West
Cause of Maui wildfire that killed 102 revealed
The deadliest U.S. wildfire that killed at least 102 people on Maui last year “was a reignition” of an earlier morning fire “caused by Hawaiian Electric equipment damaged by high winds,” the 132-year-old utility company confirmed on Wednesday.
Firefighters believed they had extinguished the earlier brushfire sparked by downed power lines, officials confirmed as they presented their findings on the cause.
The Aug. 8, 2023, fire started in the afternoon in the same area as the fire from earlier that morning. Driven by strong, erratic winds, the fire raced through the historic town of Lahaina, destroying thousands of buildings, overcoming people trapped in their cars and forcing some residents to flee into the ocean.
“We want to make abundantly clear to the community that our firefighters went above and beyond their due diligence to be as confident as they could be that the fire was completely extinguished before they left the scene,” Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety Assistant Chief Jeffrey Giesea said during a press conference.
A JUDGE IS FORCING HAWAII TO GIVE WILDFIRE INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTS TO LAWYERS HANDLING LAWSUITS
Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety Assistant Chief Jeffrey Giesea speaks at a presser on Oct. 2, 2024, about the deadly Maui wildfire that killed at least 102 people. (Facebook/County of Maui)
The origin and cause report was done in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Honolulu Field Office, Seattle Field Division and its National Response Team, County of Maui officials said on their Facebook page.
While wind was the most likely cause of the fire’s rekindling, the ATF’s report said investigators could not rule out another possibility: that the operator of a bulldozer, trying to help firefighters contain the blaze, could have unwittingly pushed smoldering debris to the gully’s edge, only to have it erupt in flames hours later.
AS HAWAIIANS STRUGGLE TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AFTER LAHAINA WILDFIRE, LAWMAKERS RECONSIDER VACATION RENTALS
Photos of victims are displayed under white crosses at a memorial for victims of the August 2023 wildfire, above the Lahaina Bypass highway on Dec. 6, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
“The close proximity of the freshly cut firebreak to the western edge of the gully does not afford investigators the ability to rule out the possibility that while cutting the firebreak, the operator unknowingly moved still burning vegetation or smoldering debris into the gully,” the report said.
The owner of the company that provided the bulldozer told ATF investigators less than two weeks after the fire that he had shown up because a friend who lived nearby asked for help. The owner did not respond to several requests for a follow-up interview, the report said. Neither the owner nor members of his crew were identified in the report.
MAUI FIRE REPORTS: KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE DEADLIEST US WILDFIRE IN OVER A CENTURY
The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP, file)
Video from inside the bulldozer showed it piling loose soil and burned vegetation at the edge of the gully, the report said.
Bulldozers driven by volunteers and contractors are frequently used to protect towns and farms from wildfires across the western U.S., the Associated Press reports, though some groups have questioned their effectiveness in extreme weather conditions.
MAUI FIRE DEPARTMENT RELEASES REPORT EXPLAINING UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF THE HISTORIC WILDFIRES
Clouds hang over a home destroyed in a wildfire in Kula, Hawaii, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
“We deeply regret that our operations contributed to the fire that ignited in the morning,” Hawaiian Electric’s statement reads. “We have looked closely at our protocols and actions that day and have made many changes in our operations and resilience strategies to ensure we fulfill our commitment to keep the public safe, especially in extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe.”
Read the full origin and cause report of the fire here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Montana
Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Big Sky Bonus results for July 7, 2026
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 7 drawing
02-31-35-36-63, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from July 7 drawing
09-21-24-29, Bonus: 15
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 7 drawing
27-43-48-49-50, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Nevada
The Best Summer County Fairs In Nevada
Towns like Elko, Ely, and Panaca host some of Nevada’s most distinctive summer county fairs. Some of them are also among the state’s oldest such gatherings, with Winnemucca’s Tri-County Fair a staple since 1885, the Elko County Fair running since 1920, and Ely’s White Pine County races organized in 1934 to lift Depression-era spirits. For sheer natural beauty, Panaca takes top spot for its proximity to Cathedral Gorge State Park, while Eureka stages its fair just off US-50, the highway tagged the Loneliest Road in America. Discover what each has to offer.
Elko
The largest county seat in northeastern Nevada, Elko hosts the state’s marquee summer fair. The Elko County Fair was first held in September 1920 and now runs over two weekends around Labor Day at the Elko County Fairgrounds. The main event for the 20,000 or so visitors who attend is the live parimutuel horse racing, a betting format with no fixed odds in which payouts are split among the holders of winning tickets.
Over several race days, Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses compete in front of the fairground’s historic grandstand. Other equestrian draws include the Livestock Show and Sale, a rodeo, and night barrel racing, while non-horse events include a carnival, livestock barns, and art exhibits.
Ely
Over in the remote mining town of Ely on the eastern edge of the state, the White Pine County Fair and Horse Races dominate the summer social calendar. Held the third weekend of August, the first races were organized by local ranchers and business owners in 1934 to lift spirits during the Great Depression. They have run nearly every year since at the White Pine County Fairgrounds.
A field of about 150 Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses competes over the three days of the event, with parimutuel betting with no fixed odds, making it fun for everyone. Things kick off on Friday with a ranch rodeo featuring bronc riding, team roping, and mutton busting, a children’s event in which kids ride sheep. Live music, a barbecue, youth events and exhibits, and a livestock auction round out the fairground fun.
Panaca
Tucked away in the high desert of southeastern Nevada, Panaca holds the Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo at the fairgrounds, Lincoln County Recreational Park, in early August. Now in its 58th year, the weekend centers around a rodeo and junior rodeo events for younger riders, as well as a gymkhana featuring horseback games like barrel racing and pole bending.
A celebratory pageant is also part of the fun and crowns local riders. The fair’s exhibit building fills with educational projects, baked goods, and produce grown in the surrounding Meadow Valley region. In the same week, the fairgrounds host Nevada’s Best Cow Dog Trial, a stock dog competition in which trained herding dogs move cattle through a timed course. An amateur ranch rodeo is also part of the fun and includes roping and bronc riding open to local competitors.
Gardnerville
Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in Carson Valley, Gardnerville hosts the Nevada Agricultural Fair over four days each July at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. One of the newest fairs in the state (it started in 2021 as the Silver and Sage Fair), this free event highlights the role of younger generations of farmers in agriculture.
Highlights include a livestock show and sale featuring cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, and poultry raised by local youth farming groups. Stick around for the Nevada State Ewe Lamb Futurity, a unique competition spread out over three years that follows the progress of young breeding ewes. Indoor halls display canning, baked goods, garden produce, and art, and a youth livestock auction closes the fair on the final Sunday.
After dark, the fair hands its arena over to MAYHEMilition. This always-popular demolition derby sees drivers ram junk cars and pick-ups into one another until only one is left running. The lawnmower and figure-eight races are also fun.
Eureka
The small town of Eureka celebrates its county fair and rodeo in early August. The community’s most important summer gathering, the Eureka County Fair, keeps things traditional and old-fashioned, with an authentic working rodeo, livestock displays, and exhibits dedicated to young farmers.
It is a format that serves the locals well, with an unhurried pace that attracts ranching families from across the high desert region. The event has long served as a yearly reunion for the county’s scattered ranches and remains the busiest weekend on Eureka’s summer calendar. The fairgrounds lie just outside the downtown Eureka core, which looks much as it did in the 1880s.
Winnemucca
The seat of Humboldt County at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and US-95, Winnemucca celebrates its farming and ranching traditions with its Tri-County Fair and Stampede. Held over the Labor Day weekend, Humboldt County Agricultural District has staged the fair since 1885, making it one of the oldest continuous events of its kind in Nevada.
The star attraction is the Labor Day rodeo. Held at the Winnemucca Events Complex, it is accompanied by a downtown parade and live music. Other weekend fun includes a carnival complete with rides, farming exhibits, antique tractor displays, and a quirky pig wrestling contest in which teams chase a greased hog through a muddy pen.
Logandale
Set in Moapa Valley, northeast of Las Vegas, Logandale hosts the Clark County Fair & Rodeo each April at the Clark County Fairgrounds. Since 1988, this small southern Nevada community has built the event into one of the region’s biggest spring traditions, pairing a full county fair with five nights of professional PRCA and WPRA rodeo action.
More than 600 professional competitors come to town for classic rodeo events backed by top western stock contractors, while the fairgrounds fill with a carnival midway, livestock shows, 4-H and FFA exhibits, food stands, live entertainment, and family attractions. Held at 1301 W. Whipple Avenue, the event draws visitors from across southern Nevada and gives Clark County its own high-energy version of a rural fair weekend.
A Fun Summer Tradition
There is no doubt that the best Nevada county fairs succeed because of the communities they serve. Horses, livestock, and music have held these rural communities together for well over a century, giving each an opportunity not only to showcase their skills and traditions but also to let their hair down and have some old-fashioned fun.
New Mexico
What will it take to get the Rio Grande flowing again?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — If you’ve driven or walked by the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, you’ve noticed it’s bone dry. The reason might be obvious to most: We live in the Southwest and have had little rain or snowpack. But as our community, especially farmers, struggle, are our leaders doing anything to solve this issue that seems to be recurring?
“I had been here like maybe a month ago, and there was some water, and then I came a week ago, and I was like, we literally can walk across the Rio Grande,” Kat Walker said.
Even though we live in the Southwest, that’s the reaction most locals have after realizing they can walk through the Rio Grande without getting a drop on them.
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District CEO Jason Casuga said this year could go down as one of the worst for how much water we’ve received.
“There are communities out there that are suffering to a degree that we haven’t seen in a long, long time,” he said.
Farmers are one of the largest groups being impacted. Some haven’t been able to irrigate their crops in months.
“There are irrigators north of Isleta Pueblo who are 60 days out from the last day they irrigated. Sixty days. Let’s put that into perspective. And so that’s a struggle,” Casuga said.
This is the second summer in a row the Rio Grande has dried up. Right now, an 87-mile-long stretch has no water in the Rio Grande. Casuga said that’s normally in the 40-to-50-mile range.
What can be done?
Casuga believes tools like storing water could help our water issue.
“We have had bad years between the ’50s and now, but MRGCD and others could store water in upstream reservoirs, so in a dry year like this, we would be releasing water,” he said.
But actually doing that isn’t that simple because of what’s known as the Rio Grande Compact. It’s an agreement between New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas that essentially divvies up water from the Rio Grande Basin. It’s law in each state.
“Within the articles of the compact, depending on which article is triggered, you have operational restrictions, and the further that we get in debt as a state to the compact, the more operational restrictions we have,” he continued. “We haven’t violated it yet. We just are behind on our responsibility to deliver water.”
Casuga believes once the state is out of its compact debt, it will have a better chance at managing water. Because that debt means New Mexico can’t store water for itself right now, a restriction water managers wish wasn’t so rigid in dry years.
“I do think there are improvements we can make to delivering water under the compact that would free up some tools to help us manage drought better,” he continued. “Our processes need to be more flexible and more responsive when we have extreme drought.”
He said the state is working with the feds, but unfortunately, it’s a long process. So for now, things will be dry a bit longer.
Hope is in the forecast
Before 2022, the river in Albuquerque hadn’t gone dry like this in 40 years. Casuga reiterated: This is likely one of the worst droughts we’ve ever been in.
“The overall water year is not done yet, but it could go down as one of the worst or the worst years depending on the way the monsoon season shapes up,” he said.
The good news is a strong El Niño is forecast for this year, which could bring some much-needed precipitation.
“In terms of now, what we can do now, we’re really in the hands of whether it rains or not from this point to the end of the year, but I do think things are shaping up that give us indications we can have a much better snow year as we enter November through next March, and maybe we won’t be sitting here in a dry riverbed in July next year,” Casuga said.
-
Louisiana1 minute agoHeart of Louisiana: Lafitte Wetlands
-
Maine6 minutes agoMaine’s 10 most expensive home sales from June
-
Maryland13 minutes agoMaryland Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for July 7, 2026
-
Michigan16 minutes agoMichigan Supreme Court rules rape admission invalid due to LSD use
-
Massachusetts21 minutes agoMassachusetts man dies in Fiji after becoming critically ill on sailing trip
-
Minnesota28 minutes agoGiordano’s deep dish pizza bringing second location to Minnesota
-
Mississippi31 minutes agoPolice investigating video of Nolan Wells’ alleged argument on Horn Island before Mississippi teen went missing
-
Missouri36 minutes ago
Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 7, 2026