Forest fires

Burning streets, here in Altadena near Los Angeles, photographed by a Maxar satellite on January 8, 2025.

This is how an LA scale wildfire would affect a German city

The Palisades fire near Los Angeles has become the largest active wildfire in California. To help E...

This is how an LA scale wildfire would affect a German city

Meet the Commission Members: Sven van Oppen, CTIF Forest Fire Commission

In our series of presentations of members of our commissions and working groups, we are now focusing...

Meet the Commission Members: Sven van Oppen, CTIF Forest Fire Commission

An ALERTCalifornia camera in Cohasset, California, captured this view in July of the approaching Park Fire, the state’s largest wildfire of 2024. (Image courtesy of ALERTCalifornia, University of California San Diego)

AI cameras are monitoring the hills of southern California for wildfire flareups

In response to the 27,000-acre wildfire near LA, California firefighters are employing advanced tech...

AI cameras are monitoring the hills of southern California for wildfire flareups

Photo Credit: Imaginary illustration of a water bombing aircraft failing to make any significant difference in a large urban wildland interface fire. From an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson, executed by Chat GPT.

Are wildfires now beyond the technical ability of fire services to combat? - "Water bombing SoCal is...

The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, driven by factors such as climate change and ur...

Are wildfires now beyond the technical ability of fire services to combat? - "Water bombing SoCal is like pouring a tea spoon of water on a bonfire"

California Wildfire Insurance crisis. From an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson, Executed by Chat GPT.

LA wildfires puts a new knife edge focus on California's insurance crisis

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have intensified the ongoing homeowners insurance crisis in Cali...

LA wildfires puts a new knife edge focus on California's insurance crisis

From the CTIF Forest Fire Commission meeting in Prague, December 2024.

The CTIF Forest Fire Commission met in Prague i December

A total of 13 countries participated in Prague, including one country who came for the first time.

The CTIF Forest Fire Commission met in Prague i December

3000 university student ordered to shelter in place during Malibu forest fire

3,000 students sheltered in place as the Franklin Fire approached its Malibu campus, despite 20,000 evacuated in surrounding neighbourhoods. The decision is controversial: However follows the fire rescue plan from 1993, developed together with LA Fire.

3000 university student ordered to shelter in place during Malibu forest fire

Wikipedia Commons License Wildfire in Santa Clarita, California in October 2007. Date: 21 October 2007, 07:15 Source: Fire At Night Author: Jeff Turner

LA wildfire grew by an area greater than five football fields per minute - 20,000 evacuated

Nearly 2,000 firefighters assisted in battling the wildfire on Wednesday as weather conditions impro...

LA wildfire grew by an area greater than five football fields per minute - 20,000 evacuated

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License Smoke from wildfires in Quebec, Canada shrouds New York City on Wednesday, Jun 7, 2023. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA) Date: 7 June 2023, 13:44:24 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/52959202838/ Author: Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Comprehensive laboratory study on the toxicity of smoke gases during vegetation fires

Knowledge of the toxicity of wildfire smoke is essential: five gases were identified as the primary ...

Comprehensive laboratory study on the toxicity of smoke gases during vegetation fires

Map of Manhattan and surrounding areas of NYC.

FDNY battled several wildfires in Manhattan parks - strategic backfires brought them under control

The video below shows Inwood Hill Park at the northern tip of Manhattan on Wednesday : two large bru...

FDNY battled several wildfires in Manhattan parks - strategic backfires brought them under control

Photo by Bob MacMillan, FEMA. Firefighters from Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia an the US Fish & Wildllife Department perform a controlled burnout operation to contain a fire that eventually burned 350 acres in 2006.

State of New York forms special task force for wildfires as numbers reach historic levels

Between Nov. 1 and 14, the FDNY responded to 271 brush fires citywide—the highest number ever record...

State of New York forms special task force for wildfires as numbers reach historic levels

800 firefighters or more were working to contain the Mountain Fire on South Mountain in Ventura County, California, Wednesday, fire officials said. Photo by the Montecito Fire Department

25 million people under Red Flag fire warning in California - The "Mountain Fire" only 60 % containe...

As of Wednesday, November 13, 2024, approximately 2,399 firefighters are actively working to contain...

25 million people under Red Flag fire warning in California - The "Mountain Fire" only 60 % contained as of Wednesday

Bolivia forest fires in 2919. Flickr Commons License. Photo by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

10 million hectares of forested land burned in Bolivia in 2024 so far

2024 is the worst fire season on record in Bolivia. The devastation has scorched an area comparable ...

10 million hectares of forested land burned in Bolivia in 2024 so far

Rappbode Reservoir looking west along the main axis from the Rotestein. Wikipedia Commons License.

Concerns about the use of flame retardants affecting drinking water in German drinking water reservo...

Despite concerns from the park administration, which opposed the use of the fire retardant due to it...

Concerns about the use of flame retardants affecting drinking water in German drinking water reservoir

EWED field exercise using balloons to gather scientific data about extreme wild fires.

The EU starts knowledge project around Extreme Wildfire Events (EWED)

For two years, the consortium will gather fire and atmosphere data from extreme wildfire behaviour t...

The EU starts knowledge project around Extreme Wildfire Events (EWED)

Wikipedia Commons License Quito, Ecuador...Quito city from the historic center of Quito at the Virgin del Panecillo monument Date 19 January 2015, 08:40:12 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mfoubister/16039061083/ Author> Murray Foubister Permission (Reusing this file) At the time of upload, the image license was automatically confirmed using the Flickr API. For more information see Flickr API detail.

Wildfire in Equador forces evacuations

Over 200 firefighters and 65 vehicles are battling the wildfire, with schools closed and citizens ur...

Wildfire in Equador forces evacuations

Eucalyptus forest fire near Churrascaria Cancela ( Steak House Cancela), road ER209, Madeira, Portugal, 3 July 2011. Wikipedia Commons License. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eucalyptus_forest_fire_near_Churrascaria_Cancela_%28_Steak_House_Cancela%29,_road_ER209,_Madeira,_Portugal,_3_July_2011_-_panoramio.jpg

Portugal declares State of Calamity from severe forest fires - three firefighters have died

At least seven people, including three firefighters, have lost their lives as wildfires continue to ...

Portugal declares State of Calamity from severe forest fires - three firefighters have died

The "Airport Fire" near San Bernardino, southern California, in September 2024. Illustration by CalFire.

California firefighters achieve progress in Los Angeles wild fire containment

Authorities reported Sunday that over 8,600 firefighters have been working to establish containment ...

California firefighters achieve progress in Los Angeles wild fire containment

This image was originally posted to Flickr by Pierre Markuse at https://flickr.com/photos/24998770@N07/53001135624. It was reviewed on 26 June 2023 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

Canada's forest fires in 2023 were a major emitter of global CO2 - more than the burning of fossil f...

According to the World Resource Institute, Canada's record-breaking wildfires in 2023 released ...

Canada's forest fires in 2023 were a major emitter of global CO2 - more than the burning of fossil fuel in most countries

Photo Credit: (Above) Wikipedia Commons License. Fog in the early morning hours in the forests surrpounding th city of Sao Paolo, Brazil Date: 5 am 12 May 2011. Author: Anagoria

30 cities approached by wildfires in Brazil's state of Sao Paolo - State of Emergency in 45 municipa...

The number of fires recorded from the beginning of 2024 to June 10 showed a 935% increase compared t...

30 cities approached by wildfires in Brazil's state of Sao Paolo - State of Emergency in 45 municipalities

Madeira forest fire threatens UNESCO heritage forest - EU mobilizes help for Portugal

In preparation for this year’s fire season, the EU has enhanced its rescEU and European Civil Protec...

Madeira forest fire threatens UNESCO heritage forest - EU mobilizes help for Portugal

A Windracers fixed wing cargo carrying drone.

New fixed wing drone tech tested by the UK fire service for early detection of wildfires

INNOVATIONS IN FOREST FIREFIGHTING: Some larger drones can not only report about fires, but can also...

New fixed wing drone tech tested by the UK fire service for early detection of wildfires

A forest fire near Athens observed from a distance. Photo by Zisoula Ntasiou / CTIF.

Greece largest forest fires in 2024 reached the outskirts of Athens

At least 10 communities surrounding Varnava were evacuated, and one person has died in the fires.

Greece largest forest fires in 2024 reached the outskirts of Athens

Did artificial forest preservation policies turn Jasper national park in to a "tinderbox"?

Historically, natural prairie fires maintained a varied range of vegetation types, but fire suppress...

Did artificial forest preservation policies turn Jasper national park in to a "tinderbox"?