Calif. wildfires blaze amid high burn risk
Bone-dry vegetation fueled three wildfires near Los Angeles amid warnings Friday that the risk of new blazes erupting was high as temperatures spike and humidity levels drop during a statewide heat wave.
A huge forest fire that prompted evacuations north of Los Angeles flared Friday afternoon, sending up an enormous cloud of smoke as it headed toward the California aqueduct in the Antelope Valley. However, fire crews quickly managed to stop its movement there.
The so-called Lake Fire was just 12% contained, and after threatening more than 5,400 homes, it had charred more than 18 square miles of brush and trees.
Cooler overnight temperatures helped firefighters increase containment. But the temperature hit 100 degrees Friday in the area, and the forecast called for continuing hot, dry weather with dangerous fire conditions because of possible gusty winds.
“The heat, the weather, that’s what made this fire go,” Nathan Judy of the U.S. Forest Service told KABCTV.
Record-breaking heat is possible through the weekend, with triple-digit temperatures and unhealthy air predicted for many parts of the state.
Preliminary damage assessments found that at least five buildings burned in the Lake Hughes area north of Los Angeles, but authorities said they believed more had been damaged or destroyed.
There was no containment of a blaze that blackened foothills above the Los Angeles suburb of Azusa. It churned through 2.3 square miles of brush on Thursday and was moving away from homes. Evacuation orders issued to residents were lifted early Friday.
Trump visits younger brother in hospital
President Donald Trump made a short visit Friday to see his hospitalized younger brother, Robert Trump, who has suffered health problems this year.
Robert Trump’s exact condition is unknown, but the president said he is having a “hard time.”
The president has spoken fondly of his younger sibling, who is a fellow New York real estate executive.
“I have a wonderful brother. We’ve had a great relationship for a long time. From Day 1. Long time. And he’s in the hospital right now,” Mr. Trump said. “Hopefully, he’ll be all right. but he’s having a hard time.”
The bedside visit was a side trip en route to a preplanned weekend at Mr. Trump’s private golf resort in Bedminster, N.J.
Tropical storms Kyle and Josephine form
Tropical Storm Kyle formed off the coast of the U.S. on Friday, while Tropical Storm Josephine lost speed as it continues its western journey with an expectation of it beginning its northbound turn toward the upper Atlantic.
As of 5 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said Kyle had formed about 185 miles southeast of Atlantic City, N.J., with 40 mph winds moving east-northeast away from the U.S. at 17 mph with tropical-storm force winds extending out 80 miles.
“Slight strengthening is possible tonight and tomorrow. Kyle is forecast to become post-tropical by late Sunday or early Monday,” the NHC said.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Josephine saw some weakening of its maximum sustained winds, which decreased from 45 to 40 mph Friday morning, and it also had tropical-storm force winds extending out 80 miles.