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‘The Worst I’ve Ever Seen’: Dozens Dead Across Six States After Tornadoes, Wildfires, Dust Storms

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A monster storm sweeping through parts of the U.S. whipped up tornadoes and dust storms and sparked wildfires, killing at least 34 people across six states, according to reports.

The massive storm system with winds reaching 80 mph was forecast to sweep through an over 100 million-strong area from the Canadian border to Texas, according to CBS News. It brought about wintry conditions in the north, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, dust storms, and wildfires in parts of the Midwest and on the West Coast.

Eight people died and many others were injured in a 71-vehicle pileup on I-70 in northwest Kansas Friday, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP). The multiple crashes resulted from traffic getting caught up in a severe dust storm that reduced visibility to almost zero as gusts blew in from Colorado, the KHP said.

“My thoughts are with those affected by this tragic event,” Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said, while also calling for vigilance as the extreme weather lingered and thanking first responders and emergency personnel.

A dust storm also caused a pileup of 38 vehicles along I-27 in Canyon, Texas, a video from CNN shows. (Read more from “‘The Worst I’ve Ever Seen’: Dozens Dead Across Six States After Tornadoes, Wildfires, Dust Storms” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Here’s the Other Obstacle the LAFD Is Facing Responding to These fires…and It Goes Beyond Lack of Water

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The Los Angeles County wildfires are raging out of control. We have six active fires. None are contained. Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and other communitas have been burned to ash. This fire destroyed at least 25,000 acres, which led to evacuation orders for 70,000 people to avoid the blaze. That figure is bound to increase. Meanwhile, every firefighter has been recalled, but the hydrants are without water.

It’s a classic case of Democratic government incompetence that’s led to this nightmare. The lack of preparation, water maintenance, and protocols for these annual natural disasters is appalling. You can’t blame everything on climate change, which Democrats always do, especially when such a dubious scientific theory didn’t spark this fire.

(Read more from “Here’s the Other Obstacle the LAFD Is Facing Responding to These fires…and It Goes Beyond Lack of Water” HERE)

Texas Wildfire Torches Over 1M Acres, Largest in State History: ‘The Losses Could Be Catastrophic’ (VIDEO)

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One of several wildfires raging in the Texas Panhandle has grown to become the largest in state history.

The Smokehouse Creek fire has been burning since Monday and emergency crews have made little progress in containing it. It has so far torched over 1 million acres of land in Texas, the most by a wildfire in the history of the state, and 31,500 acres in Oklahoma, according to CNN.

The Smokehouse Creek fire is just one of several that have ripped through Texas cattle country this week. Two people have died so far in the fires. Ranchers have lost thousands of livestock with many more likely to be euthanized. Many homes and other buildings have been lost to the flames, as well.

The owners of the historic Turkey Track ranch in Texas estimate that it has lost at least 80% of its land to the wildfires.

“The loss of livestock, crops, and wildlife, as well as ranch fencing and other infrastructure throughout our property as well as other ranches and homes across the region is, we believe, unparalleled in our history,” the ranch said in a statement.

(Read more from “Texas Wildfire Torches Over 1M Acres, Largest in State History: ‘The Losses Could Be Catastrophic’ (VIDEO)” HERE)

Watch: Massive Fire Tornado That Killed Firefighter

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Recently released video from Cal Fire shows the most intense tornado ever in California history that trapped and killed a firefighter in Redding last month.

37-year-old Jeremiah “Jeremy” Stoke was a longtime Redding Fire Department veteran. According to Cal fire, on July 26th, he was driving his truck in northwest Redding and helping evacuate residents from the Carr Fire when he got into trouble.

. . .

While it was not the first documented fire tornado in California – a similar event happened at Coffey Park last October, for instance – but it was certainly the most powerful.

Even for fire researchers like Craig Clements, the director at the SJSU Fire Weather Research Lab, who had seen fire whirls before, it was an extraordinary event.

The video released by Cal Fire clearly shows the Carr Fire winds and flames moving in opposite directions forming a massive vortex. (Read more from “Watch: Massive Fire Tornado That Killed Firefighter” HERE)

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Video: California Wildfires Are so Big They Are Creating Massive Fire Tornadoes

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By The Daily Caller. A wildfire that led to the evacuation of nearly 40,000 people in Northern California is creating massive fire tornadoes as emergency crews struggle to contain the flames.

Skip Murphy of Redding, California, posted a video on social media of a heat vortex, or a fire whirl that occurs when intense rising heat and blustery wind conditions combine to form whirling eddies of air.

“No audio, but it sounds like a freight train, punctuated with explosions. Never seen anything like it,” Murphy wrote Friday on a Facebook post that also included a video of the fiery twister. . .

The fire has already destroyed nearly 500 structures, damaged 75 others and could demolish 5,000 homes and buildings, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) spokesman Scott Kenney told CNN Saturday. . .

More than 800 soldiers and airmen are on the ground or en route to help, according to the California National Guard. The Carr Fire — which started Friday, rumbled through Redding, and has already killed two people — doubled in size Saturday to 80,906 acres, almost the size of Philadelphia. (Read more from “Video: California Wildfires Are so Big They Are Creating Massive Fire Tornadoes” HERE)

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Parry Sound 33 Grows Again, Affected Residents Remain on Standby

By CBC. There were no new fires reported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on Sunday, but crews continue to battle 39 active forest fires across northeastern Ontario.

Twelve of those fires are not yet under control, including Parry Sound 33, which has caused the evacuation of Key Harbour and Henvey Inlet First Nation.

Ontario’s forest fire information map showed Sunday morning the fire had grown to about 8,224 hectares in size.

Winds blowing from the southwest kept crews busy along the portion closest to Highway 69. The ministry said the fire was still about seven kilometres from the highway early Sunday morning.

(Read more from “Parry Sound 33 Grows Again, Affected Residents Remain on Standby” HERE)

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Alaska Wildfire’s More Than Triple Overnight, America’s Top Wildfire Priority

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Photo Credit: Twitter Wildfire experts in Alaska expected the Card Street Fire to double in size, but Mother Nature was not helping to slow the inferno’s growth. Tuesday, the fire was at only 1,500 acres, and Wednesday’s footprint was not much greater. By Thursday, the Card Street Fire is estimated to have engulfed about 9,000 acres, according to KTUU News. As of Thursday afternoon, officials reported that besides for the 9,000 acres, there has been no containment of the fire.

In many areas, state officials have implemented a ban on all fires in state parks and on state land. Many campground areas are closed completely. The fire is sending plumes of smoke miles into the sky, fueled by strong westerly winds. According to the Alaska Coordination, the Card Street Fire is the number one priority wildfire in the nation Thursday, surpassing the critical concern of Alaska’s Sockeye Fire, which was deemed the most dangerous in the nation Wednesday and was reportedly set off by fireworks.

(The following are pictures of the rapidly expanding Healy Lake Fire from Alaska’s DNR’s Facebook:)

Unfortunately, Thursday’s weather will continue to foster fire growth with higher than normal temperatures, low humidity, and dry winds . . .

Wyoming Interagency Hotshots reported Wednesday that the team was on its way to assist in Alaska’s wildfires. A state of disaster has already been declared due to the destruction caused by the Card Street Fire, which is still burning fiercely. (Read more from “Alaska Wildfire’s More Than Triple Overnight, America’s Top Wildfire Priority” HERE)

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Second Wildfire Prompts More Evacuations in Alaska

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Photo Credit: AP [Editor’s note: For updates on Alaska’s fires, please click HERE] Fire crews are battling a second wildfire in Alaska and officials say hundreds of homes have been evacuated and six structures have burned.

The fast-moving blaze erupted Monday on the Kenai Peninsula, roughly 100 miles south of a major wildfire that started a day earlier near Willow in the heart of the state’s sled-dog community.

The new fire was first reported in the early afternoon as a 1-acre grass fire near the community of Sterling, but by early evening it had expanded to 640 acres was threatening some 200 homes.

Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources says in a news release that the “explosive wildland fire on the Kenai Peninsula forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes,” but did not provide a more precise figure. The statement said that it’s still unclear if the burned structures are homes or some other type of buildings . . .

The Willow fire has led to the voluntary evacuation of up to 1,700 structures and has struck the heart of sled dog country, including 15 or so mushers who call Willow home. (Read more from “Second Wildfire Prompts More Evacuations in Alaska” HERE)

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Alaskan Mushers Risk Lives to Save Dogs

By Michael E. Miller. The dogs were the first ones to smell the smoke.

As a raging wildfire crept closer and closer to the Alaskan town of Willow on Sunday, the animals began barking before the alarms sounded.

But as smoke blackened the midnight sun over a community known for its dog sledding, the sport’s heroic stars couldn’t flee: They were stuck inside cages or bound with chains.

So their owners stayed, risking their lungs and lives and homes to rescue their beloved animals. Even as the smoke poured in. Even as the rest of their belongings went up in flames.

“The troopers may not have been very happy, but we had to go” help the dogs, DeeDee Jonrowe, a veteran dog musher, told local TV station KTUU. “The concept of any animal burning is just almost too much to bear.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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