Morning News Brief - September 3, 2025

WILDFIRE EVACUATIONS EXPAND IN CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL VALLEY Cal Fire reports that three fires within the TCU September Lightning Complex have grown dramatically, prompting new mandatory evacuation orders across Stanislaus, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. The 6-5 Fire surged to more than 2,900 acres with zero containment as of yesterday afternoon, threatening communities north of Don Pedro Reservoir. Meanwhile, the 2-2 Fire near Highway 4 and Dutton Road has scorched over 1,300 acres, and the 2-7 Fire east of Vallecito remains active, forcing residents to flee under evacuation orders that were expanded late Tuesday afternoon.

SUSPICIOUS BUSINESS FIRE IN FAIRFIELD, SYDNEY At approximately 3 a.m. this morning, emergency responders extinguished a fire at a commercial property on Smart Street, Fairfield. Damage was limited and no injuries were reported. Fairfield City Police have classified the incident as suspicious and established a crime scene, urging anyone with dashcam footage or information to contact Crime Stoppers.

TRACTOR DESTROYED IN MURRAY MALLEE BLAST The Halidon CFS brigade in South Australia attended a tractor fire on a farming property near Veitch, about 25 km south of Loxton. Volunteers extinguished the blaze, but the tractor and an attached spray unit, valued at roughly AUD 550,000, were completely destroyed. The tractor’s operator suffered minor injuries after escaping the vehicle’s cab.