Texas
Wildfires rage in Texas, Florida, forcing evacuations and road closures
Wildfires driven by dry weather and strong winds spread across parts of the southern United States on Thursday, leading to evacuations in Texas and road closures in Florida amid peak spring break travel.
In Texas, a wildfire in Sam Houston National Forest, near Houston, forced around 900 households to evacuate and led to school closures. The National Weather Service issued heightened fire risk warnings in the region, including around Houston, the country’s fourth-largest city.
The fire, which ignited on Wednesday, had scorched roughly 3.1 square miles (8 square kilometers) by Thursday morning and was only 10 percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
So far, no injuries or property damage have been reported. However, as a precaution, the Cleveland Independent School District, which serves around 12,000 students, suspended classes for the day.
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough praised emergency responders for their efforts in preventing losses. “Firefighters and law enforcement did an incredible job yesterday protecting homes, animals, livestock, and people. It’s hard to believe we’ve lost basically nothing,” he said.
Despite containment efforts, officials remain on high alert. Keough warned that increasing wind gusts and falling humidity levels could worsen conditions. “We’re asking evacuees to remain away from their homes for now,” he said.
Florida Keys fire disrupts travel
A large brush fire that ignited on Tuesday in the Florida Keys led to intermittent closures of US 1, the main highway connecting the islands to the mainland. Authorities also shut down one of the two access roads as crews moved firefighting equipment.
The fire comes as Florida experiences peak spring break travel. US 1 remains a vital route for tourists and local workers commuting to hotels and restaurants in Key Largo and beyond.
Arkansas battles dozens of fires
In Arkansas, firefighters responded to more than 50 wildfires on Wednesday, driven by strong winds. The fires forced road closures, including a section of Interstate 530 near Little Rock, due to heavy smoke.
Flames caused structural damage in multiple cities, including North Little Rock, where the roof of St. Joseph’s, a 115-year-old building that once served as an orphanage, collapsed. The building now houses a nonprofit focused on urban farming.
Drought and winds fuel the fires
Dry and cold weather, followed by gusting winds, has created conditions ripe for wildfires across the South.
In Texas, fire risks stretch from the northern Panhandle, where frozen vegetation has dried out, to the coastal regions. South Florida, which has seen little rain in recent weeks, is expected to experience another dry cold front on Thursday night, meteorologist Donal Harrigan of the National Weather Service in Miami said.
With AP inputs
More than 150 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks — a major outbreak less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.
A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
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