Police are seeking a suspected arsonist after revealing the fires that have ravaged tens of thousands of hectares north of Los Angeles were thought to have been started deliberately.
The Los Angeles Times reported that materials used to start and spread flames were discovered near to where the fire erupted 10 days ago.
The arsonist is likely to face homicide charges as two firefighters died when their lorry fell down a hillside last weekend.
"Arson investigators have concluded that the fire was the result of an act of arson," Rita Wears, a US Forest Service official, said.
"The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department homicide bureau has initiated a homicide investigation due to the tragic deaths of the two Los Angeles County firefighters as a result of this fire."
More than 4,700 firefighters are tackling the blaze, which has destroyed more than 60,000 hectares and 64 homes.
Air tankers and helicopters have been drafted in to drop water on the fire, aided by more than 400 fire engines and 60 bulldozers used to create fire breaks.
Flames had died down early yesterday and the fire, which was 38 per cent surrounded, was "pretty quiet", the fire spokesman John Huschke said.
Most of the 10,000 people ordered to evacuate their homes have been allowed to return as the so-called Station Fire is gradually brought under control. Six people who ignored evacuation orders have been injured.
Higher humidity and cooler temperatures, along with reduced amounts of smoke, have helped firefighters make "excellent progress" in tackling the fire.
However, the fire - the largest in Los Angeles County's history - is not likely to be extinguished before mid-September and 12,000 homes and 500 commercial buildings are listed as threatened.
"This is the biggest ever," said Capt Jerry Meehan of the Los Angeles Fire Department. "This is the hottest-burning, most damaging I've ever seen."
The blaze has spread into areas of the Angeles National Forest that have never before been affected by wildfires.
The two firefighters killed last Sunday were Ted Hall, 47, and Arnie Quinones, 35, whose wife is pregnant with the couple's first child. A memorial service for the two men is planned at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in a week's time.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, visited areas affected by the fire on Thursday.
He described as "horrible" the impact the fire has had on those whose homes had been destroyed.
"Even though we are still battling those fires, we are now trying to help get people's lives rebuilt," he said.
California's dry climate, winds and rapid housing development in rural and densely forested areas have made it increasingly vulnerable to forest fires.
Two years ago, eight people died when wildfires destroyed 2,000 homes, forced 640,000 people to flee and caused US$1 billion (Dh3.67bn) of damage.
dbardsley@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Bloomberg and Agence France-Presse
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
SPECS
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
