Connect with us

California

California wildfires latest: Santa Barbara County blaze explodes, prompting evacuations amid heat wave

Published

on

California wildfires latest: Santa Barbara County blaze explodes, prompting evacuations amid heat wave


Firefighters battling flames amid a heat wave in Southern California are struggling to gain control of a wildfire that exploded over the weekend to more than 13,000 acres, prompting evacuations and threatening homes, including Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, officials said.

The Lake Fire burning in Santa Barbara County near the Los Padres National Forest was 0% contained as of Sunday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE).

The Lake Fire is one of 21 wildfires burning in California on Sunday, CAL FIRE said.

Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County

The wildland blaze about 40 miles north of the city of Santa Barbara started on Friday afternoon near Zaca Lake in the Los Padres National Forest.

Advertisement

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department issued evacuation orders on Saturday night as the blaze grew to 13,264 acres. The evacuation orders included the 5000 block of Figueroa Mountain Road, where Michael Jackson’s former ranch is located, officials said.

The Lake Fire burns close to what was Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, Calif., July 6, 2024.

David Swanson/Reuters

Warnings were also issued for residents in the surrounding area to be prepared to evacuate, according to the sheriff’s office.

The wildfire erupted during a heat wave that has enveloped the area and most of California.

Advertisement

“An EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING through next week continues to affect the fire with high temperatures, drying vegetation and little relief at night. The National Weather Service has reported that a heat wave this intense, this long, has not been experienced in this region in 20 years,” CAL FIRE said in a statement.

The fire grew rapidly on Saturday amid temperatures in the high 90s and with a relative humidity of around 11%.

“When relative humidity decreases, fire behavior increases because fine fuels like grass and pine needles become drier quickly,” according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA).

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

PHOTO: A firefighting helicopter performs a water drop as the Lake Fire burns in Los Padres National Forest with evacuation warnings in the area on July 6, 2024 near Los Olivos, Calif.

A firefighting helicopter performs a water drop as the Lake Fire burns in Los Padres National Forest with evacuation warnings in the area on July 6, 2024 near Los Olivos, Calif.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Advertisement

Thompson Fire in Oroville

Fire crews were gaining the upper hand on the Thompson Fire, which started on Tuesday in the Butte County town of Oroville and caused the evacuations of nearly 30,000 residents as it grew to 3,789 acres, according to CAL FIRE. The blaze — which destroyed at least 25 structures, including homes — was 86% contained on Sunday.

Firefighters battled both flames and dangerous temperatures on Saturday in the Oroville area ranging from 110 to 116 degrees, according to CAL FIRE.

“For Sunday, hot and dry conditions will continue although high temperatures will be a couple of degrees cooler. However, the heat will still be at very dangerous levels and the EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING will remain in effect,” CAL FIRE said in a statement.

Most of the evacuations caused by the Thompson Fire were lifted on Saturday.

PHOTO: An Orange County crew keeps an eye as the Lake Fire burns close to what was Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, Calif., July 6, 2024.

An Orange County crew keeps an eye as the Lake Fire burns close to what was Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, Calif., July 6, 2024.

David Swanson/Reuters

Advertisement

Basin Fire in San Joaquin Valley

The largest and most stubborn fire in the state, the Basin Fire burning in the foothills east of Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley, was 60% contained on Sunday after burning 14,027 acres, according to CAL FIRE. The blaze started on June 26 in the Sierra National Forest north of Pine Flat Lake and south of Shaver Lake and Wishon Reservoir.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Temperatures in the area of the Basin Fire are forecast to reach 113 degrees on Sunday and remain in triple digits throughout the week.

French Fire near Yosemite National Park

The French Fire near Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County has burned 908 acres since erupting Thursday and was 45% contained as of Sunday morning, according to CAL FIRE.

Three firefighters were injured battling the wildfire, which has destroyed four structures, CAL FIRE said.

Advertisement

McCain Fire in San Diego County

Another significant fire is the McCain Fire, which started on July 1 in southeast San Diego County.

As of Sunday, firefighters had the fire almost completely out, having achieved 95% containment on the blaze that has burned 1,595 acres.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

California

Miami-California free livestream: How to watch Cam Ward tonight, TV, schedule

Published

on

Miami-California free livestream: How to watch Cam Ward tonight, TV, schedule


The No. 8 Miami Hurricanes play against the California Golden Bears in a college football game tonight. The matchup will begin at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

Miami enters this matchup with a 5-0 record, and the team is coming off a close 38-34 win against Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes almost conceded a touchdown pass in the final seconds of the game, but the pass was ruled incomplete.

During the victory, Miami accrued 508 total yards. The team’s star quarterback Cam Ward threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns, which helped the Hurricanes overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Notably, Ward has thrown for 18 touchdowns and more than 1,700 yards this season, so he will look to continue his success tonight.

California enters this matchup with a 3-1 record, but the team has a 0-1 record in conference play. In their last game, California lost 14-9 against Florida State.

Advertisement

During the loss, California was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. The team accrued more than 400 total yards, but they missed two field goals and never scored a touchdown. The California offense will try to bounce back with a better performance tonight.

Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.



Source link

Continue Reading

California

Newsom gives $131M more to clear homeless encampments to CA cities, counties

Published

on

Newsom gives 1M more to clear homeless encampments to CA cities, counties


Gov.Gavin Newsom is hoping his latest round of homeless encampment resolution funding will not just help clear the state’s sidewalks — but also hold cities and counties more accountable for making it happen.

Newsom on Friday doled out $130.7 million to 12 cities and six counties, aiming to clear homeless encampments and provide shelter, care and support. Among the recipients are Riverside and San Bernardino counties, Pasadena and Los Angeles cities, but missing this round was Los Angeles County.

Newsom said L.A. County’s absence is not an oversight, nor is it a political maneuver.

“A disproportionate share has gone to L.A. City and L.A. County, as well as their C.O.C. (Continuum of Care), so they’ve been well resourced,” Newsom said. “It’s not intentional. I wouldn’t read between the lines.”

Advertisement

L.A. County received $51 million of homelessness funding from the state in May.

Newsom said so far, the state’s $1 billion encampment resolution program has doled out more than $737 million to clear encampments across California.

As part of this latest round of funding, Newsom said he’s also stepped up accountability measures and promised to claw back funding if the cities or counties fail to meet the requirements. The new standards, he said, are essential to reduce encampments and reclaim California’s public spaces.

Related story: Newsom makes good on threats against Norwalk for its ban on homeless shelters

“We need to re-democratize our streets and do it in a compassionate way, with our values intact, support the people who are out there and the underlying causes,” Newsom said. “But, we need to take back the streets.”

Advertisement

Newsom said the encampment resolution program is working. Since July, 991 encampments have been removed and more than 12,000 have been removed over the past three years.

Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading

California

Albertsons ordered to pay $4 million for overcharging California shoppers

Published

on

Albertsons ordered to pay  million for overcharging California shoppers


Riverside District Attorney’s Office found faulty scales and scanners that regularly overcharged for food.

Subscribe to continue reading this article.

Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

Originally Published:



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending