King Fire prompts evacuations in California
The fire has been dubbed King Fire, it broke out at 1 a.m. PDT and grew to 490 acres along the 5 freeway between Gorman and Pyramid Lake, prompting two northbound lanes to close. The lanes have been reopened but drivers were cautioned to drive safely in the area.
The fire is 5% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Firefighters' main concern is that it does not spread to the south or cross the 5 freeway, John Miller, Public Information Officer for the U.S. The Forest Service said.
West of Interstate 5, North of Highway 138, South of Highway 139 and east of Old Ridge Route road, and East of Interstate 5 in the Paradise Ranch Area have all been issued evacuation warnings.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
8 hours ago
- UPI
Hurricane Erin rapidly intensifies to near-Category 5 strength
Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Hurricane Erin is now a Category 4 storm, rapidly intensifying overnight into early Saturday morning as it moves closer to the U.S. East Coast with sustained winds up to 155 mph. The storm was located approximately 235 miles east-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 105 miles north of Anguilla and other northern Leeward Islands, as of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, issued at 11 a.m. AST Saturday. The storm is expected to skirt those islands rather than hit them directly, which could bring strong winds and up to six inches of rain through the day Saturday. Forecasters are still warning of the potential for danger, with maximum wind speeds increasing from 130 mph on Friday to 155 mph Saturday, just barely below the 157 mph wind speed threshold to be considered a Category 5 storm. "Swells generated by Erin will affect portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Turks and Caicos Islands through the weekend," the weather service said in its latest update. "These rough ocean conditions will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents." Erin became the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic storm season Friday and is expected to continue gathering strength. Forecasters had been expecting the storm to intensify into a hurricane since early in the week. Forecasters predict the storm has the potential to affect the U.S. East Coast, including Florida, as well as the Bahamas and Bermuda, next week. Erin was moving at 17 mph as of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. It is expected to maintain that speed through the day. Forecasters are predicting the storm will make a west-northwest turn Saturday evening, which will come with a "decrease in forward speed," ahead of an expected northerly early next week. There have been four prior Atlantic named storms so far this season. Tropical Storm Chantal caused major flooding in North Carolina but was the only of the four to make landfall in the United States. The Atlantic hurricane season ends on Nov. 30.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
King Fire prompts evacuations in California
Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Evacuation warnings have been issued after a brush fire burning in California. The fire has been dubbed King Fire, it broke out at 1 a.m. PDT and grew to 490 acres along the 5 freeway between Gorman and Pyramid Lake, prompting two northbound lanes to close. The lanes have been reopened but drivers were cautioned to drive safely in the area. The fire is 5% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Firefighters' main concern is that it does not spread to the south or cross the 5 freeway, John Miller, Public Information Officer for the U.S. The Forest Service said. West of Interstate 5, North of Highway 138, South of Highway 139 and east of Old Ridge Route road, and East of Interstate 5 in the Paradise Ranch Area have all been issued evacuation warnings. The cause of the fire is unknown. Solve the daily Crossword
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
Erin to rapidly strengthen, reach major hurricane status this weekend
1 of 2 | Hurricane Erin is forecast to become a major hurricane by 2 a.m. Sunday. Tracking by the National Hurricane Center Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Erin became the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season on Friday morning and is forecast to rapidly strengthen as it heads near the Leeward Islands, and later Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In its 10 a.m. EDT update, the National Hurricane Center said Erin became a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph -- just 2 mph above the tropical storm designation. In the 4 p.m. update, Erin remained at 75 mph. Erin was 365 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, and was moving west-northwest at 17 mph in warm waters. The NHC said the motion is expected to continue through the weekend with some decrease in forward speed. With rapid strengthening the next two to three days, Eric is forecast to become a major hurricane during the weekend with winds at least 111 mph. On the forecast track, Erin is likely to go just north of the Northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend. Erin is forecast to reach Category 4 at 130 mph on Monday, the NHC said. By 2 p.m., Wednesday, the storm was forecast to be a few hundred miles west of Bermuda and outside the big tracking cone. "While the threat of direct impacts in the Bahamas and along the East coast of the United States appears to be gradually decreasing, there will still be a significant risk of dangerous surf and rip currents along western Atlantic beaches next week," NHC forecaster Jack Beven wrote in a discussion. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Anguilla and Barbuda, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, Saba and St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 75 miles from the center, and tropical-force winds outward to 115 miles. Marine warnings are in effect for the Atlantic, Caribbean and southwest Atlantic and the southwest North Atlantic. The NHC said Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands -- which include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Martin, St. Barts, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Montserrat -- should expect heavy rainfall Friday night through Sunday. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are forecast with isolated totals of 6 inches. It could lead to flash and urban flooding, along with landslides and mudslides. Swells will begin affecting this area and will spread to the western Atlantic next week. Wind gusts or tropical storm-force winds are possible in rainbands over portions of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend. "Do not underestimate the power of a major hurricane even passing by offshore," Alex DaSilva, the lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather, said. "These massive storms produce very rough surf and lethal rip currents that can impact beaches even hundreds of miles away." The previous four named Atlantic storms this year were Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter. None of them became hurricanes, and Chantal was the only one to make landfall in the United States, causing significant flooding in North Carolina. Helene struck that state last year as a tropical storm, causing an estimated $53 billion in damage, after hitting western Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Four other hurricanes made landfall in the United States in 2024: Beryl, Debby, Francine and Milton.
