A&nbsp;fire&nbsp;in a poor neighbourhood of the coastal&nbsp;Chilean&nbsp;city&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-chiles-violent-unrest-enters-into-fifth-week-death-toll-rises-to-23-263990">Valparaíso</a>&nbsp;destroyed dozens of houses on Tuesday and&nbsp;firefighters struggled to control the blaze, authorities said.

Inhabitants fled their&nbsp;homes&nbsp;in the middle of Christmas Eve festivities, some losing all their belongings and even pets, a&nbsp;witness said.

"The entire&nbsp;Valparaíso&nbsp;Fire&nbsp;Department with support from neighboring units is deployed. The&nbsp;fire&nbsp;has consumed&nbsp;about&nbsp;50&nbsp;homes,"&nbsp;firefighters said on Twitter. Two nearby neighbourhoods were being evacuated, they said.

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Great hose advancement drills this week by Valparaiso Fire Department. <a href="https://t.co/qSTD9xruit">pic.twitter.com/qSTD9xruit</a>
— John Kroll (@gysgtkroll) <a href="https://twitter.com/gysgtkroll/status/952315279895416832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The blaze, fed by high Southern Hemisphere summer temperatures and strong winds, started in a forested area and spread to the&nbsp;city,&nbsp;firefighters said.

Valparaiso, known for its colourful wood-frame houses, is popular among tourists in the South American country.

A fire in a poor neighbourhood of the coastal Chilean city of Valparaíso destroyed dozens of houses on Tuesday and firefighters struggled to control the blaze, authorities said.

A fire in a poor neighbourhood of the coastal Chilean city of Valparaíso destroyed dozens of houses on Tuesday and firefighters struggled to control the blaze, authorities said. Inhabitants fled their homes in the middle of Christmas Eve festivities, some losing all their belongings and even pets, a witness said. "The entire Valparaíso Fire Department with support from neighboring units is deployed. The fire has consumed about 50 homes," firefighters said on Twitter. Two nearby neighbourhoods were being evacuated, they said. Great hose advancement drills this week by Valparaiso Fire Department. pic.twitter.com/qSTD9xruit — John Kroll (@gysgtkroll) January 13, 2018 × The blaze, fed by high Southern Hemisphere summer temperatures and strong winds, started in a forested area and spread to the city, firefighters said. Valparaiso, known for its colourful wood-frame houses, is popular among tourists in the South American country.

Fire in Chilean city of Valparaíso destroys about 50 homes

Australian Prime Miniter Scott Morrison on Sunday visited firefighters who have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bushfires-hit-emergency-level-on-sydneys-outskirts-one-dead-in-south-australia-269445">battling bushfires in the country</a> for months.

Morrison recently apologised for a Hawaiian holiday that ended early after public outrage.

He went on a tour of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, whereby the volunteers have been struggling to contain blazes.

The PM faced flak for going on a family holiday amid the national crisis which has cloaked major cities like Brisbane and Sydney.

"I get it that people would have been upset to know that I was holidaying with my family while their families were under great stress... If you had your time over again and the benefit of hindsight we would have made different decisions," he said.

"I apologise," he said. "There have been lessons learned this week," adding that he believed it was time to move on from the controversy.

"I'm sure Australians are fair-minded and understand that when you make a promise to your kids, you try and keep it," the conservative leader said by way of explanation.

Watch: Catastrophic fires sweep across Australia

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/catastrophic-fires-sweep-across-australia-269508/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The embattled prime minister again acknowledged some link between climate change and weather patterns that scientists say has fuelled the fire crisis, but he indicated there would be no change in pro-coal policies.

Morrison also praised volunteer firefighters, who in the last 24 hours have faced <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deeply-regret-any-offence-caused-to-australians-pm-scott-morrison-apologises-for-hawaii-vacation-amid-bushfire-crisis-269362">catastrophic conditions</a> brought by a record heatwave, gale-force winds and prolonged drought.

Australia's firefighting force is overwhelmingly made up of volunteers who have been strained by the intensity and the length of this year's fire season.

Officials said two fires, already big enough to create their own thunderstorms, to the southwest of Sydney had joined to form another "megafire" on the doorstep of Australia's largest city.

Conditions eased markedly on Sunday, giving them time to try to contain massive blazes near Sydney that are only likely to be extinguished with heavy rainfall.

The news of his vacation has recently triggered protests. People on social media used the hashtag #WhereTheBloodyHellAreYa?

(With inputs from agencies)

Australian Prime Miniter Scott Morrison on Sunday visited firefighters who have been battling bushfires in the country for months. Morrison recently apologised for a Hawaiian holiday that ended early after public outrage.

Australian Prime Miniter Scott Morrison on Sunday visited firefighters who have been battling bushfires in the country for months. Morrison recently apologised for a Hawaiian holiday that ended early after public outrage. He went on a tour of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, whereby the volunteers have been struggling to contain blazes. The PM faced flak for going on a family holiday amid the national crisis which has cloaked major cities like Brisbane and Sydney. "I get it that people would have been upset to know that I was holidaying with my family while their families were under great stress... If you had your time over again and the benefit of hindsight we would have made different decisions," he said. "I apologise," he said. "There have been lessons learned this week," adding that he believed it was time to move on from the controversy. "I'm sure Australians are fair-minded and understand that when you make a promise to your kids, you try and keep it," the conservative leader said by way of explanation. Watch: Catastrophic fires sweep across Australia The embattled prime minister again acknowledged some link between climate change and weather patterns that scientists say has fuelled the fire crisis, but he indicated there would be no change in pro-coal policies. Morrison also praised volunteer firefighters, who in the last 24 hours have faced catastrophic conditions brought by a record heatwave, gale-force winds and prolonged drought. Australia's firefighting force is overwhelmingly made up of volunteers who have been strained by the intensity and the length of this year's fire season. Officials said two fires, already big enough to create their own thunderstorms, to the southwest of Sydney had joined to form another "megafire" on the doorstep of Australia's largest city. Conditions eased markedly on Sunday, giving them time to try to contain massive blazes near Sydney that are only likely to be extinguished with heavy rainfall. The news of his vacation has recently triggered protests. People on social media used the hashtag #WhereTheBloodyHellAreYa? (With inputs from agencies)

Australian PM visits firefighters after stirring controversy for Hawaii vacation

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australians-shelter-and-flee-as-firefighters-battle-150-bushfires-261748">Firefighters</a>&nbsp;in Australia&nbsp;warned on Tuesday they would not be able to contain some of the 100 fires still ablaze in the country before&nbsp;conditions&nbsp;are expected to deteriorate later this week.

Temperatures across parts of the eastern state of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/youth-matches-postponed-in-new-south-wales-as-australia-bushfires-rage-266564">New South Wales </a>(NSW) are expected to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, just shy of a record high for Australia's most populous state.

With bushland tinder-box dry, authorities&nbsp;warned locals near existing&nbsp;blazes&nbsp;that fires could spread.

&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bushfires-still-threatening-in-australias-eastern-and-western-parts-268398/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

"People should be under no illusion, we won’t contain the fires by the time the weather deteriorates later this week," NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers told Australia's Channel 9.

"People need to brace themselves in those areas for what’s potentially to come."

Firefighters&nbsp;are battling more than 120 fires across NSW, including a 60 km (37.2 miles) firefront northwest of Sydney, one many of that have been burning since November.

The fires have killed six people, destroyed more than 680 homes and burned nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of bushland.

While the bulk of the&nbsp;blazes&nbsp;have been concentrated across Australia's east coast, hot weather has ignited firefronts in other parts, stretching authorities to the limit.

In Western Australia, cooler weather has eased the earlier threat of fires, authorities said.

Escalating wildfires threaten to blanket Sydney home to more than 5 million people and better known for its clear skies and blue harbour in smoke and ash again.

Haze in recent weeks had turned Sydney's daytime <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fears-grow-about-sydney-after-australia-fires-merge-into-giant-blaze-266607">sky orange</a>, obscured visibility and prompted many commuters to wear breathing masks as air quality plunged to hazardous levels not previously seen in the city.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-bushfires-emitted-50-of-annual-co2-emissions-report-268156">Bushfires</a> are common in Australia's hot, dry summers, but the ferocity and early arrival of the fires last month in the southern hemisphere spring is unprecedented. Experts have said climate change has left bushland extremely dry.

The crisis has also put pressure on Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/australia-and-new-zealand/australian-pm-scott-morrison-gives-national-apology-to-victims-of-institutional-child-abuse-172691">Scott Morrison</a>, who critics say has not done enough to address the impact of climate change.

Morrison has defended his government's policies, but some former&nbsp;firefighters&nbsp;chiefs say Australia must abandon its existing strategy that puts the main responsibility for extinguishing&nbsp;blazes&nbsp;in the hands of state and territory governments.

"Business, as usual, doesn't work and we need a roundtable to get that sort of thinking with all agencies involved," Peter Dunn, former Emergency Services Authority commissioner in the&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;Capital Territory, told reporters in Sydney.

Firefighters in Australia warned on Tuesday they would not be able to contain some of the 100 fires still ablaze in the country before conditions are expected to deteriorate later this week.

Firefighters in Australia warned on Tuesday they would not be able to contain some of the 100 fires still ablaze in the country before conditions are expected to deteriorate later this week. Temperatures across parts of the eastern state of New South Wales (NSW) are expected to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, just shy of a record high for Australia's most populous state. With bushland tinder-box dry, authorities warned locals near existing blazes that fires could spread. "People should be under no illusion, we won’t contain the fires by the time the weather deteriorates later this week," NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers told Australia's Channel 9. "People need to brace themselves in those areas for what’s potentially to come." Firefighters are battling more than 120 fires across NSW, including a 60 km (37.2 miles) firefront northwest of Sydney, one many of that have been burning since November. The fires have killed six people, destroyed more than 680 homes and burned nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of bushland. While the bulk of the blazes have been concentrated across Australia's east coast, hot weather has ignited firefronts in other parts, stretching authorities to the limit. In Western Australia, cooler weather has eased the earlier threat of fires, authorities said. Escalating wildfires threaten to blanket Sydney home to more than 5 million people and better known for its clear skies and blue harbour in smoke and ash again. Haze in recent weeks had turned Sydney's daytime sky orange, obscured visibility and prompted many commuters to wear breathing masks as air quality plunged to hazardous levels not previously seen in the city. Bushfires are common in Australia's hot, dry summers, but the ferocity and early arrival of the fires last month in the southern hemisphere spring is unprecedented. Experts have said climate change has left bushland extremely dry. The crisis has also put pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who critics say has not done enough to address the impact of climate change. Morrison has defended his government's policies, but some former firefighters chiefs say Australia must abandon its existing strategy that puts the main responsibility for extinguishing blazes in the hands of state and territory governments. "Business, as usual, doesn't work and we need a roundtable to get that sort of thinking with all agencies involved," Peter Dunn, former Emergency Services Authority commissioner in the Australian Capital Territory, told reporters in Sydney.

Australian firefighters warn of uncontrollable blazes as conditions worsen

Hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-school-shooter-used-kit-gun-authorities-263791">California</a>&nbsp;firefighters&nbsp;on Tuesday battled a wind-driven bushfire that grew out of control overnight near Santa Barbara, threatening thousands of homes and prompting evacuation orders.

The so-called "Cave Fire" that started on Monday in Los Padres National Forest, grew to nearly 4,300 acres&nbsp;overnight as it moved toward populated areas in the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta and nearby communities about a two hours' drive north of Los Angeles.

Some 600&nbsp;firefighters&nbsp;were battling the&nbsp;blaze&nbsp;that prompted evacuation orders for about 2,300 homes or nearly 5,500 people.

Fire officials said helicopters and fixed-wing planes were assisting the&nbsp;firefighters&nbsp;who faced steep, rugged terrain.

"The Cave Fire is burning under some of the toughest firefighting conditions anywhere in the world," said Los Padres National Forest Fire Chief Jimmy Harris.

"We’ve experienced several offshore wind events at this point, and that has just dried the fuel bed out to the point where we're seeing the fire behaviour we saw last night."&nbsp;

He said the&nbsp;blaze&nbsp;was all the more challenging for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/teams-make-progress-against-latest-major-california-blaze-259577">firefighters</a>&nbsp;as high winds were pushing the flames downhill and then back uphill.

Authorities said the fire, the cause of which was unknown, was zero per cent contained by midday Tuesday but they were hopeful that a storm set to arrive in the area later in the day would help extinguish the flames.

While the rain could bring much-needed relief for&nbsp;firefighters, officials warned that it may also prompt flash floods and debris flows.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said that about 4,000 people who were forced to evacuate would be allowed back into their homes Tuesday afternoon.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydneysiders-urged-to-stay-indoors-as-australian-bushfire-smoke-blankets-city-263900">blaze</a>&nbsp;comes on the heels of a series of major fires that erupted in the state last month destroying homes and vineyards and forcing thousands of people to flee.

Hundreds of California firefighters on Tuesday battled a wind-driven bushfire that grew out of control overnight near Santa Barbara, threatening thousands of homes and prompting evacuation orders.

Hundreds of California firefighters on Tuesday battled a wind-driven bushfire that grew out of control overnight near Santa Barbara, threatening thousands of homes and prompting evacuation orders. The so-called "Cave Fire" that started on Monday in Los Padres National Forest, grew to nearly 4,300 acres overnight as it moved toward populated areas in the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta and nearby communities about a two hours' drive north of Los Angeles. Some 600 firefighters were battling the blaze that prompted evacuation orders for about 2,300 homes or nearly 5,500 people. Fire officials said helicopters and fixed-wing planes were assisting the firefighters who faced steep, rugged terrain. "The Cave Fire is burning under some of the toughest firefighting conditions anywhere in the world," said Los Padres National Forest Fire Chief Jimmy Harris. "We’ve experienced several offshore wind events at this point, and that has just dried the fuel bed out to the point where we're seeing the fire behaviour we saw last night." He said the blaze was all the more challenging for firefighters as high winds were pushing the flames downhill and then back uphill. Authorities said the fire, the cause of which was unknown, was zero per cent contained by midday Tuesday but they were hopeful that a storm set to arrive in the area later in the day would help extinguish the flames. While the rain could bring much-needed relief for firefighters, officials warned that it may also prompt flash floods and debris flows. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said that about 4,000 people who were forced to evacuate would be allowed back into their homes Tuesday afternoon. The blaze comes on the heels of a series of major fires that erupted in the state last month destroying homes and vineyards and forcing thousands of people to flee.

California: 'Cave Fire' threatens thousands of homes and triggers evacuation

California Wildfires: California is in a catastrophic situation, Dry weather and strong wind have intensified on-going fires. For the rescue operation, Hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers have been deployed.

California's Long wall of Orange Flames

California firefighters aided by subsiding winds took the offensive on Friday against two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-wildfires-rage-in-california-about-50000-get-evacuated-258037">major wildfires</a> at opposite ends of the state, one displacing 50,000 suburban Los Angeles residents and another roaring through Sonoma County's famed wine country.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency for both blazes, which erupted hours apart amid fierce winds this week that put emergency managers on high alert and prompted utilities to impose wide-scale power outages to curtail wildfire risks.

No injuries have been reported from either the Kincade fire in Sonoma County, about 130 km&nbsp;north of San Francisco or the Tick fire in the Santa Clarita Valley about 65 km&nbsp;north of Los Angeles.

But the two blazes, the worst of several large wildfires across the state this week, have destroyed dozens of homes and other structures while prompting air-quality alerts in parts of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area.

The dry, hot desert winds, gusting to 112 kph, gave way to light breezes on Thursday night, slowing the fires' advance and presenting crews with a chance to make significant headway against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tens-of-thousands-evacuated-as-california-wildfires-rage-255379">the flames</a>.

The lull was expected to be short-lived. Forecasts called for heavy winds to return late on Saturday and persist through the weekend, leaving fire crews a narrow window to tamp down the blazes in Los Angeles and Sonoma counties.

Power companies, led by the state's largest investor-owned utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Co, also were bracing for a renewal of gale-force winds.

Even as PG&amp;E worked to restore electricity to nearly 200,000 homes and businesses switched off ahead of this week's earlier bout of severe winds, the utility announced plans for a new round of precautionary blackouts expected to leave 850,000 customers without power across 36 counties in northern and central California.

The utility cited weather data showing the expected windstorm "could be the most powerful in California in decades."

Adding to PG&amp;E's difficulties, the utility acknowledged on Thursday that the Kincade fire, which forced the evacuation of 2,000 people in Sonoma County after erupting on Wednesday night, began near the base of a damaged high-voltage transmission tower the utility owns.

Lights on and off

A power shutdown of that scale, affecting millions of people, would surpass even the record outage imposed by PG&amp;E on some 730,000 of its customers in anticipation of a previous windstorm two weeks ago.

That precautionary blackout drew sharp criticism from the governor and regulators as being too widespread as well as poorly managed and communicated to the public.

Newsom has said PG&amp;E is largely to blame for its own predicament, arguing corporate greed and mismanagement kept the utility from upgrading its infrastructure while wildfire hazards have steadily worsened over the past decade, a function of climate change.

PG&amp;E, which filed for bankruptcy in January citing billions of dollars in civil liabilities from deadly wildfires sparked by its equipment in 2017 and 2018, says it has since remedied problems experienced with its website and customer call centre.

It has also arranged for extra personnel from affiliated energy companies and the state to assist with the spot inspections required of its de-energised power lines before electricity that has been turned off is allowed to be restored, the company said.

By Friday, the Kincade fire had charred nearly 8,900 hectares&nbsp;in a wine-growing region whose better-known vintners include "The Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola, and destroyed at least 49 dwellings and other structures, officials said.

Evacuation orders included the entire town of Geyserville, an historic enclave that is home to about 900 residents and is named for geothermal features in the vicinity.

Fire crews, backed by helicopters and aeroplane tankers dumping loads of water and flame-retardant on the blaze, had managed to carve containment lines around just 5 per cent&nbsp;of the blaze as of Friday.

Hundreds of miles to the south, crews battled to suppress the Tick fire, which erupted on Thursday and by Friday had scorched 4,300 acres&nbsp;and was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firefighters-battle-southern-california-wildfires-100000-evacuated-255548">threatening 15,000 homes</a> and businesses, officials said.

An estimated 50,000 people were displaced by evacuation orders in and around Santa Clarita. Poor air quality from thick smoke drifting south prompted the Los Angeles School District to cancel classes for all students in the San Fernando Valley.

"Scary, crazy. We've lived here 37 years and never had to evacuate. So, you know, you always hear about it, you always think, maybe this time. But, yeah, this is the first time," evacuee Terri Egar said.

The fire has destroyed at least six structures, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said, adding that figure was expected to rise.

"This is the largest evacuation that we've had in Santa Clarita," Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger told a news conference.

California firefighters aided by subsiding winds took the offensive on Friday against two major wildfires at opposite ends of the state, one displacing 50,000 suburban Los Angeles residents and another roaring through Sonoma County's famed wine country.

California firefighters aided by subsiding winds took the offensive on Friday against two major wildfires at opposite ends of the state, one displacing 50,000 suburban Los Angeles residents and another roaring through Sonoma County's famed wine country. Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency for both blazes, which erupted hours apart amid fierce winds this week that put emergency managers on high alert and prompted utilities to impose wide-scale power outages to curtail wildfire risks. No injuries have been reported from either the Kincade fire in Sonoma County, about 130 km north of San Francisco or the Tick fire in the Santa Clarita Valley about 65 km north of Los Angeles. But the two blazes, the worst of several large wildfires across the state this week, have destroyed dozens of homes and other structures while prompting air-quality alerts in parts of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area. The dry, hot desert winds, gusting to 112 kph, gave way to light breezes on Thursday night, slowing the fires' advance and presenting crews with a chance to make significant headway against the flames. The lull was expected to be short-lived. Forecasts called for heavy winds to return late on Saturday and persist through the weekend, leaving fire crews a narrow window to tamp down the blazes in Los Angeles and Sonoma counties. Power companies, led by the state's largest investor-owned utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Co, also were bracing for a renewal of gale-force winds. Even as PG&E worked to restore electricity to nearly 200,000 homes and businesses switched off ahead of this week's earlier bout of severe winds, the utility announced plans for a new round of precautionary blackouts expected to leave 850,000 customers without power across 36 counties in northern and central California. The utility cited weather data showing the expected windstorm "could be the most powerful in California in decades." Adding to PG&E's difficulties, the utility acknowledged on Thursday that the Kincade fire, which forced the evacuation of 2,000 people in Sonoma County after erupting on Wednesday night, began near the base of a damaged high-voltage transmission tower the utility owns. Lights on and off A power shutdown of that scale, affecting millions of people, would surpass even the record outage imposed by PG&E on some 730,000 of its customers in anticipation of a previous windstorm two weeks ago. That precautionary blackout drew sharp criticism from the governor and regulators as being too widespread as well as poorly managed and communicated to the public. Newsom has said PG&E is largely to blame for its own predicament, arguing corporate greed and mismanagement kept the utility from upgrading its infrastructure while wildfire hazards have steadily worsened over the past decade, a function of climate change. PG&E, which filed for bankruptcy in January citing billions of dollars in civil liabilities from deadly wildfires sparked by its equipment in 2017 and 2018, says it has since remedied problems experienced with its website and customer call centre. It has also arranged for extra personnel from affiliated energy companies and the state to assist with the spot inspections required of its de-energised power lines before electricity that has been turned off is allowed to be restored, the company said. By Friday, the Kincade fire had charred nearly 8,900 hectares in a wine-growing region whose better-known vintners include "The Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola, and destroyed at least 49 dwellings and other structures, officials said. Evacuation orders included the entire town of Geyserville, an historic enclave that is home to about 900 residents and is named for geothermal features in the vicinity. Fire crews, backed by helicopters and aeroplane tankers dumping loads of water and flame-retardant on the blaze, had managed to carve containment lines around just 5 per cent of the blaze as of Friday. Hundreds of miles to the south, crews battled to suppress the Tick fire, which erupted on Thursday and by Friday had scorched 4,300 acres and was threatening 15,000 homes and businesses, officials said. An estimated 50,000 people were displaced by evacuation orders in and around Santa Clarita. Poor air quality from thick smoke drifting south prompted the Los Angeles School District to cancel classes for all students in the San Fernando Valley. "Scary, crazy. We've lived here 37 years and never had to evacuate. So, you know, you always hear about it, you always think, maybe this time. But, yeah, this is the first time," evacuee Terri Egar said. The fire has destroyed at least six structures, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said, adding that figure was expected to rise. "This is the largest evacuation that we've had in Santa Clarita," Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger told a news conference.

California firefighters tackle blazes in suburbs of Los Angeles

Firefighters battled to contain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unacceptable-power-cuts-blasted-as-california-fire-risk-spreads-south-255202">wildfires in southern California</a> on Saturday after about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tens-of-thousands-evacuated-as-california-wildfires-rage-255379">100,000 people were forced to evacuate</a> their homes.

The area was under a red flag warning of critical fire danger -- strong winds and very low humidity, the National Weather Service said.

The so-called Saddleridge fire that burned through the San Fernando Valley area of greater Los Angeles was the strongest of several across southern California.

By Saturday, it had consumed 7,551 acres&nbsp;about 32 kilometres&nbsp;north of downtown Los Angeles, fire officials said, adding that the blaze was about 19 per cent contained.

Some residents were allowed to return to their homes on Saturday as a forecast of cooler temperatures and lighter winds improved the outlook.

"We are prepared for any flare-ups as they occur," Los Angeles Fire captain Branden Silverman told local media on Saturday.

One man in his 50s died of a heart attack as he struggled to save his home, fire officials said.

Part of Los Angeles County was blanketed with smoke from the fire, prompting an advisory from air quality officials about unhealthy conditions.

The fire broke out Thursday night and quickly grew out of control for unknown reasons in the city of Sylmar, driven by low humidity and gusts known as the Santa Ana winds.

About 1,000 firefighters, backed by water-dropping helicopters and planes releasing fire retardants, had fought the blaze that forced the shutdown of several major highways.

The metro line in the area was also closed as were schools and businesses.

Some 200 firefighters battled several other blazes in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, including one that tore through a trailer park and was started by burning trash.

That blaze destroyed 76 homes and buildings and killed an 89-year-old woman who was unable to escape the flames.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of several hundred homes in the area.

The wildfires in the south of the state erupted as California's largest utility, Pacific Gas &amp; Electric (PG&amp;E), implemented rolling power blackouts that affected some two million people in northern California.

The shutoffs were designed to reduce the threat of wildfire that can be sparked by lines downed in heavy winds.

Last November, PG&amp;E's faulty power lines were determined to have sparked the deadliest wildfire in the state's modern history, which killed 86 and destroyed the town of Paradise.

Firefighters battled to contain wildfires in southern California on Saturday after about 100,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes. The area was under a red flag warning of critical fire danger -- strong winds and very low humidity, the National Weather Service said.

Firefighters battled to contain wildfires in southern California on Saturday after about 100,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes. The area was under a red flag warning of critical fire danger -- strong winds and very low humidity, the National Weather Service said. The so-called Saddleridge fire that burned through the San Fernando Valley area of greater Los Angeles was the strongest of several across southern California. By Saturday, it had consumed 7,551 acres about 32 kilometres north of downtown Los Angeles, fire officials said, adding that the blaze was about 19 per cent contained. Some residents were allowed to return to their homes on Saturday as a forecast of cooler temperatures and lighter winds improved the outlook. "We are prepared for any flare-ups as they occur," Los Angeles Fire captain Branden Silverman told local media on Saturday. One man in his 50s died of a heart attack as he struggled to save his home, fire officials said. Part of Los Angeles County was blanketed with smoke from the fire, prompting an advisory from air quality officials about unhealthy conditions. The fire broke out Thursday night and quickly grew out of control for unknown reasons in the city of Sylmar, driven by low humidity and gusts known as the Santa Ana winds. About 1,000 firefighters, backed by water-dropping helicopters and planes releasing fire retardants, had fought the blaze that forced the shutdown of several major highways. The metro line in the area was also closed as were schools and businesses. Some 200 firefighters battled several other blazes in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, including one that tore through a trailer park and was started by burning trash. That blaze destroyed 76 homes and buildings and killed an 89-year-old woman who was unable to escape the flames. Authorities ordered the evacuation of several hundred homes in the area. The wildfires in the south of the state erupted as California's largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), implemented rolling power blackouts that affected some two million people in northern California. The shutoffs were designed to reduce the threat of wildfire that can be sparked by lines downed in heavy winds. Last November, PG&E's faulty power lines were determined to have sparked the deadliest wildfire in the state's modern history, which killed 86 and destroyed the town of Paradise.

Firefighters battle southern California wildfires; 100,000 evacuated

Amidst fire fighting operation here at a residential building on Sunday, a fire-personnel was rushed to a hospital following asphyxiation&nbsp;and "dehydration" while another person, stranded inside the building&nbsp;was found unconscious. He was rescued and provided medical care.

A level-3 fire broke out at Aaditya Arcade building at Charni road on Sunday morning. Several fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the flames.

Cooling operation by the fire brigade is underway.

As many as eight people who were trapped inside have been rescued by the fire brigade. 
 
Further, details are awaited.

Amidst fire fighting operation here at a residential building on Sunday, a fire-personnel was rushed to a hospital following asphyxiation and "dehydration" while another person, stranded inside the building was found unconscious.

Amidst fire fighting operation here at a residential building on Sunday, a fire-personnel was rushed to a hospital following asphyxiation and "dehydration" while another person, stranded inside the building was found unconscious. He was rescued and provided medical care. A level-3 fire broke out at Aaditya Arcade building at Charni road on Sunday morning. Several fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Cooling operation by the fire brigade is underway. As many as eight people who were trapped inside have been rescued by the fire brigade. Further, details are awaited.

Mumbai fire: Two including firefighter hospitalised due to asphyxiation

Firefighters in Greece on Friday made progress against a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fire-rages-on-greeces-evia-threat-to-people-averted-242955">four-day wildfire on the island of Evia</a> that has burned through a pine forest and threatened villages, officials said.

"The situation looks better today, there is no active front, but our forces remain in place," a fire department spokesman told AFP, adding that there were still "pockets of fire" smouldering in a ravine.

A massive force of nearly 400 firefighters backed by more than 100 vehicles, nine planes and four helicopters remains in the area.

Two water bombers from Italy and one from Spain are assisting the effort, the spokesman said.

"It's quite a large perimeter that needs to be monitored," civil protection spokesman Spyros Georgiou told AFP.

But as the situation was improving, the Italian and Spanish crews would be withdrawn from the operation by the evening, he said. They are to be decorated by the agency for their assistance on Saturday.

Rain is expected in the area on Saturday.

State agency ANA said the fire, which broke out Tuesday, has burned some 2,400 hectares (5,600 acres) including more than 1,000 hectares of dense pine forest.

"We should be able to have a clearer picture of the exact damage on Monday," Georgiou said.

After touring the area earlier in the week, he said that there was confirmed damage to animal pens and beehives.

EU Humanitarian Commissioner Christos Stylianides on Wednesday called the mobilisation of Greek forces "exemplary" after emergency crews managed to save inhabited areas.

A firefighter was hospitalised with burns on Tuesday, and at least four cars have been burned.

Authorities suspect arson was involved as the fire broke out in three separate locations near the village of Makrymalli.

Two Greek men were arrested Thursday on suspicion of setting fires in the Peloponnese peninsula.

A third Greek man was arrested in the same area on Friday.

Greece has been hit by a spate of wildfires since the weekend, fanned by gale-force winds and temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

Firefighters in Greece on Friday made progress against a four-day wildfire on the island of Evia that has burned through a pine forest and threatened villages, officials said.

Firefighters in Greece on Friday made progress against a four-day wildfire on the island of Evia that has burned through a pine forest and threatened villages, officials said. "The situation looks better today, there is no active front, but our forces remain in place," a fire department spokesman told AFP, adding that there were still "pockets of fire" smouldering in a ravine. A massive force of nearly 400 firefighters backed by more than 100 vehicles, nine planes and four helicopters remains in the area. Two water bombers from Italy and one from Spain are assisting the effort, the spokesman said. "It's quite a large perimeter that needs to be monitored," civil protection spokesman Spyros Georgiou told AFP. But as the situation was improving, the Italian and Spanish crews would be withdrawn from the operation by the evening, he said. They are to be decorated by the agency for their assistance on Saturday. Rain is expected in the area on Saturday. State agency ANA said the fire, which broke out Tuesday, has burned some 2,400 hectares (5,600 acres) including more than 1,000 hectares of dense pine forest. "We should be able to have a clearer picture of the exact damage on Monday," Georgiou said. After touring the area earlier in the week, he said that there was confirmed damage to animal pens and beehives. EU Humanitarian Commissioner Christos Stylianides on Wednesday called the mobilisation of Greek forces "exemplary" after emergency crews managed to save inhabited areas. A firefighter was hospitalised with burns on Tuesday, and at least four cars have been burned. Authorities suspect arson was involved as the fire broke out in three separate locations near the village of Makrymalli. Two Greek men were arrested Thursday on suspicion of setting fires in the Peloponnese peninsula. A third Greek man was arrested in the same area on Friday. Greece has been hit by a spate of wildfires since the weekend, fanned by gale-force winds and temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

Greek fire crews make progress on island blaze

Over180 firefighters battled wildfires in Greece on Tuesday, with the largest burning through a thickly forested nature reserve on the island of Evia north of Athens where three villages have been evacuated. Watch this video to know more.

Greece battles another wildfire, no deaths reported

Chinese firefighters successfully rescued and evacuated dozens of flood-trapped citizens after torrential rains hit many parts of the country early Sunday morning.

Firefighters evacuate residents from rain-triggered flooding in parts of China

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-president-macron-hopes-to-rebuild-notre-dame-in-five-years-211025">French President Emmanuel Macron</a> on Thursday hailed Paris firefighters for their ''exemplary'' actions in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-invite-architects-worldwide-to-submit-designs-to-build-notre-dame-spire-pm-edouard-philippe-211158">battling the Notre-Dame cathedral blaze</a>.

Macron hosted a ceremony at the Elysee Palace for the firefighters.

"The country and the entire world were watching us and you were exemplary," Macron told 300 people who helped in the fire on Monday night.

"You were the perfect example of what we should be," Macron&nbsp;added.

A major <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/notre-dame-cathedral-was-probably-caused-by-accident-say-french-prosecutors-210901">fire broke out at Notre-Dame cathedral</a> on Monday afternoon which took some 400 firemen to put it out. The firefighters worked through the night to bring the fire under control some 14 hours after it began.

Macron has pledged that France would rebuild the cathedral in over five years.

Notre-Dame is owned by the state and has been at the centre of a years-long row between the nation and the Paris archdiocese over who should bear the brunt of costs for badly needed restoration work.

(With inputs from AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday hailed Paris firefighters for their ''exemplary'' actions in battling the Notre-Dame cathedral blaze. Macron hosted a ceremony at the Elysee Palace for the firefighters.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday hailed Paris firefighters for their ''exemplary'' actions in battling the Notre-Dame cathedral blaze. Macron hosted a ceremony at the Elysee Palace for the firefighters. "The country and the entire world were watching us and you were exemplary," Macron told 300 people who helped in the fire on Monday night. "You were the perfect example of what we should be," Macron added. A major fire broke out at Notre-Dame cathedral on Monday afternoon which took some 400 firemen to put it out. The firefighters worked through the night to bring the fire under control some 14 hours after it began. Macron has pledged that France would rebuild the cathedral in over five years. Notre-Dame is owned by the state and has been at the centre of a years-long row between the nation and the Paris archdiocese over who should bear the brunt of costs for badly needed restoration work. (With inputs from AFP)

Macron hails 'exemplary' Notre-Dame firefighters during a ceremony

Holy Crown of Thorns, sacred relics saved during Notre-Dame fire

South Korea mobilised more than 15,000 firefighters and soldiers to help douse most of the wildfires that have killed one person and forced more than 4,000 to flee their homes, authorities said on Friday.

Thursday's fires broke out in the eastern province of Gangwon, razing about 1,297 acres and about 134 homes, seven warehouses and other structures, the government said in a statement.

Late on Friday, just 275 people remained in gymnasiums and schools, of more than 4,000 citizens who had been evacuated there. About 52 schools were closed.

The fire in two areas in Gangwon has been contained, the government said, while about 80 per cent of the fire in nearby Inje county was contained by Friday evening.

The cause of the fire was suspected to be sparks triggered by power lines, the government said, without elaborating.

President Moon Jae-in, who has ordered the use of all available resources to put out the fires, visited evacuation shelters and talked to victims.

About 872 fire trucks and 3,251 firefighters from all over the country worked to contain the wildfire, the National Fire Agency said.

The US military said it supplied two helicopters with specialised buckets to drop water.

Subsidies of about $3.5 million will fund the effort to rein in the fires and clear debris, while disaster relief funds of $220,000 will help accommodate evacuees and provide necessities, the interior ministry said.

South Korea mobilised more than 15,000 firefighters and soldiers to help douse most of the wildfires that have killed one person and forced more than 4,000 to flee their homes, authorities said on Friday.

South Korea mobilised more than 15,000 firefighters and soldiers to help douse most of the wildfires that have killed one person and forced more than 4,000 to flee their homes, authorities said on Friday. Thursday's fires broke out in the eastern province of Gangwon, razing about 1,297 acres and about 134 homes, seven warehouses and other structures, the government said in a statement. Late on Friday, just 275 people remained in gymnasiums and schools, of more than 4,000 citizens who had been evacuated there. About 52 schools were closed. The fire in two areas in Gangwon has been contained, the government said, while about 80 per cent of the fire in nearby Inje county was contained by Friday evening. The cause of the fire was suspected to be sparks triggered by power lines, the government said, without elaborating. President Moon Jae-in, who has ordered the use of all available resources to put out the fires, visited evacuation shelters and talked to victims. About 872 fire trucks and 3,251 firefighters from all over the country worked to contain the wildfire, the National Fire Agency said. The US military said it supplied two helicopters with specialised buckets to drop water. Subsidies of about $3.5 million will fund the effort to rein in the fires and clear debris, while disaster relief funds of $220,000 will help accommodate evacuees and provide necessities, the interior ministry said.

Firefighters contain most of South Korean wildfires; hundreds evacuated

A large New Zealand wildfire is expected to burn for weeks longer but has moved away from some inhabited areas, allowing residents of an evacuated village to return home soon, firefighters said Monday.

About 3,000 inhabitants of Wakefield, just outside Nelson at the top of South Island, were ordered out Saturday as flames razed bushland within two kilometres of their homes.

The fire erupted early last week amid scorching conditions in the heavily forested area and by early Monday had swept through an estimated 2,300 hectares (5,700 acres).

Fire chief John Sutton said that although conditions had eased, the blaze remained unpredictable and it was too early to say it was under control.

"There's still an enormous amount of heat there and there's a lot of unburned areas," he told reporters.&nbsp;

"So although we might be turning a corner, there will be firefighters working on that fire until well into March."

Civil Defence regional chief Roger Ball said Wakefield residents could return home as early as Monday evening but the area was still under a state of emergency.&nbsp;

"Returning residents need to understand and accept that they need to be prepared to evacuate again if conditions change," he said.

He said residents of valleys outside the village, which are much closer to the fire front, would have to remain in emergency accommodation until further notice.

The main fire is believed to have been accidentally started by farm equipment, although there have also been two minor blazes which police said were deliberately lit.

So far one home has been destroyed by the fire and there have been no reported deaths or injuries.

A large New Zealand wildfire is expected to burn for weeks longer but has moved away from some inhabited areas, allowing residents of an evacuated village to return home soon, firefighters said Monday.

A large New Zealand wildfire is expected to burn for weeks longer but has moved away from some inhabited areas, allowing residents of an evacuated village to return home soon, firefighters said Monday. About 3,000 inhabitants of Wakefield, just outside Nelson at the top of South Island, were ordered out Saturday as flames razed bushland within two kilometres of their homes. The fire erupted early last week amid scorching conditions in the heavily forested area and by early Monday had swept through an estimated 2,300 hectares (5,700 acres). Fire chief John Sutton said that although conditions had eased, the blaze remained unpredictable and it was too early to say it was under control. "There's still an enormous amount of heat there and there's a lot of unburned areas," he told reporters. "So although we might be turning a corner, there will be firefighters working on that fire until well into March." Civil Defence regional chief Roger Ball said Wakefield residents could return home as early as Monday evening but the area was still under a state of emergency. "Returning residents need to understand and accept that they need to be prepared to evacuate again if conditions change," he said. He said residents of valleys outside the village, which are much closer to the fire front, would have to remain in emergency accommodation until further notice. The main fire is believed to have been accidentally started by farm equipment, although there have also been two minor blazes which police said were deliberately lit. So far one home has been destroyed by the fire and there have been no reported deaths or injuries.

New Zealand wildfire expected to burn for weeks

A bush fire on New Zealand's South Island spread through thousands of hectares, destroying property and forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes, officials said on Wednesday.

The fire that started at Pigeon Valley in Nelson on Tuesday (February 5) doubled overnight to spread over 1,870 hectares according to the Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Office.

More than 100 homes have been evacuated or self-evacuated, and people were being sheltered at civil defence centres. Several homes have been burned down although there have been no reports of casualties or injuries so far.

Officials said 12 fire crews worked overnight to control the fire, and 10 helicopters and two planes were being used on Wednesday to control the blaze. It could take up to four days to extinguish the fire, firefighters said.

A bush fire on New Zealand's South Island spread through thousands of hectares, destroying property and forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes, officials said on Wednesday.

A bush fire on New Zealand's South Island spread through thousands of hectares, destroying property and forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes, officials said on Wednesday. The fire that started at Pigeon Valley in Nelson on Tuesday (February 5) doubled overnight to spread over 1,870 hectares according to the Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Office. More than 100 homes have been evacuated or self-evacuated, and people were being sheltered at civil defence centres. Several homes have been burned down although there have been no reports of casualties or injuries so far. Officials said 12 fire crews worked overnight to control the fire, and 10 helicopters and two planes were being used on Wednesday to control the blaze. It could take up to four days to extinguish the fire, firefighters said.

Watch: Forest wildfire in New Zealand forces evacuation

The number of people missing in a devastating wildfire in northern California jumped to more than 1,000 on Friday, authorities said, as the remains of eight other victims were found by rescuers.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the number of missing had soared from 631 on Thursday to 1,011 on Friday as more reports of missing were being sent in and as emergency calls made when the fire broke out on November 8 are being reviewed.

The eight additional victims bring to 71 the number of people who have died in the so-called Camp Fire.

Meanwhile, the White House in a statement said President Trump would visit the state to review the situation. The county town of Paradise in northern California has been worst hit by the wildfire with most of those missing reported to be in the age group of 70s, 80s and 90s.

A number of celebrities have lost their homes in Malibu including Gerard Butler, Miley Cyrus, Pierce Brosnan, Neil Young, Robin Thicke and Shannen Doherty.

California fire department had said that that the wildfire had destroyed 56,655 hectares but was only 40 per cent contained. At least 5,500 firefighters were battling the blaze.

The number of people missing in a devastating wildfire in northern California jumped to more than 1,000 on Friday, authorities said, as the remains of eight other victims were found by rescuers.

The number of people missing in a devastating wildfire in northern California jumped to more than 1,000 on Friday, authorities said, as the remains of eight other victims were found by rescuers. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the number of missing had soared from 631 on Thursday to 1,011 on Friday as more reports of missing were being sent in and as emergency calls made when the fire broke out on November 8 are being reviewed. The eight additional victims bring to 71 the number of people who have died in the so-called Camp Fire. Meanwhile, the White House in a statement said President Trump would visit the state to review the situation. The county town of Paradise in northern California has been worst hit by the wildfire with most of those missing reported to be in the age group of 70s, 80s and 90s. A number of celebrities have lost their homes in Malibu including Gerard Butler, Miley Cyrus, Pierce Brosnan, Neil Young, Robin Thicke and Shannen Doherty. California fire department had said that that the wildfire had destroyed 56,655 hectares but was only 40 per cent contained. At least 5,500 firefighters were battling the blaze.

Over 1000 missing, 71 dead in California wildfire

More than 700 firefighters backed by six aircraft battled a large wildfire in the hills around the resort areas of Cascais and Sintra near Portugal's capital Lisbon on Sunday after the blaze forced the evacuation of several hundred people overnight.

Officials said 18 people, mostly firefighters, had been lightly injured in the blaze that broke out late on Saturday, fanned by strong winds amid unusually hot weather for October.

"There are still two active fronts that worry us," a civil protection spokesman told a briefing, explaining that the arrival of water-bombing aircraft and more favourable weather had helped to control the flames after a difficult night.

As a precaution, the authorities removed 300 people from a local campsite during the night as well as nearly 50 residents of nearby villages.

Portugal suffered its deadliest wildfires in history last year, when 114 people were killed in two huge blazes.

In an effort to ensure the tragedy is not repeated, the government has hired hundreds of firefighters, stepping up controls to ensure landowners clear undergrowth that stokes fires and preemptively removing residents from risky areas.

More than 700 firefighters backed by six aircraft battled a large wildfire in the hills around the resort areas of Cascais and Sintra near Portugal's capital Lisbon on Sunday after the blaze forced the evacuation of several hundred people overnight.

More than 700 firefighters backed by six aircraft battled a large wildfire in the hills around the resort areas of Cascais and Sintra near Portugal's capital Lisbon on Sunday after the blaze forced the evacuation of several hundred people overnight. Officials said 18 people, mostly firefighters, had been lightly injured in the blaze that broke out late on Saturday, fanned by strong winds amid unusually hot weather for October. "There are still two active fronts that worry us," a civil protection spokesman told a briefing, explaining that the arrival of water-bombing aircraft and more favourable weather had helped to control the flames after a difficult night. As a precaution, the authorities removed 300 people from a local campsite during the night as well as nearly 50 residents of nearby villages. Portugal suffered its deadliest wildfires in history last year, when 114 people were killed in two huge blazes. In an effort to ensure the tragedy is not repeated, the government has hired hundreds of firefighters, stepping up controls to ensure landowners clear undergrowth that stokes fires and preemptively removing residents from risky areas.

Wildfire rages near Lisbon, hundreds evacuated

At least seven people were killed and one was injured in a fire that broke out at a factory in northern Taiwan, reports said on Sunday.&nbsp

Five out of the seven people that died included firefighters and the rest were migrant workers. the fire broke to put on Saturday night in Pingzhen District.&nbsp

The inferno raged through the eight-floor building of a circuit board maker, located in an industrial district in Taoyuan City.

The company mainly manufactures rigid printed circuit boards. Traces of diesel and toxic chemicals were also found at the scene, reports said.

More than 180 firefighters and 67 fire trucks and ambulances were sent to the scene, the city's fire department said.

More than 180 firefighters and 67 fire trucks and ambulances were sent to the scene, the city's fire department said

At least seven people were killed and one was injured in a fire that broke out at a factory in northern Taiwan, reports said on Sunday. Five out of the seven people that died included firefighters and the rest were migrant workers. the fire broke to put on Saturday night in Pingzhen District. The inferno raged through the eight-floor building of a circuit board maker, located in an industrial district in Taoyuan City. The company mainly manufactures rigid printed circuit boards. Traces of diesel and toxic chemicals were also found at the scene, reports said. More than 180 firefighters and 67 fire trucks and ambulances were sent to the scene, the city's fire department said.

At least seven people dead after fire breaks out in Taiwan factory

About twenty-six people have been hospitalised with several suffering smoke inhalation in Myanmar due to a&nbsp;massive fire that broke in a garbage dump last week.

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&nbsp;

The fire broke out on the outskirts of Myanmar's largest city Yangon. The foul smell from the burning garbage has since then affected over dozens.&nbsp;

About 600 firefighters and members of security forces in the country are striving hard to put out the fire since April 21.

The firefighters are facing challenges in battling the flames and smoke under the burning heat.They also lack proper protective equipment.

The authorities also resorted to artificial rain after importing fire suppression bio-foam from neighbouring Thailand.

The flames have spread across nearly a third of the 300-acre landfill in Yangon’s northern township of Hlaing Thar Yar.

While the authorities have managed to bring the fire under control but they are still struggling to extinguish it completely.

The problem highlights the growing waste problem in Yangon city of Myanmar. With over five million population the city lacks proper long-term waste management solution.&nbsp;

The 17-year-old landfill takes about half of the city’s daily trash of more than 2,500 tons.

Myanmar has sought medical help from the World Health Organization and other aid agencies, state-run newspaper in Myanmar reported on Saturday.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

 
 
(With inputs from Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

About twenty-six people have been hospitalised with several suffering smoke inhalation in Myanmar due to a massive fire that broke in a garbage dump last week

About twenty-six people have been hospitalised with several suffering smoke inhalation in Myanmar due to a massive fire that broke in a garbage dump last week. × The fire broke out on the outskirts of Myanmar's largest city Yangon. The foul smell from the burning garbage has since then affected over dozens. About 600 firefighters and members of security forces in the country are striving hard to put out the fire since April 21. The firefighters are facing challenges in battling the flames and smoke under the burning heat.They also lack proper protective equipment. The authorities also resorted to artificial rain after importing fire suppression bio-foam from neighbouring Thailand. The flames have spread across nearly a third of the 300-acre landfill in Yangon’s northern township of Hlaing Thar Yar. While the authorities have managed to bring the fire under control but they are still struggling to extinguish it completely. The problem highlights the growing waste problem in Yangon city of Myanmar. With over five million population the city lacks proper long-term waste management solution. The 17-year-old landfill takes about half of the city’s daily trash of more than 2,500 tons. Myanmar has sought medical help from the World Health Organization and other aid agencies, state-run newspaper in Myanmar reported on Saturday. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. (With inputs from Reuters)

Dozens suffer in Myanmar in week-long landfill fire

Firefighters in Indonesia are struggling to contain a blaze at an oil well in the northwestern province of Aceh that killed ten people and injured as many as 40, authorities said on Wednesday.

Flames towered over houses and trees as firefighters hosed down the area while villagers watched, in pictures posted on social media by Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency.

"We are still collecting data on the number of victims because the fire has not been extinguished yet," the agency said in a statement.

The fire broke out in the east Aceh district in the early hours of Wednesday, after a well of depth 250 metres (820 ft) overflowed and residents gathered to collect the oil, the agency added.

Dozens of people were being rushed to hospital in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, it said, adding that state oil firm Pertamina was providing equipment to help control the fire.

The head of police in east Aceh said the oil well might have been drilled illegally and the fire might have been started when someone was smoking a cigarette.

"We suspect this is a well drilled by the community...and we suspect there was someone smoking in the area at the time," said police official Wahyu Kuncoro. The number of injured stood at 40, he added.

Such illegal drilling is common in Aceh, where Pertamina operates an oil field.

Flames towered over houses and trees as firefighters hosed down the area while villagers watched, in pictures posted on social media by Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency.

Firefighters in Indonesia are struggling to contain a blaze at an oil well in the northwestern province of Aceh that killed ten people and injured as many as 40, authorities said on Wednesday. Flames towered over houses and trees as firefighters hosed down the area while villagers watched, in pictures posted on social media by Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency. "We are still collecting data on the number of victims because the fire has not been extinguished yet," the agency said in a statement. The fire broke out in the east Aceh district in the early hours of Wednesday, after a well of depth 250 metres (820 ft) overflowed and residents gathered to collect the oil, the agency added. Dozens of people were being rushed to hospital in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, it said, adding that state oil firm Pertamina was providing equipment to help control the fire. The head of police in east Aceh said the oil well might have been drilled illegally and the fire might have been started when someone was smoking a cigarette. "We suspect this is a well drilled by the community...and we suspect there was someone smoking in the area at the time," said police official Wahyu Kuncoro. The number of injured stood at 40, he added. Such illegal drilling is common in Aceh, where Pertamina operates an oil field.

Fire at oil well in Indonesia's Aceh kills 10, injures 40

Firefighters on Monday battled to contain a wildfire northeast of Athens as high winds caused the blaze to spread overnight after it damaged dozens of homes at a coastal village northeast of the Greek capital.

More than 160 firefighters with 68 fire engines, two water-dropping helicopters, and two fire-fighting planes tackled the blaze, which broke out in Kalamos, a coastal area 45 km northeast of Athens and had spread to the nearby town of Varnavas.

&quot;There are many fronts but the biggest one is at Varnavas. There is a lot of water consumption as people hose down their homes and as a result, not enough water,&quot; the vice-prefect of eastern Attica, Nikos Filippou, told Skai TV.

Thick smoke billowed over as the blaze burned pine forest.

Fire brigade officials reported no injuries had been reported but at least a dozen houses were heavily damaged.

Authorities had ordered a precautionary evacuation of two youth camps in the area.

Hundreds of residents fled the area of Kalamos, heading to the beach to spend the night.

&quot;It was a terrible mess, that&#39;s what it was. You could see homes on fire, people running, people desperate, it was chaos and the fire was very big,&quot; said a resident of Kalamos village.

The cause of the fire was unknown, but summer wildfires are common in Greece. More than 70 died in 2007 during the worst fires in decades.

Hundreds of residents fled the area of Kalamos, heading to the beach to spend the night

Firefighters on Monday battled to contain a wildfire northeast of Athens as high winds caused the blaze to spread overnight after it damaged dozens of homes at a coastal village northeast of the Greek capital. More than 160 firefighters with 68 fire engines, two water-dropping helicopters, and two fire-fighting planes tackled the blaze, which broke out in Kalamos, a coastal area 45 km northeast of Athens and had spread to the nearby town of Varnavas. "There are many fronts but the biggest one is at Varnavas. There is a lot of water consumption as people hose down their homes and as a result, not enough water," the vice-prefect of eastern Attica, Nikos Filippou, told Skai TV. Thick smoke billowed over as the blaze burned pine forest. Fire brigade officials reported no injuries had been reported but at least a dozen houses were heavily damaged. Authorities had ordered a precautionary evacuation of two youth camps in the area. Hundreds of residents fled the area of Kalamos, heading to the beach to spend the night. "It was a terrible mess, that's what it was. You could see homes on fire, people running, people desperate, it was chaos and the fire was very big," said a resident of Kalamos village. The cause of the fire was unknown, but summer wildfires are common in Greece. More than 70 died in 2007 during the worst fires in decades.

Firefighters battle spreading wildfire near Athens

Hundreds of firefighters and dozens of aircraft fought a massive wildfire threatening New Zealand&#39;s third largest city Christchurch on Thursday.

The wildfire in Christchurch&#39;s Port Hills district spread rapidly overnight to cover more than 1,800 hectares (4,447 acres), emergency workers said.

More than 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes, 11 properties were destroyed and a state of emergency was declared.

&quot;There&#39;s a whole lot of people here who have been traumatised by the events, some who have lost their homes, many have been evacuated,&quot; Prime Minister Bill English told reporters in Christchurch after cancelling all his engagements to fly to the South Island city.

He said it could take up to a week before the fire was fully under control, but that the blaze had been contained on Thursday and was not spreading further.

Seventeen helicopters and fixed wing aircraft were dispatched amid forecasts for winds that could fan the flames.

The crew from a US coast guard ship which had been docked in the nearby port of Lyttleton were helping local defence forces.

&quot;The situation remains very serious,&quot; said David Adamson, Christchurch Civil Defence Controller. &quot;Police and the Defence Force have had a huge job overnight with evacuations, the setting-up of cordons around key areas and security patrols of areas that have been evacuated.&quot;

A change in the wind direction is predicted for later in the week that will lower temperatures and humidity and could slow the fire&#39;s progress, emergency workers said.

A helicopter pilot died on Tuesday after crashing while tackling the blaze.

The cause of the fire was not yet known and authorities were investigating. The prime minister said two fires had started at the same time which he described as &quot;suspicious&quot; but that he did not want people to &quot;jump to conclusions&quot;

(Reuters)

The wildfire in Christchurch's Port Hills district spread rapidly overnight to cover more than 1,800 hectares, emergency workers said

Hundreds of firefighters and dozens of aircraft fought a massive wildfire threatening New Zealand's third largest city Christchurch on Thursday. The wildfire in Christchurch's Port Hills district spread rapidly overnight to cover more than 1,800 hectares (4,447 acres), emergency workers said. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes, 11 properties were destroyed and a state of emergency was declared. "There's a whole lot of people here who have been traumatised by the events, some who have lost their homes, many have been evacuated," Prime Minister Bill English told reporters in Christchurch after cancelling all his engagements to fly to the South Island city. He said it could take up to a week before the fire was fully under control, but that the blaze had been contained on Thursday and was not spreading further. Seventeen helicopters and fixed wing aircraft were dispatched amid forecasts for winds that could fan the flames. The crew from a US coast guard ship which had been docked in the nearby port of Lyttleton were helping local defence forces. "The situation remains very serious," said David Adamson, Christchurch Civil Defence Controller. "Police and the Defence Force have had a huge job overnight with evacuations, the setting-up of cordons around key areas and security patrols of areas that have been evacuated." A change in the wind direction is predicted for later in the week that will lower temperatures and humidity and could slow the fire's progress, emergency workers said. A helicopter pilot died on Tuesday after crashing while tackling the blaze. The cause of the fire was not yet known and authorities were investigating. The prime minister said two fires had started at the same time which he described as "suspicious" but that he did not want people to "jump to conclusions" (Reuters)

New Zealand wildfire: More than 1,000 evacuated, homes destroyed

France has mobilised 1500 firefighters to deal with wildfires in countryside North of Marseille that have gutted buildings and forced more than 1000 people to flee their homes. 
 
Whipped up by strong winds, the blaze took hold around 3:30 pm (local time) and has spread over 2260 hectares (5600 acres) of scrubland, grass and some wooded areas, according to firefighters. 
 
&quot;We haven&#39;t seen a situation like this for a very long time,&quot; the fire service said, first calling the wildfires &quot;out of control&quot; but later describing more favourable conditions in the night. 
 
Homes were destroyed in the town of Vitrolles, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) North of Marseille, with more than 1,000 people forced to seek shelter in local sports centres. 
 
Dramatic images showed a helicopter battling to douse a blazing hillside with water just metres from a motorway close to Vitrolles, while one person was seriously injured in nearby Rognac. 
 
The blaze, which comes after low rainfall in winter and spring left southeast France extremely dry, sent a huge pall of smoke into the sky over the port city of Marseille. 
 
&quot;The fire seems to be less intense than before but is not yet under control,&quot; Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin said in a tweet. 
Further west in Herault, four firefighters were injured battling another blaze when their vehicle was surrounded by the flames. 
 
Hundreds of extra firefighters have been drafted in from elsewhere in France to tackle the blaze. 
 
Road and air transport were badly affected by the fire yesterday evening, with two motorways closed and some flights cancelled at Marseille airport.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

Hundreds of extra firefighters have been drafted in from elsewhere in France to tackle the blaze

France has mobilised 1500 firefighters to deal with wildfires in countryside North of Marseille that have gutted buildings and forced more than 1000 people to flee their homes. Whipped up by strong winds, the blaze took hold around 3:30 pm (local time) and has spread over 2260 hectares (5600 acres) of scrubland, grass and some wooded areas, according to firefighters. "We haven't seen a situation like this for a very long time," the fire service said, first calling the wildfires "out of control" but later describing more favourable conditions in the night. Homes were destroyed in the town of Vitrolles, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) North of Marseille, with more than 1,000 people forced to seek shelter in local sports centres. Dramatic images showed a helicopter battling to douse a blazing hillside with water just metres from a motorway close to Vitrolles, while one person was seriously injured in nearby Rognac. The blaze, which comes after low rainfall in winter and spring left southeast France extremely dry, sent a huge pall of smoke into the sky over the port city of Marseille. "The fire seems to be less intense than before but is not yet under control," Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin said in a tweet. Further west in Herault, four firefighters were injured battling another blaze when their vehicle was surrounded by the flames. Hundreds of extra firefighters have been drafted in from elsewhere in France to tackle the blaze. Road and air transport were badly affected by the fire yesterday evening, with two motorways closed and some flights cancelled at Marseille airport. (PTI)

Southern France battles bush fires, more than 1,000 evacuated

More than 3,000 vacationers were evacuated after a blaze threatened to spread across four campsites in the south of France, as a fireman died on his way to the scene, officials said. 
 
Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed. 
 
&quot;We saw smoke...the people from the campsite asked us to leave straight away and leave our cars behind us,&quot; said one retired holidaymaker. 
 
The fireman travelling to the site lost control of his vehicle due to an unexplained engine fault and died at the scene. 
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Three volunteer firefighters in the fire-engine with him were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, local official Helene Girardot told AFP. 
 
A further 17 firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation and two others were injured when one of the campers gas canisters exploded as they battled the flames. 
 
All but a handful of families were able to return to their camps by nightfall. 
 
(AFP)

Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed

More than 3,000 vacationers were evacuated after a blaze threatened to spread across four campsites in the south of France, as a fireman died on his way to the scene, officials said. Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed. "We saw smoke...the people from the campsite asked us to leave straight away and leave our cars behind us," said one retired holidaymaker. The fireman travelling to the site lost control of his vehicle due to an unexplained engine fault and died at the scene. Three volunteer firefighters in the fire-engine with him were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, local official Helene Girardot told AFP. A further 17 firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation and two others were injured when one of the campers gas canisters exploded as they battled the flames. All but a handful of families were able to return to their camps by nightfall. (AFP)

3,000 campers evacuated in French blaze, fireman dead

A stubborn wildfire stoked by triple-digit temperatures raged for a sixth day outside Santa Barbara in coastal Southern California on Monday as crews worked to keep the blaze some have called a &quot;sleeping giant&quot; in check, officials said. 
 
So far, the so-called Sherpa Fire burning in chaparral and tall grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Santa Barbara has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the hilly area. 
 
Authorities said they expected to begin allowing homeowners and farm laborers back into those areas on Wednesday, though county health and environment officials issued an air quality warning for smoke and falling ash from the fire. 
 
The tally of acreage burned held at nearly 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) since late Sunday, said Jim Schwarber, a spokesman for the multi-agency team combating the blaze. 
 
The fire, which broke out last Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest and was 54 per cent contained by Monday, has been called a sleeping giant due to the triple-digit temperatures and dense, bone-dry brush in the area that has not burned in decades, he said. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re working hard to keep that giant contained so it doesn&#39;t wake up,&quot; Schwarber said. 
 
So far, the blaze has destroyed only one building - a water-treatment center at a campground, he said. 
 
But it has threatened more than 200 structures and forced officials to close the 101 Freeway near the Pacific Coast periodically as flames crept to within less than a mile of the shore. 
 
More than 1,900 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. 
 
&quot;Red flag warnings&quot; were also posted for the mountains around Los Angeles on Monday as two fires erupted in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest north of the city. 
 
One blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, had consumed some 1,500 acres by late afternoon and prompted the evacuation of about 70 homes. The second blaze a few miles away devoured about 1,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lulu Castillo said. 
 
About 160 miles farther south, firefighters battled flames roaring through dry brush and chaparral near the Mexican border for a second day, keeping the desert community of Potrero under evacuation. 
 
That fire, about 50 miles southeast of San Diego, had charred more than 1,900 acres and was just 5 per cent contained on Monday, California fire officials reported. 
 
Two states away, the 6-day-old Dog Head Fire in central New Mexico has charred more than 17,000 acres and was 9 per cent contained after destroying 24 homes. 
(Reuters)

It has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the area close to Santa Barbara

A stubborn wildfire stoked by triple-digit temperatures raged for a sixth day outside Santa Barbara in coastal Southern California on Monday as crews worked to keep the blaze some have called a "sleeping giant" in check, officials said. So far, the so-called Sherpa Fire burning in chaparral and tall grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Santa Barbara has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the hilly area. Authorities said they expected to begin allowing homeowners and farm laborers back into those areas on Wednesday, though county health and environment officials issued an air quality warning for smoke and falling ash from the fire. The tally of acreage burned held at nearly 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) since late Sunday, said Jim Schwarber, a spokesman for the multi-agency team combating the blaze. The fire, which broke out last Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest and was 54 per cent contained by Monday, has been called a sleeping giant due to the triple-digit temperatures and dense, bone-dry brush in the area that has not burned in decades, he said. "We're working hard to keep that giant contained so it doesn't wake up," Schwarber said. So far, the blaze has destroyed only one building - a water-treatment center at a campground, he said. But it has threatened more than 200 structures and forced officials to close the 101 Freeway near the Pacific Coast periodically as flames crept to within less than a mile of the shore. More than 1,900 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. "Red flag warnings" were also posted for the mountains around Los Angeles on Monday as two fires erupted in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest north of the city. One blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, had consumed some 1,500 acres by late afternoon and prompted the evacuation of about 70 homes. The second blaze a few miles away devoured about 1,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lulu Castillo said. About 160 miles farther south, firefighters battled flames roaring through dry brush and chaparral near the Mexican border for a second day, keeping the desert community of Potrero under evacuation. That fire, about 50 miles southeast of San Diego, had charred more than 1,900 acres and was just 5 per cent contained on Monday, California fire officials reported. Two states away, the 6-day-old Dog Head Fire in central New Mexico has charred more than 17,000 acres and was 9 per cent contained after destroying 24 homes. (Reuters)

Firefighters hold 'sleeping giant' wildfire in check in California,

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