California's biggest wildfire of the year spreads to 28,000 hectares
A firefighter works to tackle the Madre Fire near New Cuyama, California, on July 3.
LOS ANGELES - A massive wildfire raging in California for the past three days has ravaged more than 28,330 hectacres, as hundreds of firefighters fought to bring it under control.
The 'Madre Fire' broke out on July 2 in San Luis Obispo, a rural county in the heart of the US state.
Around 200 people were ordered to evacuate, with dozens of buildings threatened by the flames.
The fire has engulfed 28,700 hectares since July 2, and more than 600 personnel and 40 fire engines have been deployed to contain it, Cal Fire, the state's fire service, said in an update on July 4.
It is the largest blaze so far this year in California, which was scarred by wildfires that destroyed swaths of Los Angeles at the start of the year.
This summer is the first since President Donald Trump announced plans to gut federal agencies tasked with fighting climate disaster.
On July 4, California Governor Gavin Newsom said 15 new fires had ignited on federal land in the past 24 hours, and called on the president to prioritize funding for firefighting resources.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in a more fragmented global economy: PM Wong
Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform
Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee
Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted
Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten
Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan'
Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on best friend for strength and support
Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi
'Trump needs to WAKE UP and start funding federal firefighters and land-management teams in these rural communities – instead of giving tax cuts to billionaires,' Mr Newsom, a Democrat, wrote on X.
'Trump's incompetence is endangering lives.'
A separate statement from the governor's press office said July 4 that the Madre Fire 'remains in a very isolated location – away from homes'.
It comes after several other blazes, raising fears of a difficult summer ahead for the state already traumatized by the wildfires that killed 30 people in January.
Southern California had an unusually dry winter and spring, and vegetation is already parched, UCLA extreme climate events specialist Daniel Swain has said.
Intense and widespread heat this summer, and dry brush 'will heavily factor into burning conditions later this season,' he added.
Since returning to the White House in January, Mr Trump has ordered budget and personnel cuts at the Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FEMA, the federal agency that coordinates disaster response.
On July 2, Mr Newsom accused the Republican president of not funding enough wildfire prevention projects.
'We need an equivalent commitment of resources – not rhetoric,' Mr Newsom told reporters, noting that more than half of the land in California is under federal jurisdiction. AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Japan PM says won't ‘easily compromise' to Trump on tariffs
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US President Donald Trump has particularly pressed Japan to accept more US automobiles and rice. TOKYO - Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said July 6 he won't 'easily compromise' in talks with Washington as Tokyo seeks to avert President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs of up to 35 per cent on Japanese goods. 'We will not easily compromise. That's why it is taking time and why it is tough,' Mr Ishiba told a television talk show. His comments came as Japan rushes to negotiate with the Trump administration before the July 9 deadline for trade deals. While Mr Trump imposed a sweeping 10 per cent tariff on imports from most trading partners in April, he unveiled – then paused – higher rates on dozens of economies including Japan to allow room for negotiations. This pause will expire July 9, meaning the elevated rates are due to kick in if countries fail to reach agreements with Washington to avert them. Mr Trump has said he was going to write a letter to Japan, asking it to 'pay a 30 per cent, 35 per cent or whatever the number is that we determine,' and called the bilateral trade relation 'unfair'. He has particularly pressed Japan to accept more US automobiles and rice. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July launch Business High Court orders Instagram seller to pay Louis Vuitton $200,000 in damages over counterfeit goods Singapore MOH studying 18 proposals to integrate TCM into public healthcare Singapore TTSH to demolish century-old pavilion wards, keeping one as heritage marker World Death toll from Texas floods reaches at least 43; dozens still missing Singapore Red Lions and naval divers join forces for Jump of Unity at NDP 2025 Singapore His world crashed when he got F9 in O-level Tamil but PropNex co-founder Ismail Gafoor beat the odds Asia HIV surge in the Philippines amid poor sex education, policy gaps Mr Ryosei Akazawa, Tokyo's trade envoy, held telephone calls with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on July 3 and 5. In the Sunday television show, Mr Ishiba reiterated that Japan, as the biggest investor nation in the US economy, should be treated differently from other countries. 'What is unfair? How is it unfair? We need to examine each one' of the US claims, he said. 'We are allies, but we have to say what we have to say. We are the world's largest investor nation and the largest job creator (in the US). We are different,' he said. On another Sunday television show, Mr Ishiba said Japan was 'preparing to deal with all kinds of situations', when asked about how he plans to deal with Mr Trump's letter. AFP
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Investment firm Azoria postpones Tesla ETF after Musk plans political party
Investment firm Azoria Partners said on Saturday it will postpone the listing of its Azoria Tesla Convexity exchange traded fund after Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he was forming a new U.S. political party. Musk made the announcement a day after polling his followers on the X social media platform he owns, declaring, "Today the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom." Azoria was set to launch the Tesla ETF, which would invest in the electric vehicle company's shares and options, next week. However, following Musk's announcement Azoria CEO James Fishback posted on X several critical comments of the new party and repeated his support for U.S. President Donald Trump. That culminated in a post where Fishback announced the postponement of the ETF. "I encourage the Board to meet immediately and ask Elon to clarify his political ambitions and evaluate whether they are compatible with his full-time obligations to Tesla as CEO," Fishback said. The announcement undermines the confidence shareholders had in Tesla's future after Musk said in May he was stepping back from his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency, Fishback said. Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. The announcement from Musk comes after Trump signed his self-styled "big, beautiful" tax-cut and spending bill into law on Friday, which Musk fiercely opposed. Azoria is also offering the Azoria 500 Meritocracy ETF that only invests in the top 500 U.S. companies that do not impose hiring targets under diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to its website.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Japan PM says won't 'easily compromise' to Trump on tariffs
TOKYO: Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Sunday (Jul 6) that he won't "easily compromise" in talks with Washington as Tokyo seeks to avert United States President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs of up to 35 per cent on Japanese goods. "We will not easily compromise. That's why it is taking time and why it is tough," Ishiba told a television talk show. His comments came as Japan rushes to negotiate with the Trump administration before the Wednesday deadline for trade deals. While Trump imposed a sweeping 10 per cent tariff on imports from most trading partners in April, he unveiled - then paused - higher rates on dozens of economies including Japan to allow room for negotiations. This pause will expire Jul 9, meaning the elevated rates are due to kick in if countries fail to reach agreements with Washington to avert them. Trump has said he was going to write a letter to Japan, asking it to "pay a 30 per cent, 35 per cent or whatever the number is that we determine," and called the bilateral trade relation "unfair". He has particularly pressed Japan to accept more US automobiles and rice. Ryosei Akazawa, Tokyo's trade envoy, held telephone calls with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday and Saturday. In the Sunday television show, Ishiba reiterated that Japan, as the biggest investor nation in the US economy, should be treated differently from other countries. "What is unfair? How is it unfair? We need to examine each one (of the US claims)", he said. "We are allies, but we have to say what we have to say. We are the world's largest investor nation and the largest job creator (in the US). We are different," he said. On another Sunday television show, Ishiba said Japan was "preparing to deal with all kinds of situations", when asked about how he plans to deal with Trump's letter.
