WILDFIRES

The death toll has climbed to more than 100, and the photos below chronicle just how devastating the damage has been, particularly in the town of Lahaina.

A Metro Detroit family was grateful this week to escape Maui as deadly wildfires suddenly engulfed Hawaii’s second-largest island.

The state of Michigan was experiencing some of the worst air quality in the U.S., and the world, on Wednesday as wildfire smoke continues to filter in from Canada.

Sunshine finally moves back into the region after a soggy start to the weekend, but it comes with more air quality issues due to the Canadian wildfire smoke

Smoke from a massive wildfire in Canada has moved into Michigan and the Eastern U.S., triggering air quality warnings.

Hazy skies filled with wildfire smoke settled into the Great Lakes region on Tuesday night, triggering Air Quality Action Days for most of Southeast Michigan.

Canadian wildfire smoke moving through the Great Lakes region has greatly impacted air quality for Metro Detroit residents.

The dry conditions sparked a fire warning from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as even the slightest mistake could quickly become a disaster.

A 46-acre wildfire that started Sunday afternoon is now contained, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect on Monday for all of Michigan’s Northern Lower Peninsula, with fire risk extending into the Upper Peninsula.

Fire crews took advantage of a break in the weather in their battle to contain large fires in the West and Plains states but fear the return of stronger winds could spread flames further.

The devastating Caldor Fire forced a lot of Northern California residents out of their homes, including three black bear cubs who have not found a temporary home in Sonoma County.

A wildfire that’s burned about 200 acres on Michigan’s remote Isle Royale has prompted the National Park Service to close some trails and campground areas on the wilderness island.

Firefighters and residents are battling into the night against a massive forest fire on Greece’s second-largest island for a seventh day.

Dry and hot weather stretches in Michigan have elevated potential fire dangers in parts of the state, mostly in the Upper Peninsula.

This election year, the U.S. is facing a myriad of issues that aren’t solely political -- from the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, to national unrest over racism, blazing wildfires, hurricanes, you name it. No matter who you’re supporting in the General Election this November, it’s clear that the incoming government will have a lot of work to do to help the country return to some normalcy. The question is: After the November election is over, what issues should U.S. government leaders address first? Share your thoughts with us using the form below:The presidential election is on November 3, 2020. Inauguration day is January 20, 2021.

In a report to the state Public Utilities Commission, Southern California Edison said it was investigating whether its electrical equipment caused the blaze. However, the utility had reduced that to under 16,500 as winds eased temporarily Monday night. Fire officials said PG&E transmission lines sparked that fire, which destroyed hundreds of homes and caused nearly 100,000 people to flee. While the biggest fires in California have been fully or significantly contained, more than 5,000 firefighters remain committed to 20 blazes, state fire officials said. Associated Press writer Amy Taxin in Orange County, California contributed to this report.

“And that number will grow.”So far, in this year’s historic fire season, more than 8,200 California wildfires have killed 31 people and scorched “well over 4 million acres in California” or 6,250 square miles, Cal Fire said Sunday in a statement. The astonishing figure is more than double the 2018 record of 1.67 million burned acres (2,609 square miles) in California. Numerous studies have linked bigger wildfires in America to climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas. Virtually all the damage has occurred since mid-August, when five of the six largest fires in state history erupted. Flannigan, the fire scientist, estimates the area of land burned from wildfires in California has increased fivefold since the 1970s.

The blaze, known as the Bobcat Fire, is expected to grow through Sunday and Monday as critical fire weather conditions continued due to gusty wind and low humidity. The Bobcat Fire started Sept. 6 and has already doubled in size over the last week — becoming one of Los Angeles County's largest wildfires in history, according to the Los Angeles Times. Though the Bobcat Fire neared the high desert community of Valyermo, a Benedictine monastery there appeared to have escaped major damage, according to the Los Angeles Times. More than 7,900 wildfires have burned more than 5,468 square miles (14,164 square kilometers) in California this year, including many since a mid-August barrage of dry lightning ignited parched vegetation. Meanwhile, officials were investigating the death of a firefighter on the lines of another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their baby’s gender.

A number of Northern California wildfires sent a thick, orange-glowing haze over the San Francisco area Wednesday, leaving the Bay in an eerie darkness. A fire burning in Butte County, located northeast of San Francisco, has forced thousands to evacuate from their homes, according to The Associated Press. (2020 Getty Images)An orange glow fills the sky above the Embarcadero in San Francisco. (2020 Getty Images)Smoke from various wildfires blankets the San Francisco skyline in darkness and an orange glow, seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco. (2020 Getty Images)An exterior view of the ballpark in San Francisco, California.

More than 4,500 buildings remained threatened by the wildfire, which was burning toward thick, dry brush in the Angeles National Forest. The Lake Fire was just 12% contained as of Sunday morning and has burned nearly 28 square miles (72 square kilometers) of brush and trees. Air quality may reach unhealthy to very unhealthy levels in several regions of Southern California on Sunday and Monday afternoons, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said. Wind gusts reached 75 mph (121 kph), according to the National Weather Service. The fire has burned at least 31 square miles (80 square kilometers) and triggered evacuation orders for sparsely populated portions of Plumas, Lassen and Sierra County, said Tahoe National Forest spokesman Joe Flannery.

The bushfires in Australia are still ravaging parts of the country and are wreacking havoc on small communities and rural towns. The damage has been devastating and news of the bushfires has spread overseas with many activists and celebrities sharing photos of the devastation on social media. There are many different places where you can donate money to help with relief, and many celebrities have shared donation links and even donated themselves. I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires. Another Australian actor, Russell Crowe, who is in Australia right now, posted that he donated $105,000 to firefighters.