Danny Fire Near Gorman, Singapore Haze and Malaysia School Closures

Today's news runs from a fast-moving brush fire in Southern California to a regional haze crisis in Southeast Asia, with a neighborhood air fight in Chicago and a weekend fire warning in Michigan.

Danny fire forces evacuations near the Grapevine

A fast-growing fire broke out Thursday in Gorman, near the Grapevine, and prompted an evacuation order, the Los Angeles Times reports. As of about 6:45 p.m., Cal Fire said the Danny fire had burned about 140 acres and was 7% contained. Evacuation warnings were also issued for nearby areas, including the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area.

The California Highway Patrol shut the 5 Freeway in both directions near Smokey Bear Road for about two hours because smoke was cutting road visibility, then reopened some lanes. The cause is under investigation.

Singapore tops the world's most polluted cities

Smoke from fires in Indonesia has pushed Singapore to the top of IQAir's list of the world's most polluted cities, CNN reports. The city-state's air quality index was 216, in the "very unhealthy" range, on Friday mid-morning, with Kuala Lumpur second on the list.

The haze arrives as Singapore prepares for a busy weekend that includes the Formula One night race. Singapore's National Environment Agency said smoke plumes from Sumatra and West Kalimantan were drifting toward the city and may continue to under the current winds. CNN notes that an expected "super" El Niño has set the stage for unusually intense fires in Indonesia this year.

Malaysia closes schools as haze worsens

Malaysia closed schools on Friday in Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, as well as Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and the Rompin district of Pahang, NBC News reports. On Friday morning, 37 areas recorded "unhealthy" readings on the country's Air Pollutant Index, according to government data.

Haze this thick is a good reason to keep windows closed and limit time outdoors where smoke is heavy.

Pilsen residents push for more testing at Sims Metal

Residents of Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood are asking Gov. JB Pritzker's office to halt an Illinois EPA operating permit for the Sims Metal scrap facility until more air testing is done, the Chicago Tribune reports. The company finished installing pollution control equipment last year and says the site no longer poses a health risk. Residents want testing under a wider range of operating conditions.

High wildfire risk in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Warm, dry weather and strong winds will keep wildfire risk elevated in Michigan's Upper Peninsula through the weekend, MLive reports. Saturday is expected to bring temperatures in the 70s and 80s with gusts up to 40 mph, and ongoing drought means fires are burning deep into the ground. The Michigan DNR asks residents to check for a burn permit before burning yard debris and to call 911 right away if a fire gets out of control.

Sources

Fast-moving Danny fire prompts evacuations in Gorman, closes stretch of the I-5 — Los Angeles Times
One of the world’s wealthiest cities is enduring the world’s most polluted air. Here’s why — CNN
Malaysia closes schools in several states due to haze from Indonesia forest fires — NBC News
Pilsen residents call for more air quality testing at Sims Metal — Chicago Tribune
Upper Peninsula faces high wildfire risk through the weekend — MLive

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.