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Miami Herald
5 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
‘Tiny adventurer' fleeing wildfire runs to Oregon firefighters. See what happens
A baby deer fleeing a wildfire dashed toward firefighters in Oregon, deputies said. The young animal appeared from a burned area near Tooley Lake, first responders said in a June 14 Facebook post. It was crying 'and making a beeline straight for our firefighters, clearly on a mission to find help,' fire officials wrote on the page, Rowena Fire 2025, which is dedicated to releasing information on the wildfire. Firefighters with the Polk County Task Force 4, Brush 28, picked the ash-covered deer off the hot ground, cleaned it and gave it water. 'Once safe and steady, the tiny adventurer wandered off into a nearby patch of green, away from danger and hopefully back to its family,' fire officials said in the post. 'Sometimes, it's not just people who need a helping hand during a wildfire,' officials said. Crews were in the area to contain the Rowena Fire, which started June 11 and has spread more than 3,600 acres as of June 16, according to InciWeb, an information management system. The wildfire is 24% contained. Tooley Lake is northwest of The Dalles, near the Oregon-Washington border and the Columbia River.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'An opportunity': Crews near Flagstaff fight Basin Fire with fire
Some wildfires are disasters, while others are opportunities. Officials in northern Arizona used a small wildfire as a tool to burn off excess forest vegetation and prevent more catastrophic fires in the future. Crews finished the majority of their operations to manage the Basin Fire north of Flagstaff on June 10, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service. Lightning caused the fire on June 5, though flames were limited, consuming only one acre in the next few days, according to federal tracker Inciweb. Since then, crews have actively shepherded and contained the fire so it would burn up excess fuels in surrounding forests. 'When we have lightning strikes that happen at the right time in the right place and when we have the resources available, we will use those lightning strikes as an opportunity to let fire fulfill its natural role in our ponderosa pine ecosystem,' said Randi Shaffer, public information officer for the Northern Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team which was handling the operations. Pillars of smoke drifted up from ponderosa forests as the operations got underway on June 8. Crews actively managed the fire to burn 9,145 acres of the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests and reach 42% containment, according to InciWeb. The flames had died down to a smolder by June 11, and crews went back to burn up any excess dead vegetation that the fire hadn't taken care of, officials said. 'We live in a fire-adapted ecosystem up here in northern Arizona, which means that our ponderosa pine trees really love fire. We need fire for myriad reasons," Shaffer said. "Fire is really great for the nitrogen in the soil. It's really great for cleaning up dead and down fuels, and it's a really crucial part of our environment.' The area around the fire operations along U.S. Route 180 was closed to the public for safety reasons. The closure was expected to remain in effect for several days after June 11, according to Shaffer. Crews burned buffer zones along perimeters around the fire using 'firing operations,' taking out any fuels the fire could use to spread once it arrived at those buffers. Shaffer explained that crews use official guidelines to decide when and how to use wildfire as a tool. Fire crews often use 'controlled burns,' or managed fires they start on purpose, to clear out fuels and harden landscapes against future wildfire. In this case, the crews used a naturally occurring fire to do the same thing. Fire managers ensured that the operations didn't draw resources away from emergencies or other fires where they might be needed. 'If you can burn that stuff out during times of ideal weather, you are lessening the risk of a catastrophic wildfire later in the year,' Shaffer said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fire crews near Flagstaff use fire to prevent other wildfires
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Ranch Fire in Santa Cruz County remains at 2,751 acres, now 60% contained
The Ranch Fire, a 2,751-acre wildfire burning in Santa Cruz County, is 60% contained as of June 8, according to InciWeb, a federal website that tracks wildfires. Sparked by a lightning strike to a tree on June 4, the fire is burning about 19 miles southeast of Patagonia in the San Rafael Valley. Fueled by dense grasses and brush, strong winds have driven the flames from state land into the Coronado National Forest. Throughout the week, large air tankers worked with crews on the ground to suppress the flames, aided by cooler overnight temperatures and increased relative humidity. Crews are continuing mop-up operations along the fire's perimeter and within areas of heavy vegetation, as they work toward full containment. The Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Management has downgraded all residents to the "Ready" phase of the "Ready, Set, Go" emergency response system. Approximately 56 personnel were assigned to the fire as of June 6 — down from 135. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ranch Fire remains at 2,751 acres, now 60% contained
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What is 'ready, set, go' and what does it have to do with Arizona wildfires? What to know
Even when a wildfire isn't burning nearby, you need to be ready to act if something changes quickly. When a blaze ignites near you or it's time to evacuate, you need to be able to know what to do and act quickly to escape sometimes fast-moving wildfires. To make the process easier for those who are recommended to evacuate, the Arizona Sheriffs Association has put together three simple steps under their 'ready, set, go' program. Here's what to know about the 'ready, set, go' program, what it means and how to keep your family safe during Arizona's ever-expanding wildfire season. Updates: The latest on wildfires in Arizona According to the Arizona Emergency Information Network, these steps can include: Ready: Make a family evacuation plan, build an emergency kit with the five P's (people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs and priceless items), keep up to date on local news and check in with those around you about their preparedness. Set: Identify the closest shelter or safe space to you, prepare to take your emergency kit, listen to public health officials and be ready to leave the area. Go: Evacuate immediately, understand that if you do not, emergency services may not be able to help you, stay on designated evacuation routes and avoid closed areas until told otherwise. One of the best ways to be prepared is to register for emergency alerts through your county or tribe. It is also recommended that you follow your local sheriff department's social media, since they're the ones responsible for issuing the orders. InciWeb, a wildfire tracking website operated by the U.S. Forest Service, is also a good place to get reliable information. Keeping up with the Arizona Department of Transportation on social media can help for highway evacuations as well. Experts say individuals should make sure they're going to an official site, not relying on word of mouth or gossip. Arizonans should be prepared not only for wildfires, but also for the potential of flooding and mudslides during the monsoon. Former Arizona Republic reporter Rachel Hunt contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What does 'ready, set, go' mean for wildfires? What to know in Arizona
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Evacuation orders lifted as Cody Fire in Pinal County reaches 90% containment
Evacuation orders for residents of Oracle have been lifted as the Cody Fire reached 90% containment, according to federal tracker InciWeb. The wildfire has burned more than 1,200 acres in Pinal County since beginning on May 21. Fire officials announced updated evacuation orders effective the evening of May 26, allowing residents to return to their homes. Following the "ready, set, go" scale, zone 18 in the Oracle area was in "set" status, while zone 17 had been downgraded with no further restrictions. As residents returned to their homes, officials asked motorists to be cautious as firefighters and incident crews remained active in the area to reinforce the fire perimeter and extinguish any remaining heat sources, according to a Facebook post from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. As of May 27, 589 people remained fighting the blaze, InciWeb detailed. The fire burned down an unknown number of structures, some of which were homes, outside Oracle, officials confirmed May 23. Utility providers were conducting essential repairs to powerlines in and around communities, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4. Roads remain closed at Cody Loop and Wildcat Trail, and Cody Loop and East Mount Lemmon Highway, the team said. In response to the Cody Fire, the Coronado National Forest implemented trail and campsite closures near the affected area. The forest was also under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibited the use of campfires or stove fires, including charcoal and smoking. Officials also issued an emergency order prohibiting recreational shooting in response to elevated fire danger conditions. The cause of the fire was under investigation. For more information on evacuation orders, residents can look to the Arizona Emergency Information Network or get updates on the Coronado National Forest Facebook page. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cody Fire 90% contained after burning 1.2K acres in Pinal County
