned through more than 62 square miles. At least 25 people have died, nearly 30 more are missing… Continue watching
Jan 13 Planes are dumping ocean water to fight the Los Angeles fires. Here’s why using saltwater is typically a last resort By Patrick Megonigal, The Conversation While the consequences of adding seawater to ecosystems are not yet well understood, we can gain insights on what to expect by considering the effects of sea-level rise. Continue reading
Jan 13 Los Angeles wildfire deaths rise to 24 as crews prepare for return of strong winds By Christopher Weber, Holly Ramer, Associated Press The National Weather Service issued a rare warning of a "particularly dangerous situation," beginning overnight Monday into Tuesday. Continue reading
Jan 12 Analysis: 5 ways to look at the Los Angeles fires through the lens of climate realism By Varun Sivaram, Council on Foreign Relations The wildfires scorching the region around Los Angeles are likely to be the most expensive in history. But future climate change-related disasters will certainly top them in cost. Continue reading
Jan 12 Watch 6:12 Los Angeles fires cause widespread closures, heavy damage to area’s schools By John Yang, Lorna Baldwin, Juliet Fuisz, Andrew Corkery Firefighters are racing to contain the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area during a lull in the winds, which are set to strengthen again Sunday night. The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second-largest in the nation, with 500,000… Continue watching
Jan 12 Fact-checking misinformation about the Los Angeles wildfires and California water policy By Jeff Cercone, Caleb McCullough, PolitiFact President-elect Donald Trump and some social media users and pundits blamed Los Angeles’ deadly fires on California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying the Democrat’s environmental policies enabled the blazes’ danger and wreckage. Continue reading