Tag: Fire

Ryder Cup first hole hospitality stand goes up in massive flames just days after event ends near Rome

Ryder Cup Europe confirmed that no injures were reported.

A structure at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, Italy, went up in massive flames on Thursday just days after the club hosted the 2023 Ryder Cup.

A video surfaced on social media of a three-story hospitality stand engulfed in fire, producing large black smoke clouds that could be seen from miles away. Local news stated that five teams of firefighters are on the scene and that no injuries were reported. A notice was sent to local residents to close their windows.

“A fire was reported in one of the temporary hospitality structures to the right of the first fairway at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club earlier this afternoon,” a statement from Ryder Cup Europe read. “Local fire crews were called to the scene at 5:07 p.m. local time and quickly brought the blaze under control. Nobody was injured in the incident and the fire did not spread beyond the hospitality structure. There was no damage to the golf course or any over structure. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated.”

Hundreds of thousands of fans were at the club over the last week to witness Team Europe defeat Team USA and reclaim the Ryder Cup, 16½-11½.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome originally was designed by David Mezzacane and Jim Fazio and opened in 1989. The layout was completely renovated in 2018-2020 by a team of European Golf Design led by Dave Sampson in conjunction with Tom Fazio II, a leading American architect and the son of Jim Fazio – Tom Fazio worked for his dad on the original layout. The renovation included a complete rerouting of the hilly layout with the Ryder Cup in mind. With 155 feet of elevation change across the course, the holes were laid out to favor match play, with several drivable par 4s. Marco Simone is a public-access layout with tee times available on the course’s website.

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Golf courses in Maui are slowly reopening after the historic fires

Here’s an update on the island’s major resort courses.

The deadliest wildfire in recent U.S. history displaced thousands of residents in Maui back in August, killing more than 100, swallowing the historic Lahaina town in flames and closing many of the area’s golf courses.

Officials are unsure what started the blazes that prompted some locals to bolt into the ocean to escape marauding flames, but some experts said they suspect human development on the island is at least partly to blame for the destruction.

Wildfires have quadrupled in Hawaii in recent decades, and many scientists say the culprit is unmanaged, nonnative grasslands planted by plantations and ranchers and others unfamiliar with the island’s native ecosystems. The grass is dry and prone to fires.

Kapalua Golf’s Bay Course re-opened on Sept. 20, and its Plantation Course is set to do so on Oct. 18. Both golf courses had been closed since the Maui wildfires on Aug. 8. Located in West Maui, the golf courses and facilities at Kapalua Golf were spared from the fires, which devastated Lahaina, about 10 miles away.

According to a story on mauinow.com, another major resort on the island is also nearly back up to full speed.

Kā‘anapali reopened its driving range and Royal Kā‘anapali Golf Course on Sept. 18 and will reopen the Kā‘anapali Kai Golf Course on Nov. 20.

Kapalua Golf ‘s Bay Course’s practice range reopened on Aug. 28. Wailea Golf Club remained open after the fires with Wailea’s Gold, Blue and Emerald Courses continuing to welcome guests.

The fires impacted associates at all three golf resort properties with many losing their homes and possessions. As the Maui community heals, the properties continue to welcome back team members to work as they are ready to return.

All three properties have focused efforts to support team members who lost their homes or loved ones, while also continuing to help the larger Maui community recover through donations and fundraisers.

“As part of Mauiʻs recovery process, we need our visitors to help keep our community employed,” said Sherry Duong, executive director of the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau. “We welcome respectful, responsible and compassionate travel to all accessible parts of Maui. We encourage our visitors to buy local, dine at local restaurants, enjoy Mauiʻs incredible activities and attractions including our beautiful golf courses, and most of all visit our island with patience and grace.”

“Our team truly appreciates the outpouring of support from around the globe over the past six weeks,” said Kapalua Golf & Tennis General Manager Alex Nakajima. “Our staff was deeply impacted by the fires, with nearly a third losing their homes and possessions. As associates and the community work to heal, we continue to support them; welcoming back team members to work as they are ready. As we continue the recovery process, we are reopening our two golf courses for Kamaʻāina (local residents) on island and for those planning their return to Maui. As millions discovered during the pandemic, a round of golf can be good medicine for the mind, body and soul.”

Kapalua Golf’s Plantation Course and Bay Course are open to resort guests and daily-fee play. Arnold Palmer designed The Bay Course first, in 1975, which is more forgiving than the Plantation, a Coore-Crenshaw design that the duo built in 1991 and renovated in 2019. The Sentry is played annually at the Plantation Course, which ranks No. 17 in Golfweek’s Best Resort Courses list.

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York Fire burns Joshua trees, brings ‘fire tornado’ to Mojave National Preserve

Firefighters are working to contain the blaze.

At Mojave National Preserve, a wildfire and intense winds are whipping flames across the land. The blaze has been dubbed the York Fire and is California’s largest of the year. As of August 2, the fire is 30% contained. National Park Service (NPS) officials report that the region’s famous Joshua trees face irreversible harm from the fire.

According to data from InciWeb, the York Fire began on July 28 in California’s New York Mountains. Since then, the fire has spread into Mojave National Preserve and crossed state lines into Nevada. The blaze has covered 82,437 acres and “continues to grow to the northeast.”

Firefighters working to contain the flames are reportedly experiencing difficulties due to fire whirls, aka “fire tornadoes.” InciWeb defines a fire whirl as “a vortex of flames and smoke that forms when intense heat and turbulent winds combine, creating a spinning column of fire.” This unpredictable phenomenon can cause flames to spread and make conditions more dangerous for firefighters.

Yuccas on fire with blurry fire in the background.
Yuccas burning during the York Fire in Mojave National Preserve on July 30, 2023. / Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images

As containment efforts persist, conservationists and Mojave National Preserve staff worry over the fate of the region’s native vegetation. Many of the Mojave Desert’s iconic Joshua trees have already been destroyed in the fire. According to the NPS, “If an area with Joshua trees burns through, most will not survive and reproduction in that area is made more difficult.”

Laura Cunningham, the California director of the Western Watersheds Project, emphasized the fire’s devastating effects on Joshua trees when speaking with CNN affiliate KVVU. “It will take a lifetime to get those mature Joshua trees back.”

While native plants remain at risk, Mojave National Preserve reports that the local desert tortoises have been minimally affected. “Fire crews carefully balance fire suppression with resource protection. They will be on the lookout for desert tortoises, making sure to avoid burrows and active individuals,” Mojave National Preserve said in a Facebook post.

This once-beloved California municipal golf course went up in flames

Smoke plumes could be seen for miles as fire crews worked to get the blaze under control.

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STOCKTON, California — A fire burned at the shuttered Van Buskirk Golf Course in south Stockton Friday afternoon.

Around 2 p.m., local firefighters battled the grass fire near the Van Buskirk Community Center, across the street from Conway Homes.

Smoke plumes could be seen for miles — as far as Lathrop — as fire crews worked to get the blaze under control. It’s unclear how many acres the blaze has consumed.

The former municipal golf course, which was closed four years ago, is located between Houston Avenue and the levees of the San Joaquin River and French Camp Slough.

A multiple-acre grass fire rages at the former Van Buskirk golf course in south Stockton. The 214-acre property has been idle since 2019 when the city shuttered the course. Photo: Clifford Oto/Stockton Record/USA Today Network

A grass fire previously burned the area in June 2022.

The golf course, a longtime staple in the south Stockton community, was open to the public for six decades before it closed in 2019. This classic Larry Norstrom design was built in 1960. The 214-acre property has sat behind a chain-link fence since the Van Buskirk family decided to give it to the city, provided it’s only used for recreation.

After years of planning and community meetings to discuss the reimagining of Van Buskirk Park, Stockton City Council approved a master plan for the property at the Jan. 24 meeting. The proposed layout includes a BMX track, disc golf, skate park, splash pad and community garden, as well as areas that can serve as potential flood control space.

City officials did not give an estimated completion date for the project.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

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Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge destroyed in recent fire

A tragic loss for the community.

Washington state’s Olympic National Park has lost its Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge in a fire. On Sunday, May 7, at 4:39 PM, Clallam County Fire District 2 responded to a dispatch reporting the blaze. Clallam County Fire District 3 and the Port Angeles Fire Department joined the fire rescue team to help control the scene. According to Clallam County Fire District 2, “the structure had already collapsed to the foundation” when help arrived.

No onsite injuries were reported, and no visitors were in the lodge during the fire. Due to an ongoing rehabilitation project, the lodge has been closed since March 27. While renovations were set to be finished in 2024, park officials now say that “the structure appears to be a complete loss.”

A firefighter hosing down rubble.
Photo via Jay Cline / Clallam County Fire District 2

As of May 8, the fire’s cause remains unknown. Olympic National Park’s acting Deputy Superintendent Roy Zipp told The Seattle Times that the park is “still developing the basic facts around the incident and trying to determine the origin of the cause.” The park will be handling further investigation into the fire, according to Clallam County Fire District 2.

Built in the 1950s, Day Lodge holds a special place in the hearts of many locals. For Heidi Walker of Discover Your Northwest, a Seattle-based nonprofit that supports the region’s public lands, the loss of this iconic structure has hit home.

“How can it be gone? It’s such a big part of the park, and it’s gone,” Walker told Seattle’s KIRO 7 News. “It’s almost like, almost like losing a friend even in my adulthood.”

In the comments of an Olympic National Park Facebook post announcing the fire, past visitors have begun sharing memories of the lodge. For many, the lodge was the backdrop for cherished moments within the park. Those who want to follow the topic as further details emerge can find official releases via the park’s news hub.

Report: Saints not expected to move on from OC Pete Carmichael

Report: Saints not expected to move on from offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael despite having scored their fewest points since 2005

Yikes. NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett reports that the New Orleans Saints are not planning a change at offensive coordinator, with Pete Carmichael expected to remain in place after a disappointing-at-best 2022 campaign. Carmichael’s offense was the team’s weakness this season and scored the fewest points for the Saints since 2005 despite having the benefit of an extra game.

It’s hard to read into this as anything but a mistake. The Saints didn’t have a great quarterback situation in 2022, but it was compounded by the least-aggressive play caller in the league. Carmichael failed to put star talents like Alvin Kamara in position to win and keyed opposing defenses into several trends as the season continued, which played a part in the Saints averaged just 13.5 points per game over the last six weeks.

Triplett adds that no other changes are on the way for the assistants and position coaches after the Saints fired tight ends coach and run-game coordinator Dan Roushar on Thursday, so it looks like they’re content to run it back with the least ambitious coaching staff in the league. If Saints fans need a reason to get excited for the 2023 season, they’ll have to look elsewhere.

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Saints begin coaching staff changes, dismiss longtime assistant Dan Roushar

The Saints have begun making changes to their coaching staff, dismissing longtime tight ends coach and run-game coordinator Dan Roushar:

The New Orleans Saints have begun making changes to their coaching staff, with Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan first reporting that the team has dismissed longtime assistant coach Dan Roushar. Roushar joined the Saints back in 2013 as their running backs coach, and he’s held a variety of titles over the last decade as their offensive line coach, tight ends coach, and run-game coordinator.

But change is necessary after the team’s unspectacular 2022 season, in which they lost double-digit games for the first time since 2005. The Saints had their lowest ranking in points scored (22nd) since 2005, too, and more changes to the offense should be expected. They can’t continue trying to be a Sean Payton cover band. This is, hopefully, the first step towards introducing some fresh perspectives and new influences to their offensive philosophy.

New Orleans’ rushing attack was pedestrian by league standards this past season, ranking 19th in yards (1,982) and 22nd in touchdown runs (12) but 14th in attempts (465, or 27.4 per game). That’s simply not good enough with talented runners like Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill in the building, and an offensive line full of top-50 draft picks. Roushar’s results with the tight ends room was mixed; Juwan Johnson has improved steadily year over year under his tutelage, but Adam Trautman has not developed into more than a replacement-level starter in the Saints offense.

Stay tuned for more staff movement. The Saints will need to hire Roushar’s replacement as tight ends coach, and maybe a new run-game coordinator. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is the longest-tenured coach on the team, having joined Payton’s first staff back in 2006 and holding that title since 2009. We’ll find out soon whether Carmichael has been retained. We already know that head coach Dennis Allen will return for 2023 despite his career .283 record in the NFL.

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NOFD responds to early-morning construction fire at Caesars Superdome

The New Orleans Fire Department responded to an early-morning construction fire at the Caesars Superdome, reporting no injuries:

Thank goodness this wasn’t more serious. The New Orleans Fire Department extinguished an early-morning construction fire at the Caesars Superdome on Wednesday, reporting no injuries and no damage to any public areas within the stadium. Arena officials characterized the situation as a “minor smoke incident” to FOX 8’s Andrés Fuentes.

WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel shared a statement from Caesars Superdome officials which said two security workers were being evaluated for smoke inhalation, but that the NOFD “deemed the building safe for occupancy” and that scheduled events will continue as planned. That includes the Saints’ regular season finale with the Carolina Panthers on Jan. 8.

This is the second time in as many years that a fire has broken out at the Caesars Superdome after equipment used to clean the structure’s roof caught aflame back in Sept. 2021, with one worker needing medical attention. We’re fortunate these incidents haven’t been worse.

Extensive renovations are ongoing to modernize the Caesars Superdome’s interior and improve the guest experience, including a new system of escalators to ease traffic flow and updated concessions options, plus upgraded restroom facilities, among other changes. That work is on track to be completed in 2024, ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl to be hosted in New Orleans.

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Opinion: Saints shouldn’t delay inevitable severance with Dennis Allen

We’ve seen enough. The Saints shouldn’t delay an inevitable severance with Dennis Allen. They have the means and enough reason to move on right now:

I’ve seen enough: it’s time for the New Orleans Saints to move on from Dennis Allen. His team hasn’t improved over 10 games to start their season — if anything, they’re losing each week in the exact same manner they started what’s looking like a doomed campaign. When he was coaching the Raiders, Allen went 4-12 twice, then lost his first four games before being fired. He’s on the same path this year with a team largely agreed to be more talented than those he once inherited.

Allen is returning the same results now that he did a decade ago with the Raiders with a penalty-rife team that can’t consistently play well on offense, defense, or special teams. This team was built on the strength of Allen’s defense, which has collapsed without him being able to fine-tune it after his promotion to head coach. The offense has disappointed, and a typically-stout special teams unit has been one of the NFL’s worst despite little change over previous years.

If they couldn’t take care of business against a two-win Pittsburgh Steelers squad starting a rookie quarterback with a bum ankle, which teams can they defeat?

There’s no use waiting around to find out. They aren’t mathematically eliminated from playoff contention yet, and that’s not going to happen for a while considering how bad the other NFC South teams are, but the Saints would be 0-3 against those same teams if not for a last-second blocked field goal in Week 1. Allen isn’t going to be the Saints head coach for 15 years like Sean Payton was. Whether he’s dismissed this week, in a few months, or in a year or two, this story ends with the Saints showing him the door. He hasn’t earned any benefit of the doubt in these results, or faith that we’ll see a major turnaround.

And if they’re smart, the Saints won’t delay the inevitable. Here’s how it could happen:

Why did the Saints make Dennis Allen their head coach again?

The Saints are too bad in too many different ways to harbor any more faith in Dennis Allen. Any continuity they hoped to maintain has been overwhelmed by hard-to-watch, mistake-prone football:

This is hard to watch, and it isn’t getting easier. It feels like the New Orleans Saints are discovering new and innovative ways to lose each week the Dennis Allen era stretches out further. They fell 42-34 to the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night, plummeting to a 2-5 start to the season. Allen hasn’t risen to the occasion. Why is he here again?

Any continuity Allen was hired to maintain from the Sean Payton era was eroded over the summer. And the warning signs were there. Team leaders like Terron Armstead and Malcolm Jenkins left the team and were not replaced. There isn’t any sense of accountability — Allen watched Andy Dalton throw three interceptions and then encouraged him to “Keep doing what you’re doing,” coming out of halftime.

The Saints are sloppy. They’re prone to mistakes and missed tackles and turnovers. They’ve got no viable quarterback, no first round pick to look forward to, and they’re over even the most optimistic 2023 salary cap estimates by more than $50 million. Allen took the wheel and immediately steered their ship into the rocks.

Pete Carmichael Jr. asked for a lesser role, but Allen talked him into hanging around as offensive coordinator and gave him play-calling responsibilities. Carmichael’s responded by broadcasting tendencies for all to see and taking his best players off the field. Alvin Kamara hasn’t scored a single touchdown this season after working as a prime red zone threat for years. Allen should be able to hang his hat on the defense he built, but instead he alienated fan-favorite defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson and jettisoned him at a loss of value. Allen’s defense has been a tremendous disappointment. It feels like we haven’t seen Tyrann Mathieu make a tackle in the open field all season.

So why is he here? If Allen is failing to make executive decisions and his specific unit (which he handcrafted over the years, having started out as the defensive backs coach before climbing the ladder) is letting the team down, why is he here? What does he do here?

It’s a question the Saints may struggle to answer. But there’s a resolution. They can look across the street and see what must be done. The New Orleans Pelicans hired the wrong coach, too, bringing in Stan Van Gundy — and when that partnership collapsed in on itself, they pulled the plug. That’s where things are headed for the Saints. They can delay the inevitable, but it’s clear and obvious to anyone watching that, unfortunately, Allen is the same coach now that he was a decade ago, overwhelmed and in charge of the Raiders.

Injuries have been a problem, sure, but so much of his defense is still intact. Cameron Jordan, David Onyemata, Marcus Davenport, Demario Davis, and Pete Werner are all playing the same roles that they filled a year ago (and in many cases for several years). And they’re falling to pieces against opponents they should be manhandling. Maybe Allen is stretched too thin as a head coach and can’t work as hands-on as he’d like with his unit. Maybe it was all a mirage. Either way, there’s no answers the way things stand now, and no sense in continuing them.

Firing Allen eight weeks into the season would be rash. It would be unprecedented. But look at what the expectations were going into the season. The Saints told anyone who would listen that they had Super Bowl aspirations this year. They sold out and made moves to pursue that goal. And they’ve fallen flat on their faces. And as head coach, Allen is chiefly responsible for it. That’s how it works in a leadership position.

They’ll probably wait it out. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis will want to let Allen have a full year, maybe two, so he can say Allen had a fair shake. So long as games are being sold out and the city is obsessively tuning in for games, he won’t feel any pressure from ownership to make major changes. Welcome to NFL Purgatory.

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