Wind played pivotal role in Sugar Grove wildfire, officials say
Read full article: Wind played pivotal role in Sugar Grove wildfire, officials sayWe are still under a burn ban through the rest of April and this weekend, we got another example of why. A brush fire in Shawsville burned more than 260 acres forcing the evacuation of some homes.
US wildfires are getting bigger and more complex, prompting changes in firefighting workforce
Read full article: US wildfires are getting bigger and more complex, prompting changes in firefighting workforceForecasters are warning that the potential for wildfires will be above normal in some areas across the United States over the coming months as temperatures rise and rain becomes sparse.
New air quality monitors for schools after Matts Creek wildfire
Read full article: New air quality monitors for schools after Matts Creek wildfireA smoky haze, settling in for days during the Matt’s Creek wildfire. It’s a scene you might see over in California, but it’s not something you see in Southwest Virginia often.
Firefighters battling Matts Creek Wildfire get a break to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal
Read full article: Firefighters battling Matts Creek Wildfire get a break to enjoy a Thanksgiving mealFirefighters are spending time away from their families and friends to help protect the communities around Matts Creek.
Wildfire debris cleared from Blue Ridge Parkway, traffic now able to pass through
Read full article: Wildfire debris cleared from Blue Ridge Parkway, traffic now able to pass throughThe Blue Ridge Parkway is back open after crews worked to clear debris from the Matts Creek wildfire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
School closings, delays for Tuesday, Nov. 21 due to air quality concerns
Read full article: School closings, delays for Tuesday, Nov. 21 due to air quality concernsSome schools in our region will be closed or delayed on Tuesday, Nov. 21 due to air quality concerns as crews continue to battle a wildfire in Bedford County.
Officials helping with the Matts Creek Wildfire are urging people to stay safe while viewing the flames
Read full article: Officials helping with the Matts Creek Wildfire are urging people to stay safe while viewing the flamesThe Matts Creek Wildfire is continuing to grow in acreage, but also in containment. Now, officials are warning the public to stay safe if you plan to see the fire.
School closings, delays for Monday, Nov. 20 due to air quality concerns
Read full article: School closings, delays for Monday, Nov. 20 due to air quality concernsSome schools in our region will be closed Monday, Nov. 20 due to air quality concerns as crews continue to battle a wildfire in Bedford County.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issues health alert due to wildfire smoke
Read full article: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issues health alert due to wildfire smokeWildfires continue to blaze across the Commonwealth, with the Matts Creek wildfire in Bedford County spanning about 3,600 acres as of Thursday night.
Firefighters using motorized equipment to fight Matts Creek wildfire
Read full article: Firefighters using motorized equipment to fight Matts Creek wildfireOfficials with the U.S. Forest Service say more than 100 firefighters are battling the blaze and the fire is burning where motorized equipment isn't allowed, except in emergencies.
PHOTOS | Matts Creek wildfire in Bedford Co., smoky conditions in surrounding areas
Read full article: PHOTOS | Matts Creek wildfire in Bedford Co., smoky conditions in surrounding areasCrews are still working tirelessly to contain the Matts Creek wildfire in Bedford County. Get a look at smoky conditions in surrounding areas.
WATCH: Latest updates on the Matts Creek wildfire | Appcast - Nov. 15, 2023
Read full article: WATCH: Latest updates on the Matts Creek wildfire | Appcast - Nov. 15, 2023As wildfires continue to permeate much of our region, we’re working for you to keep you updated on the Matts Creek wildfire in Bedford County.
Big Island Elementary School set to close early on Thursday, Nov. 16 due to air quality concerns
Read full article: Big Island Elementary School set to close early on Thursday, Nov. 16 due to air quality concernsBig Island Elementary School will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 15 due to air quality concerns in the area, according to Bedford County Public Schools.
WATCH: Crews working to contain massive wildfire in Pigeon Forge
Read full article: WATCH: Crews working to contain massive wildfire in Pigeon ForgeOfficials say firefighters from across Tennessee are working to contain a wildfire near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that spread overnight despite rain from storms that passed through the area.
Haze from western wildfires could have health impact in Southwest Virginia
Read full article: Haze from western wildfires could have health impact in Southwest VirginiaWhile the haze from the Oregon wildfires may make for beautiful pictures here in Southwest Virginia, local health experts are concerned about its impacts on those with underlying health conditions.
Study: Wildfires produced up to half of pollution in US West
Read full article: Study: Wildfires produced up to half of pollution in US WestResearchers say smoke from wildfires accounted for up to half of all small particle air pollution in parts of the western U.S. in recent years (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)BILLINGS, Mont. – Wildfire smoke accounted for up to half of all health-damaging small particle air pollution in the western U.S. in recent years as warming temperatures fueled more destructive blazes, according to a study released Monday. Nationwide, wildfires were the source of up to 25% of small particle pollution in some years, the researchers said. But it’s difficult to separate how much of the increase in smoke pollution is driven by climate change versus the forest fuel buildup, she added. The new study matches up with previous research documenting the increasing proportion of pollution that comes from wildfire smoke, said Dan Jaffe, a wildfire pollution expert at the University of Washington.
Battle on to save Brazil's tropical wetlands from flames
Read full article: Battle on to save Brazil's tropical wetlands from flamesAn recently burned area at the Encontro das Aguas park at the Pantanal wetlands near Pocone, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. Wildfire has infiltrated the park as the number of fires at the world's biggest tropical wetlands has more than doubled in the first half of 2020, according to data released by a state institute. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)BRASILIA – A vast swath of a vital wetlands is burning in Brazil, sweeping across several national parks and obscuring the sun behind dense smoke. From January through August, the number of fires more than tripled, topping 10,000. On Friday, Brazil's navy used a helicopter to rescue a burned jaguar cub and take it to a veterinary hospital.