A wildfire near Los Angeles has forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate as strong winds drive flames into neighbourhoods, destroying homes. Firefighters are battling intense Santa Ana winds as the fire spreads across 20,000 acres, threatening thousands more residents
More than 10,000 people were evacuated due to a wildfire northwest of Los Angeles as strong seasonal winds drove flames into residential areas, destroying dozens of homes, authorities reported on Thursday.
Firefighters and police evacuated neighborhoods near Camarillo after embers, blown 3.2 kms (2 miles) from the front of the fire, set homes ablaze, said Ventura County Fire Captain Tony McHale.
“It’s like trying to put out a blowtorch with a squirt gun,” he described. The blaze, which ignited in a hillside canyon on Wednesday, rapidly spread westward due to powerful Santa Ana winds.
Fueled by dry grass, scrub, and gusts of up to 130 kph (80 mph), the fire had burned more than 20,000 acres (8,094 hectares) by Thursday evening.
Several civilians were injured, with significant damage to homes and businesses. The Los Angeles Times reported more than 90 homes are destroyed. More than 30,000 residents are at risk, according to Cal Fire.
A red flag warning for high winds remains in place until Friday.
Climate experts say warmer temperatures have led to wetter winters, boosting coastal vegetation growth. This summer's record heat then dried out these areas, increasing fire risk.
The U.S. has already seen 8.1 million acres burn this year, exceeding the average annual rate of 7 million acres over the past decade.
In California, wildfires have so far scorched more than three times the land compared to the same period last year, according to Cal Fire data.
San Francisco, CA, February 17, 2025 – OpenAI announced on Friday that its AI agent, Operator, is now available for ChatGPT Pro subscribers in a broader range of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, among others.
Peru - the roof of a food court collapsed, killing at least 3 people and injuring 74 others.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for February 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia has accused China of failing to provide sufficient notice ahead of a live-fire naval drill between Australia and New Zealand, forcing airlines to alter flight paths. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the lack of communication as “disconcerting” for commercial aviation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid escalating violence. Their appeal follows the capture of key cities by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
San Francisco, CA, February 17, 2025 – OpenAI announced on Friday that its AI agent, Operator, is now available for ChatGPT Pro subscribers in a broader range of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, among others.
Washington, D.C., February 21, 2025 – U.S. negotiators have reportedly raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service unless Kyiv reaches an agreement to grant the United States greater access to its critical minerals.
Washington, D.C., February 17, 2025 – Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, has reduced the staffing of a key team at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) responsible for regulating autonomous vehicles, according to The Washington Post.
Brussels, February 21, 2025 – Alphabet’s mapping app Waze has crossed the threshold for classification as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), triggering tougher obligations to tackle illegal online content.
Santa Clara, CA, February 17, 2025 – Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang dismissed market concerns over DeepSeek’s recent release of its R1 open source reasoning model, arguing that the technological advancement will ultimately benefit the broader AI ecosystem rather than harm Nvidia’s business.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
BERLIN, Feb 22 (Reuters) - NATO is planning to build a pipeline system from Germany to Poland and the Czech Republic to ensure a rapid supply of jet fuel for fighter aircraft in the event of a war with Russia, weekly German magazine Der Spiegel reported.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking Congress for nearly $40 billion in disaster funding to help Los Angeles recover and rebuild areas scorched by last month's devastating wildfires, the Washington Post reported on Friday citing a letter.
A second meeting between representatives of Russia and the United States is planned for the next two weeks, the RIA state news agency reported on Saturday, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
Washington, D.C., February 21, 2025 – U.S. negotiators have reportedly raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service unless Kyiv reaches an agreement to grant the United States greater access to its critical minerals.
Hamas has begun releasing hostages from Gaza on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, as Israel confirmed that a body handed over earlier was that of hostage Shiri Bibas.
San Francisco, CA, February 17, 2025 – OpenAI announced on Friday that its AI agent, Operator, is now available for ChatGPT Pro subscribers in a broader range of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, among others.
Washington, D.C., February 21, 2025 – U.S. negotiators have reportedly raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service unless Kyiv reaches an agreement to grant the United States greater access to its critical minerals.
Washington, D.C., February 17, 2025 – Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, has reduced the staffing of a key team at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) responsible for regulating autonomous vehicles, according to The Washington Post.
Brussels, February 21, 2025 – Alphabet’s mapping app Waze has crossed the threshold for classification as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), triggering tougher obligations to tackle illegal online content.
Santa Clara, CA, February 17, 2025 – Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang dismissed market concerns over DeepSeek’s recent release of its R1 open source reasoning model, arguing that the technological advancement will ultimately benefit the broader AI ecosystem rather than harm Nvidia’s business.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment