Page 8 - Fire

18 bodies found in Greece as firefighters battle wind-driven wildfires

Firefighters on Tuesday found the burnt bodies of 18 people believed to have been migrants who had crossed the Turkish border into an area of northeastern Greece where wildfires have raged for days. The discovery near the city of Alexandroupolis came as hundreds of firefighters battled dozens of wildfires across the country amid gale-force winds. On Monday, two people died and two firefighters were injured in separate fires in northern and central Greece. With their hot, dry summers, southern European countries are particularly prone to wildfires. Another major blaze has been burning across Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands for a week, although no injuries or damage to homes was reported. European Union officials have blamed climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Europe, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 2017. In Greece, police activated the country's Disaster Victim Identification Team to identify the

Climate change doubled chance of conditions that led to Quebec fires

Climate change more than doubled the chances of the hot, dry weather that helped fuel the unprecedented wildfire season in eastern Canada that's driven thousands from their homes and blanketed parts of the U.S. with choking smoke, according to an analysis released Tuesday. What's more, human-caused climate change made the fire season in Quebec from May through July 50% more intense than it otherwise would have been and increased the likelihood of similarly severe fire seasons at least sevenfold, researchers said. "The biggest takeaway is, this is because of us that we have seen so many fires this year, due to greenhouse gas emissions, said Yan Boulanger, a research scientist in forest ecology for Natural Resources Canada. He was one of 16 researchers who collaborated on the analysis for World Weather Attribution, an initiative that aims to quickly evaluate the role of climate change in the aftermath of extreme weather events. Canada is in the middle of its worst wildfire season on

Maui confronts challenge of finding those unaccounted for after deadly fire

Two weeks after the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century swept through the Maui community of Lahaina, authorities say more than 800 people remain unaccounted for a staggering number that presents huge challenges for officials who are trying to determine how many of those perished and how many may have made it to safety but haven't checked in. Something similar happened after a wildfire in 2018 that killed 85 people and destroyed the town of Paradise, California. Authorities in Butte County, home to Paradise, ultimately published a list of the missing in the local newspaper, a decision that helped identify scores of people who had made it out alive but were listed as missing. Within a month, the list dropped from 1,300 names to only a dozen. I probably had, at any given time, 10 to 15 detectives who were assigned to nothing but trying to account for people who were unaccounted for, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said in a phone interview. At one point the local editor of ou

Federal govt will help Maui 'for as long as it takes' to recover: Joe Biden

President Joe Biden on Monday told survivors of Hawaii's wildfires that the nation grieves with you and promised that the federal government will help Maui for as long as it takes to recover after touring damage caused by the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century. Biden arrived in Maui 13 days after the wildfires that have taken at least 114 lives ravaged the western part of the island. Standing near a burned, but still standing, 150-year-old Banyon tree, the president acknowledged the overwhelming devastation but said that Maui would persevere through the tragedy. Today it's burned but it's still standing," Biden said of the tree. "The tree survived for a reason. I believe it's a very powerful symbol of what we can and will do to get through this crisis. Biden and first lady Jill Biden got a close look at the devastation wrought by the flames that ripped through the western part of the Hawaiian island, seeing for themselves the hollowed homes, structures, .

More villages evacuated as a large wildfire in Greece rages for second day

Greek authorities evacuated another four villages near the northeastern border with Turkey Sunday where a large summer wildfire that has already destroyed several homes over the weekend drew dangerously close. There were no reports of serious injuries to firefighters or residents from the forest blaze near the town of Alexandroupolis, that forced the evacuation of another eight villages Saturday. Strong winds whipped on the flames, and civil protection authorities warned of an extreme fire risk Monday in the region around the capital, Athens, and other parts of southern Greece. Some 200 firefighters, assisted by 16 water-dropping aircraft, volunteers and police, were battling the blaze near Alexandroupolis. Local authorities said about half a dozen outlying houses and outbuildings were badly damaged in two of the evacuated villages, as well as a church. Sections of a major highway were closed for a second day as smoke reduced visibility, while Alexandroupolis residents were advise

Canada firefighters wage battle to save communities after mass evacuations

Firefighters battling wildfires in western Canada received help from reinforcements and milder weather Saturday, after the nation's worst fire season on record destroyed structures, fouled the air with thick smoke and prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents. Flames were being held at bay 15 kilometres from Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, and weary firefighters had a reprieve around Kelowna in British Columbia. But the firefighters were nowhere close to declaring victory, especially with drier and windier weather forecast for the coming days. "We're by no means out of the woods yet, Mike Westwick, wildfire information officer for Yellowknife, told The Associated Press. We still have a serious situation. It's not safe to return. The fires near Kelowna, about 90 miles (150 kilometres) north of the US border, are among more than 380 blazes across the province, with 150 burning out of control, according to the Canadian Press. Another 236 fires

1 dead, 185 structures destroyed in eastern Washington wildfire: Officials

A wind-driven wildfire in eastern Washington state has destroyed at least 185 structures, closed a major highway and left one person dead, officials said Saturday. The blaze started on the west side of Medical Lake, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of Spokane, at about 12:30 p.m. Friday, Washington State Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Isabelle Hoygaard said Saturday. It grew to 14.8 square miles (38 square kilometers) by Saturday morning, with zero containment. The burned structures were a mixture of homes and outbuildings. Level 3 evacuations Go Now were ordered for the town as winds blew the flames south, Hoygaard said. The blaze burned through the south side of the town and then jumped Interstate 90 Friday night, forcing its closure. The major east-west thoroughfare remained closed in both directions Saturday morning. The fire is burning on both sides of the highway, the Washington state Department of Transportation said on its webpage. There was one confirme

Fire breaks out in 2 coaches of Udyan Express in Bengaluru, no casualties

A fire broke out in the two air-conditioned coaches of the stationary Udyan Express at the Bengaluru City Railway Station on Saturday morning. However, there were no casualties as no passengers were inside the bogies. According to Railway officials, the train had arrived from Mumbai at 5.45 am and was stationed at platform three of the Bengaluru City Railway Station. "At 07.10 am smoke in B1 and B2 coaches was noticed. Immediately a message was given to the fire brigade. Fire brigade arrived by 7.35 am and extinguished the fire," the Chief Public Relation Officer of South Western Railway Anish Hegde said in a statement. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation. Other sources said fire-fighters broke the window of the coach to extinguish the fire.

Fire breaks out at garment warehouse in south Delhi, no injuries reported

A fire broke out at a garment warehouse in south Delhi on Saturday morning, officials said. Information regarding the fire in the warehouse, located on the terrace of a building in South Extension Part-1 here, was received at 5.25 am, they added. Eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was doused around 9 am, the officials said, adding that no injuries were reported. The clothes stored in the warehouse got burnt in the blaze, the officials said. The building where the fire broke out comprises a basement, two floors and a terrace, they added.

Fire at plastic factory in Delhi's Bawana, 5 firefighters injured

Five firemen were injured following a blast at a plastic factory in north west Delhi's Bawana, officials said on Thursday. According to fire officials, the incident took place on Wednesday at 10.56 pm, and 30 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The factory is situated at Sector-5 in Bawana Industrial Area. A blast occurred in the factory due to which the wall and gate collapsed, and five firemen sustained injuries, they said. "Dharamveer, Ajeet, Narender, Jaiveer and Vikas sustained injuries in the incident. They were rushed to Maharshi Valmiki Hospital and later discharged," an official said.

Death toll rises to 80 as rescue efforts continue to contain Maui fire

"We have suffered a tragedy here in Hawaii," Governor Josh Green said Friday in video posted on Facebook. "The fires on Maui have been devastating. But we have hope"

Fire breaks out in Delhi's Lady Hardinge Medical College, no one injured

A fire broke out at the Lady Hardinge Medical College in central Delhi on Friday, officials said. No one was injured in the incident, the fire officials said. The fire broke out in the Anatomy Department on the first floor of the Lady Hardinge Medical College. A call regarding the blaze was received around 2:30 pm and seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot, they said. The fire has been doused, they said.

Govt aims to control surface fire at 19 coal mines in Jharia by 2025-end

The government is aiming to control surface fire at 27 locations of 19 coal mines in Jharia, Jharkhand, by 2025-end, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Some coal mines of Jharia in Jharkhand have been burning for many years due to unscientific mining prior to the nationalisation of coal mines, Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. As per the Jharia Master Plan approved in 2009, it was estimated that about 37 MT of good quality prime coking coal has been destroyed due to fire, the minister noted. Coal India subsidiary Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) is periodically conducting surveys through National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) Hyderabad for delineation of surface fire. As per the latest survey report done in the year 2020-21, the surface fire area has been reduced to 1.8 sq km spread over 27 locations, he said. "Out of these 27 locations, fire at 16 locations is being dealt with by operating fire dealing projects through excavation an

Day after fire, emergency, endoscopic services almost restored at AIIMS

Emergency and endoscopic services have been almost restored at AIIMS, hospital authorities said on Tuesday, a day after a fire broke out on the second floor of the old OPD building of the institute here. All patients were safely evacuated and no casualties were reported in the fire, the cause of which is still to be ascertained. Dr Rima Dada, professor in-charge media cell at AIIMS-Delhi, said that the paediatric and adult emergency services in the old OPD block have been restored. Endoscopy facility has been restored in the AB 2 ward on the second floor and at the 8th floor OT complex. Orthopaedic OT has been shifted temporarily to Casualty OT, Dr Dada said. The fire had forced the suspension of endoscopy, emergency and diagnostics services in the old OPD building on Monday. On Monday, a senior doctor had said, "When the fire broke out, two patients were undergoing a procedure in the endoscopy room. These two patients along with around 80 others in the waiting area were ...

AIIMS Delhi: Fire breaks out near emergency ward, all patients evacuated

AIIMS Delhi: The fire started at the endoscopy room, located above the emergency ward, on the second floor of the Old OPD

US: Massive fire burning across California, Nevada causes fire whirls

The fire, dubbed the York Fire, which is California's largest fire of the year, has consumed 80,000 acres of land as of Tuesday morning

Fire breaks out at Indirapuram hospital in Ghaziabad, no loss of life

"At 1:51 am, a fire call was received from Amicare Hospital Nyay, Indrapuram, and immediately, 2 fire tenders were rushed to the spot and a dousing operation was launched," a fire official said

8 people killed in firecracker unit blast in TN, CM announces relief

Eight people, including three women were killed in an explosion at a firecracker unit in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district on Saturday, said police. The sudden explosion that occurred in the firecracker manufacturing godown in Pazhayapettai in the district left many injured. Due to the impact of the explosion, houses and some shops near the unit were damaged, they said. Police, and fire and rescue services personnel have rushed to the spot to rescue the affected.

SpiceJet aircraft's engine catches fire during maintenance at Delhi airport

An engine of a grounded SpiceJet Q400 plane caught fire at the Delhi airport on Tuesday evening, and the aircraft and maintenance personnel are safe, according to officials. A SpiceJet spokesperson said a fire warning was observed in an engine of the Q400 aircraft that was under maintenance, and the fire extinguisher was discharged. The spokesperson also added that as a precaution, the fire brigade was called and that the aircraft and maintenance personnel are safe. An official at the airport said that around 8 pm, the fire was reported in one of the engines of the grounded aircraft, and later the fire was extinguished. "On July 25, SpiceJet Q400 aircraft under maintenance, while carrying out engine ground run at idle power at bay, the AME observed fire warning on #1 engine," the airline spokesperson said in a statement. Q400 is a turbo-prop aircraft. As per the airline's website, it has Q400s that can accommodate 78 passengers and 90 passengers. Earlier in the day, aviation reg

Massive fire at market in Bengal's Howrah, over 50 shops suffer damage

Local shopkeepers alleged that the fire has led to damages to hundreds of shops. One of the officials said that many shops are located at the place