Dixie fire

Ex-university instructor charged with setting 4 California fires

Earlier this month, a federal grand jury in Sacramento, California, indicted a former university instructor on charges related to an arson spree near the massive Dixie fire this summer.

Related: Tanker pilot dies in crash while fighting Colorado wildfire

The indictment charges Gary Stephen Maynard, 47, of San Jose, California, with setting four small fires over the course of two weeks in July and August. According to prosecutors, two of the blazes could have trapped firefighters battling the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ex-university-instructor-charged-with-setting-4-california-fires

What does ‘containing a wildfire’ actually mean?

Aerial photo of the Alisal wildfire in Southern California in mid-October, 2021.

Large wildfires have been in the news a lot this year. When people hear about them, they often hear the phrase that the fire is X% contained.

A 95% contained fire sounds a lot less frightening than a 25% contained fire. For people debating whether to evacuate their homes near these fires, that number might make all the difference.

Related: Self-described ‘shaman’ arrested in California wildfire arson

But containment doesn’t necessarily mean a fire isn’t still raging. Rather than describing how...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-does-containing-a-wildfire-actually-mean

Wildfire woes continue in the West

Smoke from the Dixie fire in northern California.

A wildfire burning for a little more than a week in Northern California continued expanding over the weekend. It’s one of about a dozen big blazes in the drought-stricken state that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate.

The Caldor fire was only 5% contained as of Sunday evening. It has charred nearly 154 square miles of trees and brush in the northern Sierra Nevada after breaking out Aug. 14. The cause was under investigation, and mandatory evacuations are...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wildfire-woes-continue-in-the-west

Humongous Dixie fire threatening more California towns

Helicopter dropping water onto the Dixie fire in northern California, Aug. 13, 2021.

The humongous Dixie fire in Northern California is still burning out of control as firefighters battle uncooperative weather conditions.

Related: Dixie fire spreading, now second biggest in California history

As of late Wednesday evening, the Dixie fire had burned more than 660,000 acres, about three times the size of Manhattan.

The wildfire led to a new round of evacuation orders as gusty winds helped spread the fire within about 8 miles of Susanville, California, which has an estimated...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/humongous-dixie-fire-threatening-more-california-towns

How do wildfires get their names?

Photo of a wildfire.

This year has not been kind to firefighting crews across the country. As of Tuesday, 40,681 wildfires were burning nationwide, 1,289 more than this time last year. This is according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Almost 100 of these fires were classified as large. FreightWaves has been tracking the wildfires, such as Bootleg, Dixie and Rogers Creek. Here’s how they get their names.

Related: Dixie fire spreading, now second biggest in California history

What’s in a name?

Unlike hurricane...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-do-wildfires-get-their-names

Dixie fire spreading, now second biggest in California history

Crews at the Dixie fire in northern California on August 4, 2021.

Over the weekend, the Dixie fire in northern California became the second-largest wildfire in the state’s history. Thousands of residents remained under evacuation orders Sunday and thousands of buildings stood in the fire’s path.

#DixieFire destroys numerous structures near Taylorsville, Ca as it grows over 500,000 acres. pic.twitter.com/GLEZ0kPhIk

— WXChasing (Brandon Clement) (@bclemms) August 10, 2021

The Dixie fire began the afternoon of July 13 and leveled much of the historic Sierra...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dixie-fire-spreading-now-second-biggest-in-california-history

Western wildfires spreading out of control

Crew trying to contain the Dixie fire in northern California.

The weather has made it difficult for crews to contain some of the large wildfires burning in the West. Until conditions improve, firefighters will have a hard time making headway.

We just entered Greenville on Hwy 89 This video was taken from Bidwell & Ann St. I’m so sorry for the town of Greenville. #DixieFire pic.twitter.com/vtAiYpy1Dl

— SoCalFirePhoto (@SoCalFirePhoto) August 5, 2021

Perhaps the fire giving crews the most trouble has been the Dixie fire in Northern California. It’s been...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/western-wildfires-spreading-out-of-control

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