Another very large wildfire has broken out in Canada, this one in the the Northwest Territories. It’s burning within Wood Buffalo National Park, and near the Whooping Crane Nesting Area. The fire is 31,000 acres currently. (12,400 hectares.)
It’s being managed by Parks Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Helipads are being constructed by firefighters for access, and aviation is working the fire. There is no current threat to structures, but out of precaution, sprinklers are being set up around cabins in the Grand Detour area.
Fire managers and firefighters have begun carrying out firing operations after many days of line prep on the Seven Cabins Fire in New Mexico.
The fire is now pushing 19,100 acres and is 15% contained as of this morning. 150,000 gallons of water was delivered by aerial resources to support these operations.
Crews are reported to have taken an offensive posture in their current operations to build containment. There are now 863 personnel on the fire, including 39 crews, 34 engines, 8 helicopters, 39 Water Tenders, and 7 dozers. This is a massive operation in New Mexico. Thanks to the subscriber who shared this view of the fire today.
Wildfire resources are pouring into the Southwest.
8 Hotshot Crews Ordered To The Southwest For Pre-Po. 14 Hotshot Crews Now Assigned To The Seven Cabins Fire After It Doubles In Size.
Also, Grand Canyon's North Rim reopens after Dragon Bravo Fire. https://t.co/NrL9ObQB1U
Arizona: Update from the Hazen Fire in Maricopa county, the fire is now 558 acres and 0% contained. Some added acres today are from Firing Ops that took place last night and into today.
I cover this and a whole lot more on todays show.
Nebraska wildfires ripped across the landscape last night, with the pilot who sent these images in saying they mapped this fire at 72 miles long. The Road 203 Fire south of Halsey was mapped at 36,000 acres, but could be larger this morning.
Multiple wildfires were active through the night and evacuation orders went out for many rural communities. Insane views of these fires. Thanks to the subscriber and pilot who shared these incredible images of these Nebraska fires.
Big wildfires burning in Chile are torching a region where native forests have been replaced with highly-flammable industrial tree farms which have experienced many large/disasterous fires in the past.
The first map shows current fires with perimeters of 2023 fires in yellow, and 2017 fires in blue.
The second and third maps show industrial tree farms, in green.
Some scary scenes out of Chile last night where wildfires ripped through the communities of Penco and Lirquen in the Bibio region. Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a State of emergency.
Nearly 20,000 people were ordered to evacuate, and as seen in the video, many cars congested the roads which were run over by fire. There are currently no reports on injuries or possible fatalities.
Up to 12 wildfires are burning in this region, with emergency managers saying 3,000 homes where threatened. There has been widespread destruction to homes, hospitals, and churches in the towns.
Chile is no stranger to large and destructive wildfires in the past few years, with multiple high profile arson cases, including in 2024 where a firefighter and forestry official working for the National Forestry Corporation, were arrested after a fire they set killed 137 people in the Valparaíso region.
New Start, Colorado: There is a new start off I-76 near mile marker 165 in Sedgwick county, Colorado. The county sheriff has ordered evacuations:
“MANDATORY FIRE EVACUATIONS IF YOU ARE
1-76/HWY 59 TO THE WEST, 1-76 DOWN SOUTH TO THE PHILLIPS LINE AND CR 36 TO THE EAST PLEASE EVACUATE NOW!”
Red flag warnings for low RH and high winds were issued today, and 9,000 residents are without power due to a power safety shutoff being initiated. Resources are responding.
📷: Matix Haney via @BigDawgWx
There are multiple large fires burning near the Andes mountains in Chubut province, in Patagonia, Argentina. Over 3,000+ people have been evacuated and estimates as high as 50,000 acres burned.
Local authorities believe the fires were started deliberately. “Those miserable people who started the fire will end up in jail,” Chubut Governor Ignacio Torres told the press.
According to Chubut prosecutor Carlos Díaz Mayer, the fire in Puerto Patriada was started with “lighter fluid or gasoline, which definitively shows someone meant to start a fire.”
Torres said the province will pay a reward of AR$50 million (around US$33,000) to anyone who provides concrete information about who started the blaze.
WATCH: trees snapping in half under 100mph winds on the Palisades Fire. At the end, you see firefighting aircraft blowing out of control like a leaf in the wind.
Australia’s fire season is well under way, this a view of the Pacific Hwy Fire near Bulahdelah. Wildfires in Australia have already destroyed over a dozen homes and taken the life of one veteran firefighter.
Some rains have moved into areas where fires have been burning, but they have a long summer to go.
📷 @NSWRFS
The Pack Fire grew to 3,400+ acres last night in Mono county, California.
Evacuations were ordered for surrounding communities. Precipitation was received over the fire area, and Fire activity has reduced.
📷 Mammoth PD
California: The Garnet Fire remained active through the evening and made a significant push to the north, with multiple spot fires across the McKinley Grove Rd in Fresno county. The fire has established itself in terrain filled with continuous dead standing fuels from bug kill, and will likely be active for sometime.
Crews have also conducted strategic firing operations to bring the fire down to contingency lines on their own terms, while other resources worked to round up spot fires on another section of the fire.
The fire is now 53,352 acres and 14% contained. Today is a transition day for Teams, with California Team 10 handing the Fire over to California Team 5. Thanks to the subscriber who shared this view of Fire activity last night.