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Propane tank hurled into Arizona ICE facility in suspected arson attack, FBI investigating

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Propane tank hurled into Arizona ICE facility in suspected arson attack, FBI investigating

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Federal authorities are investigating a suspected arson attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, after a suspect allegedly smashed a window, ignited a fire and hurled a propane tank into the building early Saturday.

FBI Phoenix said that at about 1:30 a.m. local time, the Surprise Police Department responded to a report of criminal damage to the newly purchased ICE building.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Fox News Digital the suspect “broke a window, ignited a fire, threw a propane tank into the building, and fled.”

The fire was quickly extinguished by the interior sprinkler system, the spokesperson said.

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An ICE-owned warehouse in Arizona was found damaged on Saturday, according to reports. (Google Maps)

The FBI confirmed authorities found a broken window at the warehouse and evidence of “minor and limited fire activity.”

No suspect information or arrests have been announced as of Saturday afternoon.

The incident came days after state and federal authorities launched an investigation into an attempted arson attack at a DHS office building in Meridian, Idaho.

The suspect allegedly stole an ambulance from a bay at St. Luke’s West hospital on Wednesday, drove the ambulance through the parking lot, and retrieved gas cans that were staged in nearby vegetation, according to Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea.

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The suspect, who has not been identified, then drove the ambulance directly into the North Portico building, which houses DHS offices, Basterrechea said.

ATF agents are assisting with the investigation. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

LA MAN SEEN THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAIL INTO FEDERAL BUILDING, FEDS SAY

Investigators believe the suspect poured an accelerant inside and around the outside of the ambulance. 

However, the suspect was unable to ignite the accelerant before being scared off by responding agencies, according to Basterrechea.

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Officials said the location was known to the community.

“There has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the Department of Homeland Security leasing office space at this location,” Basterrechea said. “Comments on social media, such as ‘property damage isn’t violence,’ is absolutely false. This was absolutely an act of violence, and if the suspect had not been interrupted, there is no doubt this building would have been burned, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem speaks from a podium as assembled DHS staff watch. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

The Meridian Police Department is leading the investigation into Wednesday’s attack in Idaho in coordination with the FBI, ATF, DHS, Idaho State Police and other regional law enforcement partners.

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The FBI is investigating Saturday’s incident in Arizona with assistance from the ATF.

ICE and ATF did not immediately respond to additional inquiries from Fox News Digital.

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Stolen ambulance allegedly driven into Idaho DHS office building in attempted arson attack

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Los Angeles, Ca

Southern California braces for 110-degree heat, thunderstorms this week

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Southern California braces for 110-degree heat, thunderstorms this week

Southern California is bracing for a hot and muggy week ahead, with heat watches in place and a chance of thunderstorms across the mountains and desert regions.

Temperatures are expected to increase each day into midweek, prompting officials to extend a heat advisory until 10 a.m. Tuesday, when it will transition to an extreme heat watch for even warmer conditions through Thursday evening.

Temperatures are expected to peak on Wednesday, with many locations topping 100 degrees and some reaching 110, according to the National Weather Service.

The afternoon high for Wednesday in the San Fernando Valley is forecast to be 110 degrees. (KTLA)

“Monsoonal moisture moving over the area will add to the discomfort, also bringing the potential for showers and thunderstorms each day,” the Weather Service said.

Those thunderstorms are most likely to occur over the mountain and desert areas as subtropical moisture is drawn into the region by a strong ridge of high pressure.

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Temperatures along the coast may even reach the 90s by midweek, with very warm temperatures continuing through the night.

Much of Southern California is under a Heat Advisory on Monday. (NWS)

“Given the extreme heat and humidity, it’s highly recommended to complete outdoor activities as early as possible,” the Weather Service said.

The high pressure is expected to slowly weaken Thursday, bringing afternoon highs to within a few degrees of normal in most areas by Friday.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Rare, corpse flower double bloom underway at Huntington Library

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Rare, corpse flower double bloom underway at Huntington Library

Two rare corpse flowers have begun to bloom simultaneously at the Huntington Library in San Marino, the nonprofit organization announced Sunday evening.

Odorysseus, the taller of the two flowers, bloomed first. A second, smaller corpse flower named Odora appears to be following close behind.

The Huntington Library is inviting visitors to take in the flowers’ unique aroma, which is often compared to rotting flesh. 

“And so it begins,” the Huntington Library wrote on social media.

Odora is shaped a bit differently than Odorysseus because its spadix is inverted due to a developmental irregularity. This is not expected to affect the blooming of the flower.

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“Plot twist!” the Huntington Library wrote on Instagram. “Odora wants to steal the spotlight. Odora’s spathe has started opening, too. Tiny but mighty, we’re in for quite the show with a double bloom.”

The Huntington is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, and is closed on Tuesdays. Reservations are required Friday through Sunday, on holidays, and during peak seasons. “Twilight stroll” hours are available on the Huntington’s website.

The public can also watch a live stream of the bloom on the organization’s YouTube channel.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Rosemead High School student identified as teen stabbed to death in El Monte

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Rosemead High School student identified as teen stabbed to death in El Monte

Family members have identified 15-year-old Rosemead High School student Aziel Zacapala as the boy killed in a stabbing outside an elementary school in El Monte on July 10.

A candlelight vigil was held for Zacapala at the Rosemead skate park at 6 p.m. Saturday. The original location of the vigil was moved from 9700 Fern Street in El Monte, where the stabbing happened, as homicide detectives continue to investigate the scene.

Zacapala was one of three people stabbed during a fight that broke out on Fern Street around 1 p.m., according to information released by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the El Monte Police Department. Authorities were called to a local emergency room that afternoon, where two adults and Zacapala were being treated for stab wounds.

Zacapala was pronounced dead at the hospital. The adult victims are in stable condition and expected to survive, authorities said.

A GoFundMe page created to help Zacapala’s family pay for funeral expenses described the slain teen as a “beloved nephew, friend, son and high school football player” … “whose life was tragically cut short.”

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“Aziel was a good kid, full of promise and kindness, and he had big dreams of making it to the big leagues as a football player,” the GoFundMe page reads. “His absence leaves a deep void in our family and community.”

Zacapala, known as “AZ” by fellow Rosemead High School students, was playing football with friends at Rosemead Park’s Fourth of July event days before the suspected attack, his family said. Now his loved ones are asking for community support as they mourn his death.

“His mother, who is currently unemployed and raising two other young children — including a newborn — has been doing Instacart orders just to stay afloat,” the GoFundMe reads. “Now, she faces the overwhelming daily hardships of supporting her family during this devastating time.”

As of Saturday night, the GoFundMe has raised $16,000 of its $24,000 goal.

No suspects were found at the scene of the stabbing and no arrests have been made in the case, authorities said.

“Investigators are still working to determine whether more than one suspect was involved,” LASD deputies said Saturday morning. “Currently, there is no suspect description available.”

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Anyone with information about the stabbings is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

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