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U.S. NEWS Monday 4 noveMber 2019

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All evacuations lifted for

Southern California wildfire

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER fire prevention investments
Associated Press and fuel management
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Au- projects in recent years
thorities lifted all evacua- while federal funding has
tion orders as firefighters shrunk, the governor's of-
made progress Sunday fice said in a statement.
on a large blaze that sent "We're successfully waging
thousands fleeing homes war against thousands of
and farms northwest of Los fires started across the state
Angeles. in the last few weeks due to
Crews working in steep ter- extreme weather created
rain were tamping down by climate change while In this Oct. 31, 2019 file photo flames from the Hillside Fire consume a home in San Bernardino,
hotspots and keeping an Trump is conducting a full Calif. Associated Press
eye on lingering gusts in on assault against the anti-
mountain areas that could dotes," Newsom said. were under investigation was the case at other re- gized a 16,000-volt power
carry embers, said Ventura The state controls just 3% but there was a possibility cent fires. line 13 minutes before the
County Fire Capt. Steve of forest land in California, that electrical lines might Southern California Edison fire erupted in the same
Kaufmann. while the federal govern- have been involved — as said Friday that it re-ener- area of Ventura County.q
"I'd say we're cautiously ment owns 57%, accord-
optimistic," Kaufmann said, ing to numbers provided
citing calmer winds overall by the Newsom's office.
and rising humidity levels. About 40% of the state's for-
Firefighters have contained est are privately owned.
50% of the blaze, which has Neither of the two major
burned nearly 15 square fires currently burning are
miles (39 sq. kilometers) of on forest land.
dry brush and timber. Three Last year Trump made a
buildings were destroyed. similar threat as wildfires
More than 11,000 people devastated Malibu and
evacuated after the flames Paradise, California — ac-
spread Oct. 31 during dry cusing the state of "gross
winds that fanned fires mismanagement" of for-
across the state this fall. ests.
In his first recent comments At the time Newsom de-
on the California fires, Presi- fended California's wildfire
dent Donald Trump threat- prevention efforts while crit-
ened to cut U.S. aid fund- icizing the federal govern-
ing to the state. ment for not doing enough
California Gov. Gavin New- to help protect the state.
som has done a "terrible In Northern California, more
job of forest management," people returned to areas
Trump tweeted. When fires evacuated from a huge
rage, the governor comes fire that burned for days in
to the federal government the Sonoma County wine
for help. "No more," the country.
president tweeted. The tally of destroyed
Newsom replied with a homes reached 175 and
tweet of his own: "You don't there were 35 more dam-
believe in climate change. aged, authorities said.
You are excused from this Many other structures also
conversation." burned.
California has increased The causes of both fires