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Fire in California’s Big Sur region doubles in size overnight, forcing evacuations

Plaskett fire has swept through more than 5,900 acres in Monterey county and remains un-contained, says Cal Fire A fire in California’s Big Sur region doubled in size overnight, forcing the evacuation of nearby residents, in a coastal region where firefighters have battled another blaze for weeks. The Plaskett fire, which sparked on Tuesday, had swept through more than 5,900 acres (2,400…

Fire in California’s Big Sur region doubles in size overnight, forcing evacuations

A wildfire in California's Big Sur region has more than doubled in size overnight, compelling the evacuation of nearby towns. The Plaskett fire, which ignited on Tuesday, has consumed over 5,900 acres (2,400 hectares) in Monterey County as of Friday, and is still uncontained, according to authorities from Cal Fire. The origin of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters have been employing helicopters and air tankers to battle the flames with precise water drops; however, the challenging terrain and sparse roads in the remote area have impeded ground crews' efforts to reach the fire. In the meantime, the Timber fire to the north continues to burn across more than 24,000 acres (9,700 hectares), with only 21% containment reported. Authorities have noted that the blaze has breached containment lines.

Both fires have led to partial road closures on Highway 1, a picturesque route that connects Los Angeles and San Francisco, providing stunning views along California's coastal stretch.

Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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Ratko Mladic, the Man Behind Srebrenica Massacre, Dies at 84

Ratko Mladic represented the horrors of the Bosnian war. He was convicted of genocide for the Srebrenica massacre. He died in detention at The Hague.

  • Ratko Mladic responsible for Srebrenica massacre of 8,300 Muslims in 1995
  • Commander of Bosnian Serb army, also accountable for Sarajevo siege deaths
  • Died at 84 in 2023

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