Nevada
California wildfires grow as heatwave worsens, sending smoke into Nevada
Growing wildfires in California forced evacuations as a heat wave Wednesday threatened to make fire conditions worse. In the Midwest, a wildfire kept residents of South Dakota’s second-largest city on edge, ready to flee if flames moved dangerously close.
A blaze near the remote Northern California mountain community of Sierra Brooks was uncontained. Authorities expanded evacuation orders for a total of more than 530 residents Tuesday evening after strong winds pushed flames through dry brush and timber about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Lake Tahoe. The Bear Fire grew to more than 4.7 square miles (12 square kilometers) and sent up a plume of smoke visible some 25 miles (40 kilometers) away in Reno, Nevada.
“Due to steep and rocky terrain, crews have experienced difficulty in gaining access to some areas of the fire, slowing progress,” the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement. Flames damaged power lines, knocking out electricity to more than 750 residents, the service said.
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Central California wildfire scorches 17 square miles
In central California, firefighters working in triple-digit temperatures were battling a blaze that scorched more than 17 square miles (44 square kilometers) of dry brush in mostly open space. A handful of homes were evacuated outside of Coalinga in Fresno County. The Boone Fire was 5% contained Wednesday.
Across the state, red flag warnings for increased wildfire risk were issued. The desert communities of Palm Springs, Twentynine Palms, Needles and Barstow were heating up, with highs of up to 118 F (47.7 Celsius) in Death Valley’s Furnace Creek expected at week’s end.
In Southern California’s Santa Barbara County, officials issued a health alert due to spiking temperatures in inland areas. The health department urged residents to stay indoors during the day and take other measures to avoid heat-related illnesses. Cooling centers were set up across Los Angeles County.
The wildfire news was better in South Dakota: The battle to contain the First Thunder Fire got a boost Wednesday from cooler weather and lighter winds. Officials were optimistic homes in Rapid City would remain safe.
The First Thunder Fire was reported Monday just a few miles (kilometers) from Rapid City, a community of 80,000 residents near Black Hills National Forest. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, is far out of harm’s way.
The fire burning nearly 160 acres (65 hectares) was fueled by uncommonly hot and dry weather — Tuesday’s high in Rapid City was 96 degrees Fahrenheit (35.6 Celsius), well above the normal early-September high of 75 (23.9 Celsius). Winds gusted to 45 mph (72 kph).
As late as Tuesday evening, residents in an evacuation warning area of Rapid City were being told to pack their bags, gather vital belongings and be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
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Wildfire contained in South Dakota, officials urge residents to remain prepared
By Wednesday morning, the temperature was far cooler, the winds calmer and the air more humid.
“Firefighters got a good handle on the wildfire last night,” an update from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said. “It’s currently at 157 acres. Weather conditions are very favorable today. They are mopping up a large portion on the west side and are hoping to get everything contained and under control today.”
Officials don’t yet know what caused the fire that burned across a steep, rocky area. No structural damage was immediately reported.
Pennington County, South Dakota, Fire Administrator Jerome Harvey said those residing in the Rapid City area are in a “red zone” where wildfires can occur at virtually any time.
“You need to be prepared for that,” Harvey said at a news conference Tuesday. “These kinds of events can happen on a year-round basis. There is no longer a defined fire season.”
Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun on Tuesday urged residents to gather up key documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards and vital financial information, along with cherished photographs and prescriptions.
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Residents in areas near the fire also were urged to have a plan for what to do with pets should evacuations become necessary. A Rapid City animal hospital was prepared to take in small animals. For larger animals, a fairground was set up for displaced livestock.
Top performances
Boys basketball
■ Mekhi Carter, Canyon Springs: The sophomore collected 17 points, five assists and two steals while leading the Pioneers to a 63-49 win over Tech.
■ Gian Haddock, Desert Oasis: The senior scored 23 points as the Diamondbacks outlasted Silverado for a 70-68 triple-overtime win.
■ Rylan Hearns, Arbor View: The senior finished with 28 points in the Aggies’ 71-55 win over Foothill.
■ Uzo Nwapa, The Meadows: The junior scored 18 points to help the Mustangs hold off Shadow Ridge for a 57-54 victory.
■ David Quesada, Cimarron-Memorial: The sophomore racked up 28 points and eight rebounds to lead the Spartans past Del Sol 84-49.
Girls basketball
■ Samantha Chesnut, Liberty: The senior led a balanced attack with 11 points as the Patriots rolled past Las Vegas 68-14.
■ Greta Piepkorn, Rancho: The sophomore collected 12 points and five steals while leading the Rams to a 42-34 win over Green Valley.
■ Bella Robinson, Coral Academy: The senior finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds, 13 steals and six assists in the Falcons’ 59-20 victory over Eldorado.
■ Sabrina Stewart, Del Sol: The sophomore scored 27 points and the Dragons rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Canyon Springs 62-58.
■ Nation Williams, Centennial: The senior posted 16 points in the Bulldogs’ 76-24 victory over Faith Lutheran.
Flag football
■ Amaya Mackey, Legacy: The sophomore had three interceptions to help the Longhorns secure a 19-6 victory over Moapa Valley.
■ Manahere Peters, Sloan Canyon: The junior caught 10 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns in the Pirates’ 41-24 loss to Bishop Gorman.
■ Charli Taylor, Liberty: The freshman completed 23 of 48 passes for 384 yards and four TDs to lead the Patriots beat Green Valley 35-6.
Scores
Boys basketball
Arbor View 71, Foothill 55
Canyon Springs 63, Tech 49
Cimarron-Memorial 84, Del Sol 49
Desert Oasis 70, Silverado 68 (3OT)
Laughlin 72, Liberty Baptist 52
Losee 63, Mater East 40
Needles 86, Awaken Christian 33
Snow Canyon (Utah) 67, Virgin Valley 61
The Meadows 57, Shadow Ridge 54
Western 62, Cadence 7
Girls basketball
Amplus Academy 46, Chaparral 21
Centennial 76, Faith Lutheran 24
Coral Academy 59, Eldorado 20
Del Sol 62, Canyon Springs 58
Laughlin 41, Liberty Baptist 15
Liberty 68, Las Vegas 14
Mojave 64, Shadow Ridge 63
Rancho 42, Green Valley 34
Spring Valley 48, Doral Academy 29
Sunrise Mountain 53, Cheyenne 18
Western 29, Cadence 21
Flag football
Bishop Gorman 41, Sloan Canyon 24
Chaparral 7, Amplus Academy 6
Cimarron-Memorial 18, Clark 13
Desert Oasis 55, Cheyenne 0
Legacy 19, Moapa Valley 6
Liberty 35, Green Valley 6
Mojave 22, Basic 8
Palo Verde 13, Mater East 12
Jeff Wollard Las Vegas Review-Journal
Two people have been hospitalized after a fire at a rural Nevada County home Monday morning.
Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department officials say several departments responded to the scene along Moroni Lane, west of Colfax and south of Grass Valley, a little after 9:30 a.m.
Firefighters found two burn victims at the scene. One of those victims was taken to the hospital, while officials say the other was taken to a burn center for advanced care.
No other details about the victims’ conditions have been released.
The flames were stopped before they could spread to any other properties.
Exactly what started the fire is now under investigation.
Thousands of residents across parts of California, Nevada, Oregon, and South Dakota have been advised to stay indoors, as levels of fine particle pollution (PM2.5) will have reached “unhealthy” levels as of January 12, 2026, at 6 a.m. ET, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AirNow Map shows.
The EPA is urging people in sensitive groups, including the elderly, children, and those with certain health conditions, to completely avoid prolonged or intense outdoor activities. Everyone else should reduce their participation in long or intense outdoor pursuits.
This is because physical activity causes people to breathe harder and faster, which means the fine particulate matter can penetrate deeper into the lungs if people are exercising outdoors.
The EPA warns, “Your chances of being affected by particles increase the more strenuous your activity and the longer you are active outdoors. If your activity involves prolonged or heavy exertion, reduce your activity time—or substitute another that involves less exertion. Go for a walk instead of a jog, for example.”
What Do ‘Unhealthy’ Levels of PM2.5 Mean?
PM2.5 are tiny, inhalable particles of pollution, 2.5 micrometers or less in size (smaller than a strand of hair), that are considered to be one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution, according to the EPA.
This is because they get deep into the lungs—and sometimes even the bloodstream—triggering or exacerbating certain health conditions, like asthma, or causing symptoms ranging from coughing and nose, eye, and throat irritation to shortness of breath and chest tightness.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to report and classify air quality across the United States. The AQI is a standardized scale ranging from 0 to 301+, which categorizes air quality into the following levels:
- Good: 0 to 50—Air pollution poses little or no risk to the public
- Moderate: 51 to 100—Some pollutants may pose a moderate health concern for a very small number of unusually sensitive people
- Unhealthy for sensitive groups: 101 to 150—Members of sensitive groups (children, elderly, people with respiratory or heart conditions) may experience health effects; the general public is less likely to be affected
- Unhealthy: 151 to 200—Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious effects
- Very Unhealthy: 201 to 300—Everyone may experience more serious health effects
- Hazardous: 301+—Health warnings of emergency conditions; the entire population is likely to be affected
What Causes PM2.5?
PM2.5 can come from a variety of sources, ranging from wildfires and smokestacks to emissions from vehicles and power or industrial plants.
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