Wildfires
High winds may bolster flames in Californian blaze
A raging California wildfire has become the state's third-largest on record, with more devastation possible from a resurgence of the harsh winds that have fueled the deadly blaze since the beginning… Audio
Winds fuel California wildfire, state's third-largest on record
New evacuation orders have been ordered in Santa Barbara County as wildfires in California rage unabated.
California firefighter dies as Thomas blaze rages
A California firefighter has been killed by a wildfire burning across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Devastating California wildfires threaten Santa Barbara
The most destructive wildfire raging in southern California has expanded significantly, scorching an area larger than New York City.And as thousands of firefighters try to tackle the flames… Audio
LA wildfires: Hundreds of thousands flee
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in Southern California as massive wildfires rip through the south of the state. The fires have already caused massive damage in Ventura, just… Audio
LA wildfires: 100km/h winds wreak havoc
Wildfires burning overnight in California have swept into the city of Ventura north of Los Angeles destroying at least 150 homes and other buildings and forcing the evacuation of thousands of… Audio
Calfornia wildfires: Residents return to burnt homes
Firefighters battling the wildfires in northern California have made some progress in the last few hours. Winds are dying down, giving firefighters a break in the weather. The fires have been raging… Audio
North California fires kill 40, destroy thousands of buildings
Ex-pat New Zealander Bill Nancarrow operates a winery in the Napa Region that came very close to being burnt to the ground. He talks to John Campbell about the area that's been devastated by… Video, Audio
California wildfires: Fears grow for hundreds missing
With 23 people now confirmed dead in Northern California's raging wildfires, fears are growing for a further 285 reported missing in Sonoma county alone.
Firefighters - many of whom have lost their… Audio
US firefighters face new outbreaks in California wildfires
US firefighters battling wildfires in California's wine country face the prospect of new outbreaks today, when dry, windy conditions return to the region. At least 17 people have been killed in… Audio
California wildfires: At least 13 killed, 20,000 flee
Parts of California's wine region are being ravaged by fast-spreading fires that have killed at least 13 people. About 20,000 people have been evacuated and at least fifteen hundred properties have… Audio
Canada wildfires 'apocalyptic' - Kiwi pilot
A New Zealand helicopter pilot fighting enormous wildfires in Canada says the conditions there are the worst he has experienced in 25 years.
Team of 80 NZers to fight rampant Canada wildfires
Dozens of New Zealand firefighters are on their way to Canada to help combat the more than 200 wildfires forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
Some Florida residents allowed home to survey wildfire destruct
More than 1000 wildfires are raging in the US state of Florida, but residents in central and southwestern parts of the state have been allowed to return home. Video, Audio
Wildfires rage across drought-stricken Peru
Wildfires have torn through more than 22,000 hectares of forest, protected areas and farmland in drought-stricken parts of Peru.
Firefighting USA - Ian Reade
Fifteen New Zealand firefighters have spent the past month battling wildfires, that set large parts of the western US ablaze. Waimea Rural Fire Authority principal rural fire officer, Ian Reade, is… Audio
California wildfires 'state of emergency'
The governor of California has declared a state of emergency after wildfires forced thousands of people to flee their homes in the north of the state.
World Weather
MetService severe weather forecaster Erick Brenstrum on how a day doesn't go by without some weather... a tropical cyclone named Raquel appeared in the South Pacific in July for the first time on… Audio