California wildfire triggers evacuations, closes highway

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California wildfire triggers evacuations, closes highway

Published

3 years ago

January 22, 2022

A 1,500-acre fire near the coastal community of Big Sur, California triggered evacuations and closed part of a major highway, state and local officials said on Saturday.

The Colorado Fire, which has been active since Friday, was 5% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

A 20-mile stretch of State Highway 1, a scenic north-south route on the Pacific Coast, was closed from near the beach town of Carmel-by-the-Sea to Andrew Molera State Park.

About 400 people in Monterey County were evacuated from 1,100 structures, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross said, citing county reports.

Four people and a pet stayed overnight at a shelter in a local school, the Red Cross said.

California has long had an active wildfire season, but in recent years, fueled at least in part by climate change, it has grown longer and more punishing.

Last year, the wildfire season started unusually early amid an ongoing drought and low reservoir levels, Cal Fire said. In January 2021 alone, the state battled 297 fires on 1,171 acres, the office said.

The Colorado Fire is the only fire listed on Cal Fire’s incident list so far in 2022.

This year, California is also grappling with the Santa Ana winds. A high wind warning was in effect for the area, with possible gusts of up to 70 miles per hour (112.65 kph), according to the National Weather Service.

But winds had improved and were forecast to remain light throughout the weekend, the Red Cross said.

(Reporting by Makini Brice in Washington; editing by Diane Craft and Cynthia Osterman)

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Canada’s Fung knocked out of NBO qualifying by American Volynets

Published

44 mins ago

August 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Canada’s Stacey Fung won’t reach the National Bank Open main draw.

Fung was knocked out in the second round of women’s singles qualifying with a 6-1, 6-3 loss to top qualifier Katie Volynets of the United States on Monday at Sobeys Stadium.

The 27-year-old Fung, from Vancouver, won just seven of 32 points on first serve and conceded eight of nine break points

Carol Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont., was scheduled to play Ashlyn Krueger of the United States later Monday.

Zhao defeated Kristina Mladenovic of France 7-5, 6-1 in the first round on Sunday after replacing Hailey Baptiste as an alternate. Baptiste withdrew due to travel issues.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino, and Toronto’s Marina Stakusic are already in the NBO main draw.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2024.

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38-year-old man from Toronto drowns while swimming in northeastern Ontario lake

Published

48 mins ago

August 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

TEMISKAMING SHORES, Ont. – The Temiskaming detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police says a 38-year-old Toronto man drowned Sunday in Twin Lakes in northeastern Ontario.

They say emergency services responded to a call in Hudson Township shortly after 2 p.m.

Police say the man was recovered from the water and transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

They say their investigation determined that the man drowned while swimming, failing to resurface.

OPP say the deceased man was found by a local resident.

The investigation into the death is ongoing, directed by the Ontario coroner’s office.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2024.

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Trudeau meets officials, evacuees following Jasper wildfire

Published

51 mins ago

August 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

HINTON, Alta. – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Hinton, Alta., to get a briefing on the status of the Jasper wildfire.

Trudeau is expected to tour the mobile incident command centre Monday, and meet with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland and Jasper evacuees.

He is not expected to tour the town of Jasper itself.

More than 20,000 people were evacuated from the town and Jasper National Park nearly two weeks ago as a wildfire inched closer to the area, destroying one-third of the town’s buildings.

A Calgary firefighter died over the weekend after a tree fell on him while fighting the fire.

Trudeau has said he is heartbroken by the news and is thinking of the man’s family, friends and fellow firefighters.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.

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