Wild River Fire in New Hampshire and Smog in Lahore and Delhi

Today's news covers a late-season fire in New England, the start of smog season in South Asia, and the legal and political fight over who pays when wildfires are blamed on utilities.

Wild River Fire burns in the White Mountains

The Wild River Fire covered roughly 300 acres of the White Mountain National Forest as of Monday, about seven miles southeast of Gorham, New Hampshire, as the Portland Press Herald reports. The U.S. Forest Service said it is burning in timber, snags and leaf litter, and that it posed no significant threat to life or property as of Monday afternoon.

More than 40 personnel are assigned, and steep, rugged terrain makes access difficult. The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map showed no smoke impacts beyond the immediate area as of Monday night. The cause is under investigation. Fire danger in southern Maine was rated high on Monday because of dry conditions.

Lahore and Delhi choke as smog season begins

Air quality fell sharply on Tuesday in parts of northern India and Pakistan, with pre-winter smog making Lahore the world's most polluted city, Reuters reports via U.S. News & World Report. Lahore's AQI stood at 447 early Tuesday, according to IQAir, and its PM2.5 level was 60 times the World Health Organization's annual guideline.

In Delhi, IQAir put the AQI at 215, while India's Central Pollution Control Board rated the air "very poor" at 332; the two use different scales. Delhi has imposed curbs on polluting vehicles, construction and the use of coal and firewood in eateries. Cold, dense air traps emissions from vehicles, construction and crop burning this time of year, and Diwali fireworks on November 8 tend to make it worse.

Cooley Fire fully contained in Sonoma and Mendocino counties

Crews reached full containment of the 1,365-acre Cooley Fire on Oct. 31, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. The fire began as a prescribed burn on private ranch land on Oct. 16 and escaped containment after a wind shift.

A dark smoke plume was visible over northern Sonoma County in the first days, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an advisory on Oct. 17 as air reached unhealthy levels in some areas. No structures were threatened. An investigation into why the burn escaped is ongoing.

Oregon Supreme Court takes up PacifiCorp wildfire verdict

The Oregon Supreme Court is set to review on Tuesday a verdict over PacifiCorp's role in four Oregon wildfires in 2020, Reuters reports via U.S. News & World Report. Claimants say the utility's equipment, and its failure to shut down power lines during a Labor Day windstorm, caused the Santiam Canyon, Echo Mountain Complex, South Obenchain and 242 fires.

A state appeals court in April wiped out $1.25 billion in awards over an error in jury instructions. PacifiCorp denies negligence. The Supreme Court could reinstate the judgments or send the case back to the trial court.

California utilities push for a wildfire liability cap

California's for-profit utilities are lobbying for a permanent cap on their liability for fires they are found to have caused negligently, the Los Angeles Times reports. The push comes as a criminal investigation into Southern California Edison's actions before last year's Eaton fire continues.

The utilities say wildfire risk has hurt their credit ratings, raising borrowing costs that customers end up paying. Consumer advocates argue a cap would weaken the incentive to take fire safety seriously.

Sources

Roughly 300-acre wildfire burning just over Maine border in New Hampshire — Portland Press Herald
Lahore, Delhi Choke as Air Pollution Spikes in Parts of South Asia — U.S. News & World Report
Crews reach 100% containment on Cooley Fire as questions about escaped prescribed burn linger — Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Berkshire-Owned Utility's Wildfire Lawsuits Head to Oregon Supreme Court — U.S. News & World Report
Utilities lobby for shield from wildfire costs — Los Angeles Times

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.