wildfires

Waves crash over a seawall at the mouth of the Miami River from Biscayne Bay, Florida., as Hurricane Irma passes by, Sempember 10, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

January 8, 2018, 8:42 pm

2017 the most costly year in US history for natural disasters

As annual temperatures rise, hurricanes, wildfires, freezes, and floods lead to at least 360 deaths, cause damage of $306 billion

By Kerry SHERIDAN

Vehicles pass beside a wall of flames on the 101 highway as it reaches the coast during the Thomas wildfire near Ventura, California on December 6, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON)

December 7, 2017, 8:22 am

California ‘Skirball’ wildfire threatens LA Jewish educational center

An outbreak of wind-whipped blazes in Southern California has closed closed highways, schools and museums and forced 200,000 to flee

By Agencies and TOI staff

Surrounded by blackened vegetation, Camp Newman’s iconic hillside Star of David survived a wildfire in Northern California. (Courtesy of URJ Camp Newman)

October 18, 2017, 1:15 am

‘Miracles’ found amid ashes of Jewish camp in Northern California

While most of Camp Newman’s buildings were lost in wildfires, prayer books, prayer shawls and an iconic hillside Star of David made of wood manged to survive the flame

By Rob Gloster

The scene at Hagafen Cellars on Oct. 10, 2017, when land, vegetation and equipment were burned in the fires raging throughout Wine Country this week. (Courtesy of Hagafen Cellars via JTA)

October 17, 2017, 5:09 pm

Kosher winery reopens as wildfires continue burning in California

Hagafen Cellars begins to recover after several buildings and virtually all of its agricultural equipment were destroyed

By JTA

A firefighter monitors flames from a blackburn operation Friday, October 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen, Calif. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

October 15, 2017, 5:20 am

California wildfires ravage wine country as death toll rises to 40

Blaze now burning across 100-mile swath of northern California, threatening Sonoma's historic center

By AP

A Sonoma City firefighter walks in front of flames during a backburn operation Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen , Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

October 14, 2017, 9:12 am

Teams report first progress against California fires as death toll hits 35

Fires have chased an estimated 90,000 people from their homes and destroyed at least 5,700 homes and businesses

By Paul Elias and Jocelyn Gecker

A firefighter gestures to his colleagues as he walks through thick smoke from a wildfire Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, near Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

October 13, 2017, 6:37 am

Death toll hits 31 as California infernos grow to size of NYC

Grim search for victims underway in the deadliest week of wildfires in the history of the state

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Jocelyn Gecker

A tree catches fire near houses in the Oakmont are of Santa Rosa, California, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

October 11, 2017, 11:30 pm

Death toll rises to 21 as California wildfires swallow more homes

With at least 3,500 houses and business destroyed, massive fire is now the most destructive in state's history

By JONATHAN J. COOPER and Jocelyn Gecker

The scene at Hagafen Cellars after wildfires raging in Northern California burned land, vegetation and equipment, Oct. 10, 2017. (Courtesy of Hagafen Cellars via JTA)

October 11, 2017, 6:35 pm

Kosher winery damaged as wildfires rage on in Northern California

As blazes burn through California’s famed wine country, Jewish community looking to care for those who ’lost everything they have’

By Sue Fishkoff

Napa County firefighter Jason Sheumann sprays water on a home as he battles flames from a wildfire Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Napa, California. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

October 10, 2017, 3:54 am

At least 10 dead as fires burn in California wine country

1,500 homes and businesses destroyed as authorities scramble to evacuate towns in the path of gusting winds and flame

By JEFF CHIU and Ellen Knickmeyer

An Israeli firefighting plane in Macedonia (Israel Police)

August 11, 2017, 11:04 am

Israeli firefighters conclude Macedonia aid effort

22-member delegation set to return to Israel after battling spate of wildfires in landlocked Balkan nation

By TOI staff

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan attends a press conference in Tel Aviv, January 26, 2017. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

February 20, 2017, 10:37 am

Top minister: Peace ‘possible’ under ‘very supportive’ Trump

Gilad Erdan says Israel can 'make a deal' if there is a 'true partner for peace'; says Iran pact must be 'fully enforced, if not canceled'

By Marissa Newman

Israeli firefighters work to extinguish a flame in a home in Haifa, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

December 1, 2016, 10:13 pm

First arson indictment for wave of fires handed down

Ali Mahajnar, 24, of Umm al-Fahm accused of deliberately starting 3 fires in hometown; says incompetent municipality motivated him

By Tamar Pileggi

Firefighters work in a home in Haifa, Israel, Thursday, November 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

November 27, 2016, 1:10 pm

Wave of blazes blamed on divine retribution

Shabbat desecration, planned uprooting of West Bank outposts and muezzin-muffling bill all seen as bringing damnation upon Israel

By TOI staff

A brush fire that erupted in the Haruvit Forest, outside the southern city of Kiryat Malachi on November 27, 2016. (Israel Police)

November 27, 2016, 11:05 am

Blazes stamped out as officials say spate of fires under control

Brush fire battled near Hadera, forest fire outside Kiryat Malachi extinguished by firefighting aircraft after authorities say 'no active sites left'

By TOI staff and AFP