Raleigh North Carolina News

A wildfire that moved so fast that firefighters couldn’t hope to stop it quadrupled in size Friday after destroying several thousand buildings and leveling much of a Northern California town of nearly 30,000 people, authorities said. Only a day after it began, the fire near the town of Paradise had grown to nearly 110 square miles (285 square kilometers). “There was really no firefight involved,” said Capt. Scott McLean of the California Department of Forestry…

About two-thirds of the city of Malibu was ordered evacuated early Friday as a ferocious Southern California’s wildfire roared toward the beachside community that is home for many Hollywood celebrities. The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted that the fire raging through the Santa Monica Mountains was headed to the ocean. Malibu has about 13,000 residents and lies along 21 miles (34 kilometers) of coast at the southern foot of the mountain range. “Imminent threat!”…

The Latest on a huge wildfire in Northern California (all times local): 8:25 a.m. The city of Malibu has reduced the scope a mandatory evacuation order for the beachside community as a wildfire approaches. Malibu officials initially said the order issued early Friday applied to the entire city but have now defined an area that is approximately the western two-thirds of the community. The fire erupted Thursday northwest of Los Angeles and has been swept…

The Latest on Southern California wildfires (all times local): 7:25 a.m. A raging Southern California wildfire has triggered a mandatory evacuation order for the entire beachside city of Malibu. The fire broke out Thursday northwest of Los Angeles and roared southward, jumping the U.S. 101 freeway early Friday and sweeping into the Santa Monica Mountains. Malibu has about 13,000 residents and lies along 21 miles (34 kilometers) of coast at the southern foot of the…

PARADISE, Calif. — Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town and destroyed hundreds of structures. “Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” said Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean late Thursday. “The wind that was predicted came and…

Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town and destroyed hundreds of structures. Everyone in Paradise, a community of 27,000 people about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco, was ordered to get out. The extent of the injuries and damage was not…

Hurricane Florence caused about $140 million in damage at UNC Wilmington, and university leaders say they hope to accomplish repairs with a combination of insurance claims, state funding and help from FEMA. The big-ticket item was Dobo Hall, the large science building that lost part of its roof and was ruined by 25-35 inches of water inside. It will have to be almost gutted and rebuilt at a cost of about $60 million, said UNCW…

The Latest on evacuations ordered for a wildfire in Northern California (all times local): 2:57 p.m. A wind-driven brush fire has erupted in Southern California, burning near structures in the Newbury Park area of Ventura County. The Ventura County Fire Department says the fire has quickly grown to 100 acres (40 hectares). More than 160 firefighters have been dispatched, and eight air tankers have been ordered. Gusty Santa Ana winds are blowing through Ventura and…

The Latest on evacuations ordered for a wildfire in Northern California (all times local): 2:30 p.m. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom is declaring a state of emergency in Northern California because of a dangerous wildfire that has destroyed homes and forced thousands to flee. Newsom issued the declaration Thursday for Butte County as the fast-moving fire continues to burn around the town of Paradise about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco. Newsom is…

Cumberland County, N.C. — Residents who live in the unincorporated areas of Cumberland County must have Hurricane Florence-related debris placed on the public right-of-way and reported by Nov. 18, county officials say. To report debris, residents can call the Cumberland County Debris Reporting phone system at 910-438-4044 and leave their name, address, phone number and the type of debris. According to a written statement from the county, 85 percent of the debris that has been…

A road barricade and an S.C. National Guard truck did not stop two Horry County Sheriff’s Department deputies from driving a van into a flood in September, leaving two female mental-health patients trapped inside to drown, S.C. lawmakers heard on Thursday. But it was not just the two deputies who put Nicolette “Nikki” Green, 43, and Wendy Newton, 45, at death’s door, their families said. The state’s entire mental-health system failed the two women, they…

American Airlines volunteers are gathering to pack 5,000 boxes of food for Florida communities affected by recent hurricanes. Team members planned to gather Thursday at one of the airline’s O’Hare International Airport hangars. They planned to work in assembly line-fashion to pack up 75,000 pounds (34,019 kilograms) of food. The event is part of a system-wide effort to aid disaster relief following devastation in several Florida communities. American Airlines teams have met at airports in…

By Yesenia Jones, WRAL.com intern Shannon, N.C. — On Tuesday morning, Shannon Tolson got lucky and won a $150,000 lottery prize that she will use to repair damage inflicted on her home by Hurricane Florence. Tolson bought the winning $5 Holiday Cash scratch-off ticket on Monday, when she stopped by a local pawn shop. “I rarely play the lottery,” Tolson said. “But I saw the new ticket and decided to get one.” She discovered her…

By Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL meteorologist Raleigh, N.C. — Severe storms could dampen Election Day by the evening commute, but WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said the real issue Tuesday morning is dense, thick fog from the Triangle westward. A dense fog advisory is in effect for Wake County and counties to the west until 9 a.m. Light ran began falling Monday night as thick fog reduced visibility to less than 1 mile. Early morning voters and…

Tropical Storm Xavier brought heavy rains and gusty winds to Mexico’s central Pacific coast Monday, then degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone as it headed away from land. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm was about 145 miles (235 kilometers) southwest of Cabo Corrientes late Monday and was moving west-northwest at 6 mph (9 kph). Tropical storm-force winds extended as far as 45 miles (75 kilometers) from the center. The storm’s maximum sustained winds…