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A28 u.s. news
Diasabra 17 september 2022

Weekend weather concerns Northern California firefighters

(AP) — A weekend weath- Ridge between Oak Glen,
er system could hamper home to apple orchards that
firefighters' efforts in are a fall tourist destination,
Northern California to and Forest Falls, once a sum-
battle the week-old blaze mer getaway for cabin own-
that's become the largest ers that has become a bed-
in the state so far this year. room community.

The system is forecasted to The mudslide damage in Oak
bring colder temperatures Glen and Forest Falls served
and precipitation — from as a powerful warning to resi-
1/4 inch (0.6 centimeters) to dents of the lingering damage
more than 1 inch (2.5 centi- wildfires can cause months
meters) of rainfall over sev- or even years after flames are
eral days — to the Mosquito extinguished and the smoke
Fire about 110 miles (177 clears.
kilometers) northeast of San
Francisco. An intense amount of rain
even over a short period of
But stronger winds are also time can have catastrophic
expected to arrive in the area effects on hillsides where fire
beginning Saturday, and the has stripped vegetation that
winds could throw burning once held the ground intact.
embers and create spot fires
despite the rain. Scott McLean. Evacuation orders remained size of the previous largest Also in Southern Califor-
for some 11,000 residents conflagration in 2022 — the nia, firefighters were close
The forecast came as fire- Flames raced up a drainage because of the unpredictable McKinney Fire — although to completely surrounding a
fighters again prevented ditch into a neighborhood, nature of the winds, McLean this season has seen a fraction deadly wildfire that erupted
flames from entering a moun- but firefighters saved all the said, which typically blow in of last year's wildfire activity Sept. 5 and initially spread
tain town and reported major homes. the direction of several can- so far. very quickly.
progress Thursday, just two yons and could rapidly spread
days after the fire roared back Scientists say climate change flames if gusts pick up. In Southern California, dogs The Fairview Fire was burn-
to life and burned structures has made the West warmer aided the hunt for a person ing about 75 miles (121 ki-
near Foresthill. Crews on the and drier over the last three The Mosquito Fire was 20% missing in a heavily damaged lometers) southeast of Los
ground built up containment decades and will continue to contained after destroying area of the San Bernardino Angeles. The 44-square-mile
lines while water-dropping make weather more extreme at least 70 homes and other Mountains where thunder- (114-square-kilometer) blaze
helicopters knocked down and wildfires more frequent buildings. Total containment storms unleashed rocks, trees was 94% contained Friday.
hotspots. and destructive. In the last of the fire is expected to oc- and earth that washed away Two people were killed try-
five years, California has ex- cur around Oct. 15. cars, buried homes and af- ing to flee the fire, which de-
Conditions on the ground perienced the largest and fected 3,000 residents in two stroyed at least 35 homes and
Thursday were "looking a most destructive fires in its The 109-square-mile remote communities. Nearly other structures in Riverside
whole heck of a lot better," history. (282-square-kilometer) blaze 2 inches (5 centimeters) of County.
according to fire spokesman on Wednesday surpassed the rain fell Monday at Yucaipa

Arizona Legislature won’t defend law limiting police filming

(AP) — The Republican the Friday deadline set by erties Union. to make an arrest, but Tuchi being made with the owner's
leaders of the Arizona the federal judge when he agreed with the challengers permission.
Legislature will not try to temporarily blocked the new The groups will now ask that that it runs afoul of prec-
defend a new law limiting law from taking effect last the law, which was set to take edents that say the public and Bystander cellphone videos
up-close filming of police week on First Amendment effect next week, be perma- press have a right to film po- are largely credited with re-
that has been blocked by grounds. nently blocked. lice doing their jobs. vealing police misconduct —
a federal judge, a decision such as with the 2020 killing
that essentially ends the And the bill's sponsor, Re- Kavanagh said he will re- Tuchi noted that there are of George Floyd at the hands
fight over the contentious publican Rep. John Kava- view U.S. District Judge already Arizona laws barring of Minneapolis officers —
proposal. nagh, said Friday that he John J. Tuchi's ruling and interfering with police, and and reshaping the conversa-
has been unable to find an see if he can craft a law that that singling out people for tion around police transpar-
Senate President Karen Fann outside group to defend the passes constitutional muster. taking videos appears to be ency. But Republican Arizona
and House Speaker Rusty law, which was challenged He said the law is needed to unconstitutional on its face. lawmakers say the legislation
Bowers both said they would by news media organizations keep people from distracting And he wrote in his ruling was needed to limit people
not intervene in the case by and the American Civil Lib- police while they are trying that barring someone from with cameras who deliber-
using a phone or news video ately impede officers.
camera to record — without
banning other actions — is a Mickey H. Osterreicher, the
content-based restriction that general counsel for the pho-
is illegal. tographers association, called
the law "an unconstitutional
The law makes it illegal to solution in search of a non-
knowingly film police of- existent problem."
ficers 8 feet (2.5 meters) or
closer if the officer tells the Bowers said he and fellow
person to stop. And on pri- Republicans disregarded op-
vate property, an officer who ponents who said the bill was
decides someone is interfer- unconstitutional and essen-
ing or the area is unsafe can tially said "let's just try and
order the person to stop film- see what happens."
ing even if the recording is