What to know about the fires dotting the western U.S. and Canada
More than 100 of the blazes are in the United States, including three dozen uncontained large fires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. At least 14 major fires began over the weekend. The Canadian fire season continues to climb the list of worst on record, just recently surpassing last year in the top five for most acreage burned.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hailstorm hits Calgary, residents share photos of the aftermath
A fast-moving storm brought hail the size of golf balls, winds above 90 km/h, damage to trees and localized power outages into the Calgary area on Sunday. Northeast Calgary experienced wind gusts of up to 93 km/h around 8 p.m., according to Environment Canada. Kyle Brittain, a freelance climate journalist, told CBC's The Homestretch on Monday that the storm came from the foothills northwest of Cochrane into the Calgary area, before it hit Chestermere and Langdon, and other communities southeast of the city before dissipating in Vulcan County. "It was a very fast-moving storm. It was hard to keep up with, and a very stunning-looking storm as it was travelling east of Calgary, quite ominous I think as well as it was entering the city," said Brittain. LISTEN | Weather expert talks Sunday hailstorm and Monday rain warning in Calgary: The storm was followed by a rainfall warning in Calgary the next day, which Environment and Climate Change Canada projected on Monday morning would bring 50 to 80 mm throughout the day. North Haven resident Barb Heeb said Sunday's storm started quietly before it picked up so much in her neighbourhood that she couldn't see the houses across the street. "The wind, the rain, the hail was just incredible. And all the trees were losing all their leaves," Heeb said on Monday. "It was just chaos. And then all the flooding came as well, and it's even worse today because of the rain." WATCH: Thunderstorm hits Calgary hard: Heeb said she and several of her neighbours have called the city for assistance because of the amount of water in the community on Monday. Calgary's Water Services said stormwater crews have been responding to drainage-related 311 calls, including incidents where storm debris blocked stormwater inlets. Parks and Open Spaces at the city reported on Monday the storm had broken branches, foliage and bark off trees. They said park crews were responding as needed, and watering operations were suspended for a few days because of the rain. Andy Wolff was in the Calgary Winter Club when he heard what sounded like breaking glass. It quickly dawned on him it was a hailstorm, and he ran to check on his car. "I almost had the wind knock me off my feet," Wolff said. "When I came out of the parking lot, it was like a blizzard. It was almost going sideways, and sweeping across the parking lot. It was incredible. Mother nature just opened up." Tara Schneider, a resident of Calgary's northwest Thorncliffe neighbourhood, said the hail seemed to shred the greenery around her yard, and the hail looked like it was blowing at a 90-degree angle. But what was even more memorable, Schneider said, was the loud gusts of wind. "The sound alone made us think initially that we were in a tornado. I've never heard that sound before from a storm," Schneider said. "We're not sure if we have any property damage. We have to do some clean-up today to investigate that, but I wished I wouldn't have washed the windows on Saturday." Below is a collection of photos submitted to CBC Calgary from residents who experienced the hailstorm. Have photos of the hailstorm? Send them to calgaryphotos@
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Three wildfires burn in single evening in London
More than 200 firefighters tackled three separate grass fires in east London on Monday evening. Some residents in Dagenham were asked to temporarily leave their homes after eight hectares (20 acres) of grass, shrubland and trees, fences and garden furniture caught alight near Beam Parklands. Wildfire beaters were later used to tackle flames that destroyed an area of grassland near Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, while firefighters brought a third fire under control at Walthamstow Marshes. The flames have been put out and the cause of the fires is under investigation, as London Fire Brigade (LFB) warns it could be a "challenging summer" due to warm and dry weather conditions. About 125 firefighters tackled the largest blaze in Dagenham, which came close to reaching neighbouring houses. Station commander Matt Hayward said: "Firefighters worked extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties. "The fire had reached some garden fences, sheds and garden furniture." Jets and wildfire beaters were used to stop flames reaching the properties, Mr Hayward said. LFB added that fire breaks installed by the local authority had been important in preventing the fire spreading to residential areas. The brigade said that while three such fires in one evening had been "a lot" for firefighters, it was not unheard of and that crews were preparing for more blazes like these. "All of our firefighters have been undergoing enhanced wildfire response training in preparation for what could be another challenging summer," LFB said. It has urged Londoners to act "responsibly" to prevent further fires. "As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly," an LFB spokesperson said. "In London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties." In particular, people are being reminded not to use disposable barbecues in parks or fields nor to use them on wooden decking in private areas. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Homes evacuated as grassfire tackled in Dagenham London Fire Brigade
Axios
5 hours ago
- Axios
30 years after Chicago's deadly heat wave, risks remain
This week marks the 30th anniversary of the deadliest heat wave in Chicago's history. Why it matters: Three decades later, elderly and low-income residents are still most at risk during heat waves, which are expected to worsen because of climate change. Flashback: Beginning on July 12, 1995, temperatures in Chicago spiked over 100 degrees, and within a week, more than 700 people had died. The hottest days were July 13–14, when heat index values reached 115 degrees. It was most deadly for elderly, Black, low-income and isolated people who had limited access to cooling spaces and often kept windows nailed shut because they lived in areas that felt unsafe to venture outside. Deaths were also prominent in neighborhoods considered "heat islands," which have less vegetation for shade and more concrete and pavement that absorb the heat and warm the surrounding area. Between the lines: At the time, the heat wave did not get the same attention as other natural disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes, with some public officials — including then-Mayor Richard M. Daley — scoffing at the imminent danger. The intrigue: In "Heat Wave," sociologist and author Eric Klinenberg shows that adjacent neighborhoods with similar demographics — in this case almost entirely Black and low-income — fared differently. Englewood on the South Side had far more deaths, 33 per 100,000 residents, compared to its southern neighbor Auburn Gresham, which had 3 per 100,000 people, Klinenberg writes. He attributes this to "social infrastructure," as Englewood had lost population, stores and community spaces that created the connections between neighbors, thus leaving residents in that area with fewer people to check on their well-being. State of play: The city has made improvements since 1995 to avoid another calamitous event, including an ordinance that requires air conditioning in newly constructed day cares, pre-K–12 schools and residential building projects. The ordinance, passed in 2022 after three seniors in Rogers Park died from extreme heat, also requires cooling systems to be operational when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees. The National Weather Service also has improved technology to warn cities further in advance about extreme heat, allowing city officials to prep communication and open cooling centers. Yes, but: Except for police stations, public cooling centers, libraries and field houses close at 5pm, and heat islands remain — more than 60% of Chicago's population, or 1.7 million people, live in urban heat islands that experience temperatures 8 degrees higher than other parts of the city, according to Climate Central. Neighborhoods with these higher temps include Englewood and Roseland and Austin on the West Side. All of those neighborhoods are predominantly Black. The EPA advises The latest: Late last month, hundreds of cities broke heat records, including towns in Illinois. Threat level: in President Trump's megabill could raise electricity prices, which have already been steadily rising, CNBC reports, making it more difficult for households already struggling to pay the bills.
