In brief: Fire near Maine college kills five

PORTLAND, Maine – Fire swept through an apartment house near the University of Southern Maine’s quiet commuter campus Saturday, killing five people and critically injuring one, authorities said. It was unclear if any of the victims were students.

The fire, which gutted the three-story, 94-year-old structure, followed a Halloween party the night before. The building housed two apartments.

State fire marshal spokesman Steve McCausland said most, if not all, the residents of the house were USM students. Later Saturday, Portland Fire Chief Jerry LaMoria said they didn’t know if any of the victims were students.

The fire, Maine’s deadliest since 1984, ripped a hole through the roof of the house and both apartment units were badly burned.

LaMoria said they still don’t know where the fire started. The investigation is in a preliminary stage and officials will look into whether there were any code violations in the home.

California’s wet season off to good start

LOS ANGELES – A California storm dropped about half an inch of rain on Los Angeles, causing a troublesome mudslide in the region but bringing a good start to a much-needed wet season amid the state’s drought, forecasters said Saturday.

The storm that started in Northern California on Friday and moved south is typical for November, National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell said.

In what’s considered a normal year, the Los Angeles region receives about 15 inches total. Last year, just 6 inches fell, preceded by a year with 5.85 inches, which Kittell said marked two of the region’s driest consecutive years on record.

The storm caused 11 residents in Ventura County to be evacuated late Friday and early Saturday after mud and debris from a hillside struck at least two homes, partially burying one man, who was pulled to safety.

Lava stalls; so does threat to residents

HONOLULU – Lava from Kilauea volcano has stalled less than 500 feet from the main road in Pahoa on the Big Island, officials said Saturday.

Some lava has been breaking out along the sides of the flow, but it’s moving slowly, said Darryl Oliveira, director of Hawaii County civil defense.

“At this point, there’s very little activity taking place that’s posing any increased threat to the residents or the community,” Oliveira said.

Lava has been streaming down the volcano’s flank toward the northeast since June.