Lightning Caused the Lucas Fire and the Ross Fire Is Out

Two fires that dominated recent headlines are winding down, one in Northern California and one in North Texas. Farther afield, Indonesia's fire season is pushing haze across Southeast Asia, and a wildfire is burning along Italy's Amalfi Coast. At home, California signed a law that changes smog-check rules for older collector cars.

Cal Fire confirms lightning started the Lucas Fire

Lightning ignited the Lucas Fire at the border of Mendocino and Lake counties, Cal Fire announced Wednesday. The fire has burned 4,128 acres since it started on September 10 and was 46% contained Wednesday morning, helped by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, as The Mercury News reports.

A survey found the fire destroyed three small structures, including an emergency communications radio site. No homes were damaged. Some evacuation orders and warnings remain in Lake and Mendocino counties, and the Upper Lake County School District said schools will reopen Thursday after environmental testing and cleanup of smoke and ash damage.

The Ross Fire in Texas is fully extinguished

The Ross Fire in Palo Pinto County is out after burning for 23 days and roughly 90,000 acres across North Texas, CBS News reports. The fire destroyed homes and buildings and killed livestock, but no civilians were killed or seriously injured.

The Texas A&M Forest Service said this was the state's busiest August for fire response since 2005. On Wednesday the agency awarded nearly $5 million to 118 volunteer fire departments that helped, to replace resources used during the fire. Officials say the wildfire threat in the region continues.

Indonesian fires spread haze across Southeast Asia

Fires across seven provinces on Borneo and Sumatra have burned for weeks, and the smoke has produced haze across parts of Southeast Asia, TIME reports. Dry weather and drought linked to a "Super El Niño" are making the fires harder to contain, and Indonesian authorities warned they could continue through October or early November because of a late rainy season.

The fires are often set to clear land, which is broadly against the law. Indonesia has deployed more than 50 aircraft for water bombing and cloud seeding, and Japan sent three Chinook helicopters to help. The haze carries PM2.5, fine particles that can reach deep into the lungs.

Wildfire forces evacuations on Italy's Amalfi Coast

A wildfire that broke out Monday evening in scrubland near Amalfi has forced precautionary evacuations of some restaurants and facilities along the coast and the Sorrento Peninsula, Fox News reports. Italy's national fire service said crews responded to fires stretching between Positano, Amalfi, Agerola and Vico Equense.

Strong winds initially kept helicopters grounded, but aircraft joined the effort by morning. No injuries or damage to homes were reported. Local leaders have publicly raised suspicions of arson.

California eases smog checks for some classic cars

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1392, known as Jay Leno's Law, at Leno's Burbank garage on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports. The law phases in smog-check exemptions for collector cars from model years 1976 through 1985 that are not used for everyday transportation, starting January 1, 2028, and adding one model year each year through 2033.

To qualify, owners must hold collector-car insurance or show the car is driven fewer than 1,000 miles a year. An earlier, broader version of the bill stalled last year after public health advocates and air quality districts argued it would increase smog pollution, The Mercury News notes.

Sources

Lightning sparked 4,100-acre Lucas Fire that destroyed 3 structures, Cal Fire says — The Mercury News
Ross Fire extinguished after 23 days; Texas A&M Forest Service says wildfire threat continues as crews recover — CBS News
Why Southeast Asia Is Facing a Haze Crisis — TIME
Amalfi Coast wildfire is sparking tourist evacuations amid arson fears — Fox News
More cruising ahead for classic cars thanks to Jay Leno's new smog check law — Los Angeles Times
Newsom signs 'Leno's Law,' easing smog checks for some classic cars — The Mercury News

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.