as in blazes
a fire in a wild area (such as a forest) that is not controlled and that can burn a large area very quickly
The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.
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Recent Examples of wildfires
In Maui, Hawaii, Maui Mall Village hosts the Maui Food Bank Holiday Drive to combat food insecurity, which has been a major local challenge following the wildfires in 2023.
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Kristin Mueller, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Davila explained that the past couple of months have seen minimal precipitation, not only in the Phoenix area but also in the Arizona High Country, including Payson, where one of the two active wildfires is burning.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024
If all goes right, the project will clean polluted water, improve hydrology, provide flood protection and reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires.
—Rebecca Blackwell, Sun Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024
Although much of Malibu was under evacuation orders, sheltering in place was the university’s primary plan during wildfires, developed in consultation with fire officials, said Michael Friel, a university spokesman.
—Corina Knoll, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Although vague, the threat could have serious consequences for California, where major wildfires can cause billions of dollars in damage, much of which is typically covered by the federal government.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Cal Fire estimates that 95% of wildfires are caused by humans, including from carelessness, deliberate ignitions and infrastructure failures.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
But in modern times, humans nearly always cause wildfires, and the presence of homes and other structures adds to the destructive potential.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
The City of Malibu warned residents to prepare for potential wildfires, power outages, hazardous roads and malfunctioning traffic signals.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Kristin Mueller, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Davila explained that the past couple of months have seen minimal precipitation, not only in the Phoenix area but also in the Arizona High Country, including Payson, where one of the two active wildfires is burning.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024
If all goes right, the project will clean polluted water, improve hydrology, provide flood protection and reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires.
—Rebecca Blackwell, Sun Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024
Although much of Malibu was under evacuation orders, sheltering in place was the university’s primary plan during wildfires, developed in consultation with fire officials, said Michael Friel, a university spokesman.
—Corina Knoll, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Although vague, the threat could have serious consequences for California, where major wildfires can cause billions of dollars in damage, much of which is typically covered by the federal government.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Cal Fire estimates that 95% of wildfires are caused by humans, including from carelessness, deliberate ignitions and infrastructure failures.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
But in modern times, humans nearly always cause wildfires, and the presence of homes and other structures adds to the destructive potential.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
The City of Malibu warned residents to prepare for potential wildfires, power outages, hazardous roads and malfunctioning traffic signals.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near wildfires
Cite this Entry
“Wildfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wildfires. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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