wildfires

National

Two Weeks In, Firefighters Battle To Save Homes From Southern California Wildfires

6:42pm December 17, 2017

by Leila Fadel

The Thomas Fire in Southern California is on it's way to being the largest in the state's history. Fourteen days in, the flames continue to burn in bone dry, windy conditions. It's burning above the wealthy areas of Santa Barbara County, it's only 40 percent contained and will likely burn for days to come.

Queue Listen Now

Smoke from wildfires, like this lingering cloud in Sonoma County, Calif., in October, may be responsible for creating an off taste in wine.

Winemakers Worry Wildfires Will Leave Whiff Of Ashtray In Their Wine

2:57pm December 13, 2017

by Danielle Beurteaux

Grapes exposed to smoke from wildfires can absorb compounds that carry over into wine and ruin the flavor. The problem is only expected to grow as extreme weather events become more frequent.

Firefighters monitor a section of the Thomas Fire along the 101 freeway on Thursday north of Ventura, Calif.

National

California Wildfires: Tell Us Your Story

11:06pm December 07, 2017

Wildfires are burning across a large swath of Southern California, and NPR is working to bring you the latest information. If you have been affected, we would like to hear from you.

In Santa Rosa, a playground stands across the street from where recent wildfires reduced homes to rubble.

California Wildfires Have Disrupted School For A Quarter Of A Million Students

5:35pm October 21, 2017

by Carl Boisrond

Natural disasters have left millions of students across the U.S. out of school. The California wildfires have added to the tally, with dozens of districts and hundreds of schools affected.

Hundreds of homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood that were destroyed by the Tubbs Fire on October 11, 2017, in Santa Rosa, California.

As She Evacuated Patients From The Hospital, Her Home Burned

8:36am October 15, 2017

by April Dembosky

On extremely short notice, two hospitals had to evacuate all their patients as wildfires spread rapidly through Santa Rosa, Calif., last Sunday and Monday. One nurse on duty tells her story.

Cal Fire firefighter Trevor Smith battles the Tubbs Fire near Calistoga, Calif., on Thursday. Wildfires in Northern California have killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.

California Blazes Are Part Of A Larger And Hotter Picture, Fire Researchers Say

2:26pm October 13, 2017

by Geoff Brumfiel

The wildfires in California's wine country are coming in the midst of a near-record fire season nationwide. Researchers say a warming climate is a factor.

Napa County firefighter Jason Sheumann sprays water on a home as he battles flames from a wildfire on Monday in Napa, Calif. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through Northern California sending residents on a headlong flight to safety through smo

National

Wildfires Rage In California Wine Country, Leaving At Least 10 Dead

8:17pm October 09, 2017

by Scott Neuman

Wildfires forced residents in the wine country north of San Francisco to flee. At least 10 people have died and Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in eight counties.

Smoke plumes rise from the Rice Ridge Fire in August, behind Montana's Seeley Lake Elementary School, in Seeley Lake, Mont.

Montanans Pitch In To Bring Clean Air To Smoky Classrooms

5:00pm September 13, 2017

by Nora Saks

Montana has recently pushed all their young students indoors because of the unprecedented level of smoke from wildfires. Some community groups are now collaborating to clean up that indoor air.

At the Cathedral Ridge Winery in Hood River, Ore., smoke has poured into the property and there are worries it could alter the taste of the grapes.

National

Pacific Northwest Winemakers Worry Wildfire Smoke Could Ruin Harvest

2:49pm September 13, 2017

by Molly Solomon

The smoke and ash hanging in the air from the still-burning Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge could easily transfer to the grapes, potentially changing the quality of the wine.

Residents of the community of Tujunga, Calif., flee a fire near Burbank on Sept. 2. Even people much farther from the flames are feeling health effects from acrid smoke.

Is All That Wildfire Smoke Damaging My Lungs?

11:54am September 11, 2017

by Jane Greenhalgh

Forest fires have brought a smoky haze to the West, along with stinging eyes, sore throats and headaches to people far from flames. Unseen particles of ash also make it hard for some to breathe.

Queue Listen Now