Wildfires

At the moment, California is battling roughly 625 concurrent wildfires across the state, including a number of new fires that appeared overnight.

The possibility of catching or spreading the coronavirus adds a new dimension of risk to the job, both on and off the front lines, and poses new threats to those seeking refuge in temporary shelter.

One of the most stubborn fires to be declared out this week was a 2,000-acre beast that had been burning since July.

Researchers say bots and trolls blasted out hashtags such as #ArsonEmergency, in a campaign to steer the conversation about wildfires away from climate change and toward arson.

Two fires have merged into a single blaze more than three times as big as California's largest-ever known fire. A quarter of a million people have been urged to evacuate towns south of Sydney.

The bushfires have burned millions of acres and exacted a staggering environmental toll. Australia's government is setting up a $1.4 billion fund to help those affected by the fires.

The Kincade Fire to the north and the Maria Fire in the south are 80% contained and should be fully under control this week. Evacuation orders for about 190,000 Californians have been lifted.

Firefighters now have Sonoma County's Kincade Fire 30% contained. But high winds are threatening to spread flames in both northern and southern parts of the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is freeing up state aid as high winds fuel two major fires across the state. The Kincade Fire in Sonoma County has burned 30,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders for some 180,000.

Protesters took to the streets across Brazil this weekend to voice outrage over the fires burning through the Amazon.