Thousands of homes in danger as massive Californian wildfire gains strength
Thousands of homes remain under threat as California’s biggest wildfire continues to gain strength across western parts of the US.
It comes amid fresh calls for politicians in Washington to take “bold action” against climate change as more than 85 large wildfires continue to burn around the country.
The Dixie Fire started on 14 July and has already destroyed more than a dozen houses and other structures.
It has combined with smaller fires and has been sweeping through the small north Californian community of Indian Falls.
A firefighter passes a burning home during the Dixie Fire in Plumas County, California. Pic: AP
Rick Carhart, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, revealed that firefighters carrying hand tools were forced to hike through rugged terrain where emergency vehicles cannot reach.
He said: “It has been burning in extremely steep canyons, some places where it is almost impossible for human beings to set foot on the ground to get in there.
“It’s going to be a long haul.”
Fire officials said the blaze had charred nearly 298 square miles of timber and brush in Plumas and Butte counties and is now estimated to be 21% contained.
The fire has led to evacuation orders in several small mountain communities and along the west shore of Lake Almanor, a popular resort area in north California where about 10,000 homes remain under threat.
Crews have been forced to hike through rugged terrain as part of the firefighting effort against the Dixie Fire
Firefighters also reported progress against the nation’s largest wildfire, the Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon, containing 46% of the blaze that had consumed nearly 640 square miles.
More than 2,200 firefighters battled the blaze and had worked on constructing containment lines at the north and eastern edges to try to hold back the flames.
The fire, which is said to have been caused by lightning, has burned 67 homes, mainly cabins, and at least 2,000 houses were under evacuation orders.
Oregon governor Kate Brown told CNN’s State of the Union that it is imperative federal and state authorities invest in mitigation measures such as tree thinning to limit the number of similar massive blazes.
Scott Griffin surveys his property which was destroyed by the wildfires in Oregon
But she conceded that “the harsh reality is that we’re going to see more of these wildfires”.
On Twitter, she added: “We are feeling the impacts of climate change in real time here in Oregon.
“Historic fires, extensive drought, unprecedented heat – we need bold action from Congress to complement the steps we’re taking at the state level.”
The fires in the US are mostly in western states.
The Tamarack Fire continues to threaten communities on both sides of the California-Nevada state line. Pic: 564 Fire/Reuters
Elsewhere in California, the Tamarack fire south of Lake Tahoe continues to threaten communities on both sides of the California-Nevada state line.
In Montana, officials were focusing on structure protection for three fires amid weather forecasts of rising temperatures, low humidity and westerly winds.
In Washington state, firefighters battled two blazes in Okanogan County that threatened hundreds of homes and caused hazardous air quality conditions.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
Read more from Sky News:
Kremlin urges caution in nuclear rhetoric following Trump’s submarine order
Still wanted: UK riots suspects pictured in new police appeal
In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
Read more from Sky News:
World champion sprinter arrested for ‘assaulting boyfriend’
Trump says “nobody has asked” him to pardon Maxwell
O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike