Deadly Swedish Forest Fire Forces Hundreds to Evacuate

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC HAZARDS
RISING TEMPERATURES
DROUGHT
DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES
MULTIPLE STATES OF EMERGENCY
MAIN SCENARIOS 900, 797, 777, 555, 444, 311, 111, 101, 100, 070, 04, 02
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Massive forest fire sweeping central Sweden, spreading north

A deadly forest-fire, said to be largest forest fires in Sweden in modern times, has consumed more than 15,000 hectares and continues to spread  uncontrollably.

The fire has forced at least 1,000 Swedes out of their homes, and put the entire 4,500 population of the town Norberg on standby for evacuation, said a report.

The fire has claimed at least one life so far. The body of a 30-year-old man, who had died from burns, was found on a road north of Stabäck, Västmanland on Tuesday, said the report.

The fire is now spreading north, and the authorities say it could burn for weeks, even months.

“The fire risks heading north to the lower reaches of Norberg,” Fredrik Eriksson of the emergency services told reporters.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this. Evacuation? That’s what happens in wartime,” said a Norberg resident.

“Forest fires are a risk we tend to associate primarily with southern Europe, but we are seeing that no country is immune,” said Sweden’s EU Commissioner, as she thanked Italy and France for providing support.

Record Lightning Strikes

Some 47,901 lightning strikes were recorded in Sweden Sunday night beating a previous record of 45,000 strikes set earlier this year, said the report.

Record Heat

The mercury rose to at 34°C in the town of Härsnäs in Östergötland on Sunday, setting a new record for August. The town of Visby in Gotland set a new temperature record for the warmest August day at 32.9°C.

Related Links

• Sweden Sizzles amid Record Heat
• Reindeer invade Arctic road tunnel in Norway to escape heat

Deadly Quake Strikes South Africa

DEADLY EARTHQUAKE
INDUCED SEISMICITY
SCENARIOS 222, 08
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M5.3 Strikes Near Orkney, South Africa

Centered at 26.986°S, 26.741°E the rare quake struck at a depth of about 10.0km (6.2mi), said USGS/EHP.

The epicenter was located about 125 km (73 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, and 199km (124mi) SW of Pretoria, South Africa. The quake, which killed at least one person, is said to be the largest in the southern Africa region since 2006, when a magnitude 7.0 shock occurred in  Zimbabwe, according to Geological Survey of South Africa.

Induced Seismicity

There is increasing evidence that some earthquakes are  triggered or caused by human activities. Although the area around JHB is not prone to seismicity, it is plagued by the deepest gold mines in the world.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH EQ Forecast.  For detailed FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.

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States of Emergency Continue in California, Oregon, Washington

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
RISING TEMPERATURES
EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT
CROP DISASTERS
DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES
MULTIPLE STATES OF EMERGENCY
MAIN SCENARIOS 900, 800, 555, 444, 123, 111, 101, 100, 033, 011, 08, 04, 03, 02
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Fierce Wildfire Destroys Homes in Washington

The so-called Snag Canyon Fire in Ellensburg has consumed at least 1,930 acres, destroying 16 structures, as of posting.

The Snag Canyon fire was sparked by lightning on Saturday, August 2. It is currently estimated at 1,930 acres, with about 10 percent contained, said Inciweb.

Evacuation orders were in effect for about 200 homes on Monday.

WA State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Status: 

Phase III: The State EOC activated to Phase III in support of multiple fire mobilizations throughout Washington State.

Federal emergency aid has been made available to the State of Washington to supplement state and local response efforts in the area affected by wildfires beginning on July 9, 2014, and continuing.

• Washington Snag Canyon Fire (FM-5071)

California

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has activated the State Operations Center (SOC) in support of the Inland Regional Operations Center (REOC) and local regions due to fires currently burning throughout Northern California.

On Saturday, August, 2, 2014, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., declared a state of emergency in 11 California counties: Madera, Modoc, Butte, Siskiyou, Mendocino, Shasta, Amador, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lassen, and Mariposa.

“Fires like the Day and Bald Fires can put a strain on resources, particularly at a time when dry conditions due to the drought, above normal temperatures and winds have increased the wildfire threat significantly,” said a state official.

Fire Management Assistance Declarations have been declared on August 2 – 3, 2014 for the following wildfires:

• California Day Fire (FM-5070)
• California Bald Fire (FM-5069)
• California Oregon Gulch Fire (FM-5068)
• California Eiler Fire  (FM-5067)

Oregon – Fire Management Assistance Declaration has been declared on August 1, 2014

• Oregon Oregon Gulch Fire