New fires break out in Southern California ahead of Trump’s visit

Five new fires have broken out in Southern California ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the state.

The Blazes, called Laguna, Sepulveda, Gibbel, Gilman and Border 2, broke out Thursday in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura and Riverside.

Meanwhile, firefighters have made progress on the 10,000-acre Hughes Fire in Los Angeles under control, making it 36% contained since it erupted Wednesday.

Fires have devastated the US state in recent weeks, with the Palisades and Eaton fires burning a combined total of more than 37,000 acres and killing at least 28 people.

Here are some details about the latest fires, based on updates from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Fire CAL):

• The Border 2 fire in San Diego covers 800 acres. Evacuation orders are currently in place
• Laguna Fire in Ventura, which covers 94 acres and 70% has been controlled
• The Sepulveda fire in Los Angeles covers 45 acres and is 60% contained. In an update posted on X, the Los Angeles Fire Department said they had prevented the fire from spreading and evacuation orders had been lifted
• The Gibbel Fire broke out in Riverside County, covering 15 acres. Fire crews have managed to prevent the fire from progressing
• A bush called the “Gilman Fire” in San Diego covers two acres, but the fire’s progress has stopped

Trump will visit Los Angeles on Friday to survey the damage from the wildfires.

The newly inaugurated president has criticized the response to the fires and threatened to withhold federal assistance if California does not alter the way it manages water supplies.

He has criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and repeatedly made claims that the state had water problems because it diverted supplies to save a small fish called the Unidos.

When asked by US media whether he would cut funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Trump said: “You might have to do that. Sometimes that’s the only thing you can do. California is a great example of that.

“If you really survey people, they don’t want sanctuary cities, but Gavin Newsom does. And these radical left politicians do it.”

Brian Rice, president of the California Firefighters, told the BBC that he hopes Trump will not deny the state federal aid.

“The most important focus we have is to get federal aid to California, in these communities where people have lost their lives, their homes,” he said.

“In the history of this country, federal disaster aid has never been tied up if you do this, you understand. This is the discussion that is happening, it has never happened.”

The Hughes fire, the state’s third-largest fire after the Palisades and Eaton fires, forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate after it broke out Wednesday.

According to Cal Fire, Crew was able to make progress in containing the fire quickly on Thursday.

In an update released Friday, the U.S. National Weather Service said dry weather and “elevated wildfire conditions” will persist in Southern California, ahead of rain expected over the weekend. provide relief to fire-affected areas.