AP Spotlight Small airborne embers play a big role in the spread of wildfires By HOLLY RAMER Associated Press Jan 14, 2025 Jan 14, 2025 Updated Jul 20, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save While authorities still don't know what sparked the deadly fires in the Los Angeles area, they do know one clear way the flames have spread: embers.kAmpE =62DE ac A6@A=6 92G6 5:65 :? E96 7:C6D E92E 92G6 56DEC@J65 >@C6 E92? `a[___ DECF4EFC6D D:?46 DE2CE:?8 =2DE %F6D52J] %96 7=2>6D 92G6 366? 7F6=65 3J DEC@?8 H:?5D[ H9:49 ?@E @?=J 2:5 4@>3FDE:@? 3J :?4C62D:?8 E96 @IJ86? DFAA=J 3FE 42CCJ 6>36CD E@ F?3FC?65 2C62D]k^AmkAmr@?EC2CJ E@ A@AF=2C 36=:67[ 6IA6CED D2J >@DE 9@>6D 56DEC@J65 3J H:=57:C6D 2C6?VE @G6C4@>6 3J 2 C24:?8 H2== @7 7=2>6D[ 3FE C2E96C 3FC? 27E6C 36:?8 :8?:E65 3J 2:C3@C?6 6>36CD]k^Am kAmw6C6VD 2 =@@< 2E H92E 6>36CD 2C6 2?5 E96 C@=6 E96J A=2J :? H:=57:C6D]k^Am People are also reading… New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground Meet Smyth County's Pet of the Week: Sable Marion council members debate apolitical status with redistricting, 2A requests Top Smyth DAR essay wins state competition Roanoke County family files lawsuit against VHSL, school board over homeschool sports rule What we know about the quadruple amputee cornhole champ arrested for murder in Virginia Along the Yellow Brick Road With election underway, court could have final say on redistricting | Special Report Smyth250 activities kick off Sunday with free movie Royal Oak DAR names 3 high school seniors as Good Citizens Virginia's proposed congressional districts and who is running | Special Report k9am(92E :D 2? 6>36Cnk^9amkAmp? 6>36C :D 2 A:646 @7 3FC?:?8 563C:D] ~?46 :E 364@>6D 2:C3@C?6[ E96 >@C6 E649?:42= E6C> :D 7:C63C2?5[ D2:5 y2>6D &C32?[ 2? 2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@C :? E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 u:C6 !C@E64E:@? t?8:?66C:?8 2E (@C46DE6C !@=JE649?:4 x?DE:EFE6]k^AmkAmQx7 :EVD 2 H:=5=2?5 7:C6[ :EVD EJA:42==J A:646D @7 H@@5 @C @E96C EJA6D @7 G686E2E:@? E92E 2C6 3FC?:?8[Q 96 D2:5] QqFE H96? J@F 92G6 2 7:C6 E92EVD 3FC?:?8 E9C@F89 2? FC32? 2C62[ :E 42? 36 G686E2E:@?[ :E 42? 36 A:646D @7 E96 9@FD6[ :E 42? 36 2=>@DE 2?JE9:?8 E92E 3FC?D]Qk^Am kAm%96J 42? C2?86 :? D:K6 7C@> E:?J DA64<D E@ =2C86C 49F?<D]k^Am Nation & World More firefighters rush to Los Angeles as stronger winds are forecast CHRISTOPHER WEBER, JULIE WATSON and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press k9am(92E 2C6 E96J 42A23=6 @7nk^9amkAm(9:=6 >2?J A6@A=6 >:89E 92G6 D66? DEC2J 6>36CD C:D6 7C@> 2 42>A7:C6 2?5 6G6? 925 @?6 =2?5 @? E96>[ E96 6>36CD :?G@=G65 :? H:=57:C6D 2C6 5C2DE:42==J 5:776C6?E[ D2:5 p??6 r@A6[ 49:67 6?8:?66C 2E E96 x?DFC2?46 x?DE:EFE6 7@C qFD:?6DD U2>Aj w@>6 $276EJ]k^AmkAmQ%9@D6 6>36CD 42? EC2G6= 7@C >:=6D[ 2?5 :EVD @7E6? E96 ?6:893@C9@@5D E92E 2C6 4=@D6C E@ E96 H:=5=2?5D E92E 86E :?F?52E65 H:E9 ;FDE =@25D 2?5 =@25D — ;FDE D9@H6C65 H:E9 6>36CD[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am kAm(:?5 2==@HD 6>36CD E@ 3FC? 92C56C 2?5 C6=62D6 >@C6 6?6C8J[ 364@>:?8 2 >@C6 A@E6?E :8?:E:@? D@FC46[ &C32? D2:5] %96 7:C63C2?5D E96? 244F>F=2E6 2?5 D@CE @7 H@C< E@86E96C[ 82E96C:?8 36EH66? E96 D=2ED @7 H@@5 76?46D @C :? D9CF336CJ 2?5 :8?:E:?8 ?6H 7:C6D]k^Am kAmx? a_`f[ 6>36CD 3=6H 24C@DD 2 D:I\=2?6 9:89H2J :? }@CE96C? r2=:7@C?:2[ :8?:E:?8 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 E96? ;F>A:?8 7C@> 9@FD6 E@ 9@FD6 :? E96 r@776J !2C< ?6:893@C9@@5 :? $2?E2 #@D2]k^AmkAmQp 4@>>@? E9@F89E 367@C6 E92E H2D[ V(6 5@?VE E9:?< 6>36CD 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E 2== E96 H2J 24C@DD E92E :?E6CDE2E6[ E92EVD 2 72C 5:DE2?46[ E96JV== ?6G6C 86E E96C6[Q r@A6 D2:5] (6==[ ?6G6C :D 2 52?86C@FD H@C5]Qk^Am kAmp D:?8=6 6>36C E92E =2?5D @? E96 8C@F?5 >:89E 3FC? @FE H:E9:? >:?FE6D 3FE 42? 2=D@ D>@=56C[ &C32? D2:5] Qp?5 E96? 2 DF556? 492?86 @7 4@?5:E:@?D =:<6 H:?5 8FDED :8?:E6 7=2>6D 2?5 42FD6 2 =@E @7 56DECF4E:@?[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am Nation & World Californians scrambled to evacuate dogs, cats, horses, even pigs as LA flames closed in HALLIE GOLDEN and LESLIE AMBRIZ Associated Press k9amw@H 2C6 C6D62C496CD DEF5J:?8 6>36CDnk^9am kAm%@86E96C H:E9 $2? y@Dé $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ (@C46DE6C !@=JE649 :D A2CE @7 2 (:=57:C6 x?E6C5:D4:A=:?2CJ #6D62C49 r6?E6C] (:E9 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 2?5 }2E:@?2= $4:6?46 u@F?52E:@?[ C6D62C496CD 2C6 6I2>:?:?8 9@H 7:C63C2?5D 2C6 AC@5F465 2?5 9@H E92E <?@H=6586 42? 36 :?4@CA@C2E65 :?E@ >@56=D 23@FE 9@H H:=57:C6D DAC625 2?5 5676?D:G6 >62DFC6D E92E 42? 36 2AA=:65 E@ 9@>6D[ &C32? D2:5] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 9:D DEF56?ED 92G6 4@?5F4E65 6IA6C:>6?ED E@ D66 9@H G686E2E:@? >2?286>6?E 2C@F?5 3F:=5:?8D >:89E 27764E 9@H BF:4<=J 2 7:C6 DAC625D 36EH66? DECF4EFC6D]k^Am kAmQxV> @AE:>:DE:4 :? 2 H2J E92E E96C6VD 2 =@E @7 C6D62C49 4@>:?8 @FE @7 E9:D 2?5 H6V== 36 36EE6C AC6A2C65 :? @E96C 7:C6D[Q 96 D2:5] Q(6VC6 8@:?8 E@ D66 >@C6 7:C6D =:<6 E9:D[ 2?5 E96C6VD 8@:?8 E@ ?665 E@ 36 492?86D :7 H6 H2?E E@ 492?86 E96 @FE4@>6]Qk^Am kAmr@A6 28C665]k^AmkAmQx H@F=5 =@G6 E@ D66 FD DEC2E68:42==J :?4@CA@C2E6 AC6A2C65?6DD 7@C H:=57:C6 6>36CD :? 72C >@C6 2C62D E92? H6 4FCC6?E=J 5@[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am Nation & World Earth records hottest year ever in 2024 and the jump was so big it breached a key threshold SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Trump says he'll sign order to pay TSA agents as Congress struggles to reach funding deal Senators are reviewing a "last and final" Republican offer to end the funding impasse that disrupted travel. Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it The judge noted, "no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have." Florida hospital drops its lawsuit against woman after she finally leaves facility A Florida hospital dropped its lawsuit seeking to evict a patient who refused to vacate a room for months after she was discharged because, th… Build America, Buy America law causing construction delays amid the US housing crisis A law requiring that most materials in federally funded affordable housing are made in America is fully kicking in. But it is wreaking havoc o… Scientists capture video of female sperm whales working together during birth to protect calf Scientists have captured rare footage of a sperm whale giving birth, offering a window into the large mammals' behavior. Watch Now: Related Video US Gas Prices Exceed 2022 High As Iran War Continues Rising gas prices squeeze gig workers, small business owners Rising gas prices squeeze gig workers, small business owners Paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse stolen from Italian museum Paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse stolen from Italian museum The Supreme Court to hear arguments this week over Trump’s birthright citizenship order AP The Supreme Court to hear arguments this week over Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Nation & World More firefighters rush to Los Angeles as stronger winds are forecast CHRISTOPHER WEBER, JULIE WATSON and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
Nation & World Californians scrambled to evacuate dogs, cats, horses, even pigs as LA flames closed in HALLIE GOLDEN and LESLIE AMBRIZ Associated Press
Nation & World Earth records hottest year ever in 2024 and the jump was so big it breached a key threshold SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press
Trump says he'll sign order to pay TSA agents as Congress struggles to reach funding deal Senators are reviewing a "last and final" Republican offer to end the funding impasse that disrupted travel.
Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it The judge noted, "no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have."
Florida hospital drops its lawsuit against woman after she finally leaves facility A Florida hospital dropped its lawsuit seeking to evict a patient who refused to vacate a room for months after she was discharged because, th…
Build America, Buy America law causing construction delays amid the US housing crisis A law requiring that most materials in federally funded affordable housing are made in America is fully kicking in. But it is wreaking havoc o…
Scientists capture video of female sperm whales working together during birth to protect calf Scientists have captured rare footage of a sperm whale giving birth, offering a window into the large mammals' behavior.
