Prince William demands 'justice' for murdered South African park ranger Anton Mzimba

Prince William recently opened up about his new environmental initiative. (Photo: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

• Anton Mzimba was shot and killed on Tuesday.
• Mzimba was a park ranger and head of services at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
• Prince William, who met with Mzimba last year, has demanded "justice" for the "wildlife warrior".

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Prince William has released a statement following news of Anton Mzimba's death.

Mzimba, head of services at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, was hailed as a "wildlife warrior", fighting off poachers at the reserve where he worked for over 25 years.

He was shot and killed on Tuesday. Further details around his death are unknown.

Head of Ranger at Timbavati, Anton Mzimba, was shot and killed outside of his home last night. This follows recent death threats and highlights the daily threat facing Rangers.
Our deepest condolences to Anton’s loved ones and co-workers at this difficult time pic.twitter.com/fRayloiFjB

— Helping Rhinos ?? (@HelpingRhinos) July 27, 2022

The Duke of Cambridge met with Mzimba via Zoom last year when they learnt about a new device to combat ivory smugglers.

"This is a very well-organised crime. It involves local people. But, down the line, it goes across the border of the country," Mzimba told the prince, per People.

I’m deeply saddened to learn of the killing of Anton Mzimba who I spoke to in November. Committed and brave, rangers like Anton are central to the conservation of Africa’s fantastic wildlife. Those responsible must swiftly be brought to justice. My thoughts are with his family. W

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) July 27, 2022

In a personal statement, Prince William said on Wednesday: "I'm deeply saddened to learn of the killing of Anton Mzimba who I spoke to in November. Committed and brave, rangers like Anton are central to the conservation of Africa's fantastic wildlife.

"Those responsible must swiftly be brought to justice. My thoughts are with his family."  

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Ohio sheriff’s deputy shot while responding to mobile home park shooting: reports

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A Clark County sheriff’s deputy was shot and critically injured Sunday afternoon while responding to a shooting at a mobile home park, according to reports. 

The shooting happened around 11:30 a.m. at Harmony Township in the 1100 block of Ashwood Drive. 

One of the officers was flown to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.  (Google Maps)

Video shot by The Dayton Daily News shows a mobile home engulfed in flames with multiple law enforcement agencies on scene. 

According to the paper, one Clark County sheriff’s deputy was shot and is in critical condition. Another deputy injured his leg – but was not shot – while avoiding gunfire. 

CALIFORNIA SHOOTING NEAR GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE LEAVES ONE DEAD AND TWO OTHERS INJURED: POLICE

News Center 7 reported both deputies were loaded into ambulances and transported to area hospitals. 

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation refused to confirm the incident, only saying that it had been requested by the Clark County Sheriff's Office to investigate an officer-involved shooting at the Harmony Estates Mobile Home Park. 

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The Clark County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that an officer-involved shooting had taken place and the investigation is ongoing. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/ohio-sheriffs-deputy-shot-while-responding-to-mobile-home-park-shooting-reports/?feed_id=1614&_unique_id=62ddec63e83d6

Evacuations underway amid fire near Yosemite National Park

A home burns as the Oak Fire moves through the area on July 23, 2022 near Mariposa, California.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images

A destructive wildfire near Yosemite National Park burned out of control through tinder-dry forest on Sunday and had grown into one of California's biggest blazes of the year, forcing thousands of residents to flee remote mountain communities.

Some 2,000 firefighters battled the Oak Fire, along with aircraft and bulldozers, facing tough conditions that include steep terrain, sweltering temperatures and low humidity, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

"It's hot out there again today," Cal Fire spokesperson Natasha Fouts said Sunday. "And the fuel moisture levels are critically low."

Crews on the ground protected homes as air tankers dropped retardant on 50-foot (15-meter) flames racing along ridgetops east of the tiny community of Jerseydale.

Light winds blew embers ahead into tree branches "and because it's so dry, it's easy for the spot fires to get established and that's what fuels the growth," Fouts said.

The fire erupted Friday southwest of the park near the town of Midpines in Mariposa County. Officials described "explosive fire behavior" on Saturday as flames made runs through bone-dry vegetation caused by the worst drought in decades.

A California firefighter lights a backfire while battling the Oak Fire on July 23, 2022 near Mariposa, California.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images

By Sunday the blaze had consumed more than 22 square miles (56 square km) of forest land, with no containment, Cal Fire said. The cause was under investigation.

Evacuations were in place for over 6,000 people living across a several-mile span of the sparsely populated area in the Sierra Nevada foothills, though a handful of residents defied the orders and stayed behind, said Adrienne Freeman with the U.S. Forest Service.

"We urge people to evacuate when told," she said. "This fire is moving very fast."

Lynda Reynolds-Brown and her husband Aubrey awaited news about the fate of their home from an evacuation center at an elementary school. They fled as ash rained down and the fire descended a hill towards their property.

"It just seemed like it was above our house and coming our way really quickly," Reynolds-Brown told KCRA-TV.

Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Mariposa County due to the fire's effects.

Flames destroyed at least 10 residential and commercial structures and damaged five others, Cal Fire said. Assessment teams were moving through mountain towns to check for additional damage, Fouts said.

Numerous roads were closed, including a stretch of State Route 140 that's one of the main routes into Yosemite.

California has experienced increasingly larger and deadlier wildfires in recent years as climate change has made the West much warmer and drier over the past 30 years. Scientists have said weather will continue to be more extreme and wildfires more frequent, destructive and unpredictable.

Pacific Gas & Electric said on its website that more than 3,100 homes and businesses in the area had lost power as of Sunday and there was no indication when it would be restored. "PG&E is unable to access the affected equipment," the utility said as flames roared Friday.

The Oak Fire was sparked as firefighters made progress against an earlier blaze, the Washburn Fire, that burned to the edge of a grove of giant sequoias in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. The 7.5-square-mile (19-square-km) fire was nearly 80% contained after burning for two weeks and moving into the Sierra National Forest.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/evacuations-underway-amid-fire-near-yosemite-national-park/?feed_id=1582&_unique_id=62dddc520162a

Fast-moving Oak Fire explodes in size as it burns near Yosemite National Park

Hundreds of firefighters are battling a fast-moving fire burning near Yosemite National Park in California.

The Oak Fire ignited Friday afternoon and has quickly exploded to more than 9,500 acres as of Saturday afternoon, according to state fire officials. The fire is currently 0% contained.

A firefighter works to mitigate the flames as the Oak Fire burns near Mariposa, Calif., July 22, 2022.

Tracy Barbutes/Reuters

"Fire activity is extreme with frequent runs, spot fires and group torching," Cal Fire said in its incident report. "Emergency personnel are working to safely evacuate people and are actively engaged in protecting structures."

"Explosive fire behavior is challenging firefighters," the report added.

Flames consume a home on Triangle Rd. as the Oak Fire burns in Mariposa County, Calif., July 23, 2022.

Noah Berger/AP

More than 400 fire personnel have responded on the ground and in the air to the blaze, which has damaged or destroyed 15 structures, Cal Fire said. Some 2,000 structures are threatened.

A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for parts of the sparsely populated mountain community, located near the southwestern entrance of Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County.

The remains of a burned home are seen after the Oak Fire moved through the area on July 23, 2022 near Mariposa, Calif.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Several roads have also closed amid the fire, which is also burning near the Sierra National Forest.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said Saturday that the state has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help provide resources as it responds to the "rapidly-moving fire."

Firefighters look on as the Oak Fire burns in Darrah, in Mariposa County, Calif., July 22, 2022.

David Swanson/Reuters

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

More than 90% of Mariposa County has exceptional drought conditions, which can provide ample dry brush to fuel the fire. Hot, dry weather has also helped drive the blaze.

Firefighter Joanna Jimenez holds a dog she found wandering in a fire evacuation zone as the Oak Fire burns in Mariposa County, Calif., July 23, 2022.

Noah Berger/AP

This is the third wildfire to burn in the county over the past two weeks.

The Washburn Fire, which started on July 7 near the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park, is 79% contained after burning over 4,800 acres.

The containment of the fire, which at one point was inching dangerously close to the park's large sequoia grove Mariposa Grove, allowed the southern entrance of the park to open Saturday morning.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The smaller Agua Fire, which started on July 18, is now fully contained after burning some 420 acres. The fire was caused by a car, officials said.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/fast-moving-oak-fire-explodes-in-size-as-it-burns-near-yosemite-national-park/?feed_id=1054&_unique_id=62dc89117402e