Good morning. Here are 5 Things to Know for Friday, July 6, 2018.
1. Gov. Hickenlooper to tour wildfires
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper will get a first-hand look at firefighting efforts today when he tours the command centers set up for the Lake Christine and Spring Fires. As of Thursday, the Spring Fire was estimated at more than 103,000 acres and the Lake Christine Fire was about 4,900 acres.
2. Not clear when supertanker will help
The state has signed a call-when-needed contract with the Colorado Springs-based Global SuperTanker to use its 747 to fight Colorado's ongoing wildfires but the plane can't take off just yet. The plane needs to be certified because of a software upgrade that allows communication with other air support.
3. Tariffs on China take effect
China is accusing the United States of starting the "biggest trade war in economic history" as tariffs took effect today on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports. China retaliated with tariffs of its own on the same amount of American goods.
4. Former coal lobbyist taking helm of EPA
EPA Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist, will take over as acting administrator of the agency on Monday. Scandal-plagued Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned from the position on Thursday.
5. Hot and dry weather continues
Warmer and calmer weather will settle in for the next few days. We'll see mostly sunny skies and very few thunderstorms on the plains. Skies will remain a little hazy due to the wildfires burning across Colorado.