Progress reported against 2 major wildfires burning in Northern California
Firefighters on Friday continued to make progress against two major wildfires burning in Lassen County, northeast of Sacramento, California, officials said.
The 19,000-acre Gold fire was 35% contained as of early Friday, up from 15% the day before, said spokesman Jeff LaRusso of the Riverside County Fire Department, which is assisting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, in fighting the blaze. He said weather conditions were still working against firefighters.
"We're looking at the dry fuels, we're looking at the increased temperatures and the decreasing humidity levels," LaRusso said. Winds are pushing the fire north toward Cal Pines, he said.
The fire, which began Monday, has destroyed seven homes, with another 25 at risk, he said. Evacuation orders and other warnings are posted on Cal Fire's Gold fire page.
Two firefighters treated at a hospital after being injured earlier in the week have been released, LaRusso said. More than 1,300 personnel from throughout California are continuing to battle the blaze, he said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
_ Los Angeles Times
____
Iran threatens legal action after US intercepts passenger jet
TEHRAN, Iran _ After an Iranian passenger plane reportedly had a dangerously close encounter with a U.S. fighter jet in Syrian airspace, Tehran said it is considering taking legal steps against the U.S.
"Disturbing a passenger jet in neutral airspace is a clear international violation of civil aviation security," vice president for legal affairs Laya Joneydi was quoted as saying by news agency Isna.
Iran could therefore take legal action and report the incident to the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Court of Justice, she said.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry is still investigating the details of the case and will give a statement later.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned the U.S. operation on Friday, calling American politicians "outlaws" in a post on Twitter.
The Mahan Air aircraft had to descend to prevent a collision, injuring several passengers in the process, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported.
Video posted by IRIB showed one passenger with blood on his face.
The plane was able to land as planned in Beirut and has since returned safely to Tehran.
_ dpa
____
Trump administration environmental report opens door for approval of Pebble mine in Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska _ The Trump administration on Friday said it's releasing a final environmental review of the proposed Pebble copper and gold mine in Southwest Alaska that will smooth the path for the mine's eventual development.
The report found that the mine should not hurt the long-term health of the valuable Bristol Bay salmon fishery, or significantly impact salmon returns, a conclusion that tribal, fishing and conservation groups swiftly condemned.
Conservation groups Thursday released early copies of the final environmental impact statement, prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The review contradicts a 2014 report under President Barack Obama that found the mine would severely damage the Bristol Bay watershed.
Mine developer Pebble Limited Partnership praised the analysis as a milestone that sets the stage for the project's development.
"I think this is the single most significant day in the history of the Pebble project," said Tom Collier, chief executive of Pebble Limited, on Friday. "On the issue of fish, it unequivocally and repeatedly says there will be no significant damage."
The open-pit mine would be built near the headwaters of salmon-producing rivers that support the Bristol Bay fishery, about 200 miles southwest of Anchorage. Major facilities would include a gas pipeline across Cook Inlet, a port site at the inlet, an 80-mile road to the mine site, and a 270-megawatt power plant.
The mining pit would stretch more than 1 mile wide, and more than 1 mile in length. It would extend more than one-third of a mile into the earth, said Mike Heatwole, a spokesman with Pebble.
The company has said the prospect could become one of the largest copper and gold mines in the U.S., annually producing 318 million pounds of copper and 362,000 ounces of gold for 20 years.
_ Anchorage Daily News
____
Mayor's aide says Jacksonville spent no money on scuttled Republican convention
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. _ The city of Jacksonville spent staff time but no taxpayer dollars on the canceled Republican National Convention, a top aide for Mayor Lenny Curry told City Council members Friday.
Chief of Staff Jordan Elsbury said "any time a special event comes to Jacksonville" the city's emergency operations center and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office work on preparing for it.
Elsbury said the sheriff's office provided security for Vice President Mike Pence's recent visit with the Jacksonville 2020 Host Committee in Jacksonville, but he said that is a cost the city picks up as it would any time a "dignitary" comes to Jacksonville.
He said the host committee was not billed for the security costs related to Pence's visit on July 11 at Epping Forest Yacht and Country Club.
City Council member Garrett Dennis asked the council auditor's office to examine how many hours of staff time were consumed by the planning for the convention.
The Republican National Committee moved most of the convention to Jacksonville from Charlotte, N.C., six weeks ago, but President Donald Trump announced Thursday he was canceling the Jacksonville portion of the event.
Trump cited the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Florida and said it wouldn't make sense to have an event like a convention with people packing a venue.
_ The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville
