Wildfires

Illicit Sumatran Fires Bring Another Season of Smoke

A thick shroud of haze blanketed a wide area of Southeast Asia, mainly from illegal fires ignited to clear land on Sumatra.

The annual arrival of the smoke is said to be more acute this year due to an exceptionally dry season, enhanced by El Niño in the tropical Pacific.

Indonesian police say they have detected 14 hot spots in South Sumatra, some of which are in areas owned by plantation companies.

Other blazes were observed burning in national parks.

The resulting smoke blew into nearby Singapore and Malaysia during early September, causing unhealthful air quality.

Officials have distributed face masks to people who have to work outdoors near the sources of the smoke, some of which is being generated by peat fires beneath the surface.

Wildfires - California, USA

Firefighters in Central California on Thursday say the state's largest wildfire threatens to sweep through an ancient grove of Giant Sequoia trees considered to be a national treasure. Firefighters are clearing lines with bulldozers around the Grant Grove and putting up sprinklers. Although the trees can endure fire, some are stressed in the four-year drought and they're not taking any chances because the fast-moving flames are about five miles from the grove. It is named for the towering General Grant tree that stands 268 feet tall. There are dozens of Sequoia groves in the Sierra Nevada, and some trees are 3,000 years old.

Lightning strikes on July 31 sparked the wildfire in the Kings Canyon National Park east of Fresno. It has charred 172 square miles and is less than one-third contained.

A wildfire in Northern California that exploded in size has destroyed six homes in Amador County as evacuations remain in place Thursday, Cal Fire officials said. Two outbuildings were also destroyed. It is about 20 percent contained and has spread to nearby Calaveras County.

About 12,000 people are still without power amid a heat wave, as several facilities and power lines were damaged by the fast-moving blaze. Power could be restored Thursday night.

In Tuolumne County near Yosemite National Park, a firefighter was injured and a home was destroyed when two fires combined in the Cedar Ridge area, state fire spokeswoman Lisa Williams said Wednesday.

Nearby, a wildfire above Yosemite Valley grew to 500 acres, sending plumes of smoke visible throughout the park. Trails on the north rim of Yosemite Valley south of the Tioga Road and east of Yosemite Creek are closed. The causes of the fires are under investigation.