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California Today: California in Flames California Today: California in Flames
(35 minutes later)
Good morning.Good morning.
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Wildfires that ignited late Sunday surged with explosive speed overnight and into Monday, cutting a path across California’s wine country that turned whole neighborhoods to ash and killed at least 10 people.Wildfires that ignited late Sunday surged with explosive speed overnight and into Monday, cutting a path across California’s wine country that turned whole neighborhoods to ash and killed at least 10 people.
The property damage appeared to be among the worst seen in a fire in California. More than 1,500 buildings were destroyed and roughly 150 square miles scorched, fire officials said.The property damage appeared to be among the worst seen in a fire in California. More than 1,500 buildings were destroyed and roughly 150 square miles scorched, fire officials said.
More than a dozen fires in Northern California across eight counties — including Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Yuba — were fanned by dry winds that gusted across a parched landscape faster than 50 miles an hour.More than a dozen fires in Northern California across eight counties — including Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Yuba — were fanned by dry winds that gusted across a parched landscape faster than 50 miles an hour.
In Southern California, another blaze in Orange County burned at least seven homes.In Southern California, another blaze in Orange County burned at least seven homes.
Gov. Jerry Brown issued emergency proclamations for several counties and asked President Trump to declare a major disaster.Gov. Jerry Brown issued emergency proclamations for several counties and asked President Trump to declare a major disaster.
Here’s what else we know:Here’s what else we know:
• Officials said seven people died in Sonoma County, two in Napa County and one in Mendocino County.• Officials said seven people died in Sonoma County, two in Napa County and one in Mendocino County.
• About 170 people were treated for injuries, most of them smoke inhalation, hospital officials said. The Associated Press reported that two people were in critical condition.• About 170 people were treated for injuries, most of them smoke inhalation, hospital officials said. The Associated Press reported that two people were in critical condition.
• A Sonomo County spokeswoman told the San Francisco Chronicle that dozens of people had been reported missing. • A Sonoma County spokeswoman told The San Francisco Chronicle that dozens of people had been reported missing.
• Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County, was devastated. Hundreds of homes and businesses were leveled after a fire ignited at the north end of town.• Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County, was devastated. Hundreds of homes and businesses were leveled after a fire ignited at the north end of town.
“It looks like Armageddon,” a man there, Ron Dodds, told the broadcaster KTVU.“It looks like Armageddon,” a man there, Ron Dodds, told the broadcaster KTVU.
A mobile home park was destroyed, and an aerial view of the Coffey Park neighborhood showed a startling landscape of smoldering rubble.A mobile home park was destroyed, and an aerial view of the Coffey Park neighborhood showed a startling landscape of smoldering rubble.
Also hit hard was the Fountaingrove neighborhood, where landmarks including the Fountaingrove Inn and the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country went up in flames, The Press Democrat reported.Also hit hard was the Fountaingrove neighborhood, where landmarks including the Fountaingrove Inn and the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country went up in flames, The Press Democrat reported.
• There were reports of devastation in and around towns across Northern California, among them Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Redwood Valley, Napa, Loma Rica and Grass Valley.• There were reports of devastation in and around towns across Northern California, among them Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Redwood Valley, Napa, Loma Rica and Grass Valley.
• At least two wineries, Signorello Estate Winery and Paradise Ridge Winery, were destroyed, Wine Spectator reported.• At least two wineries, Signorello Estate Winery and Paradise Ridge Winery, were destroyed, Wine Spectator reported.
• The fire in Orange County tore across more than nine square miles and leveled at least two dozen structures, according to the Orange County Register. • The fire in Orange County tore across more than nine square miles and leveled at least two dozen structures, according to The Orange County Register.
• As many as 20,000 people were forced to evacuate in Northern California, officials said. Reporters described Santa Rosa, with a population of about 175,000, as a virtual ghost town on Monday.• As many as 20,000 people were forced to evacuate in Northern California, officials said. Reporters described Santa Rosa, with a population of about 175,000, as a virtual ghost town on Monday.
• Two Santa Rosa hospitals evacuated scores of patients, wheeling them out on gurneys and wheelchairs as smoke swept over the city.• Two Santa Rosa hospitals evacuated scores of patients, wheeling them out on gurneys and wheelchairs as smoke swept over the city.
• Orange County officials evacuated more than 5,000 homes in Anaheim, Orange and Tustin, the Los Angeles Times reported. • Orange County officials evacuated more than 5,000 homes in Anaheim, Orange and Tustin, The Los Angeles Times reported.
• A couple in Napa, aged 100 and 99, died in their home during the fires. [KTVU]• A couple in Napa, aged 100 and 99, died in their home during the fires. [KTVU]
• Vice President Mike Pence, who was visiting California, pledged “any and all assistance” to California. [San Francisco Chronicle]• Vice President Mike Pence, who was visiting California, pledged “any and all assistance” to California. [San Francisco Chronicle]
• “Complete devastation.” Read the main story on the inferno by Santa Rosa’s hometown newspaper. [The Press Democrat]• “Complete devastation.” Read the main story on the inferno by Santa Rosa’s hometown newspaper. [The Press Democrat]
• The destruction in maps, photos and before-after images. [The New York Times]• The destruction in maps, photos and before-after images. [The New York Times]
• How you can help people affected by the fires. [SFGate.com]• How you can help people affected by the fires. [SFGate.com]
Were you directly affected by the fires on Monday? We want to hear from you.Were you directly affected by the fires on Monday? We want to hear from you.
(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)
• Senator Dianne Feinstein, 84, declared herself “all in” on a re-election bid. Some had hoped she would step aside to make way for new Democratic blood. [The New York Times]• Senator Dianne Feinstein, 84, declared herself “all in” on a re-election bid. Some had hoped she would step aside to make way for new Democratic blood. [The New York Times]
• Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill requiring more transparency in drug pricing — “Californians have a right to know why their medication costs are out of control, especially when pharmaceutical profits are soaring.” [Reuters]• Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill requiring more transparency in drug pricing — “Californians have a right to know why their medication costs are out of control, especially when pharmaceutical profits are soaring.” [Reuters]
• He also signed a bill that rolls back penalties for intentionally transmitting H.I.V. [The Associated Press]• He also signed a bill that rolls back penalties for intentionally transmitting H.I.V. [The Associated Press]
• Stephen Miller was scorned and dismissed as the conservative gadfly of his liberal California high school. Now he guides domestic policy in the Trump White House. [The New York Times]• Stephen Miller was scorned and dismissed as the conservative gadfly of his liberal California high school. Now he guides domestic policy in the Trump White House. [The New York Times]
• Google has determined that Russian agents bought political ads in 2016, linking the company to Kremlin election meddling for the first time. [The New York Times]• Google has determined that Russian agents bought political ads in 2016, linking the company to Kremlin election meddling for the first time. [The New York Times]
• The Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series after finishing off the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was more than a sweep, writes Bill Plaschke. “It was a stampede.” [Los Angeles Times]• The Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series after finishing off the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was more than a sweep, writes Bill Plaschke. “It was a stampede.” [Los Angeles Times]
• Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Glenn Close and others released statements condemning Harvey Weinstein’s reported sexual misconduct. [The New York Times]• Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Glenn Close and others released statements condemning Harvey Weinstein’s reported sexual misconduct. [The New York Times]
• Lena Dunham writes: We have been quick to condemn Bill O’Reilly, Roger Ailes and, yes, the president. So why the deafening silence, particularly from the industry’s men, when one of our own is outed as having a nasty taste for humiliating and traumatizing women? [Opinion | The New York Times]• Lena Dunham writes: We have been quick to condemn Bill O’Reilly, Roger Ailes and, yes, the president. So why the deafening silence, particularly from the industry’s men, when one of our own is outed as having a nasty taste for humiliating and traumatizing women? [Opinion | The New York Times]
California’s Cook pines have a weird characteristic.California’s Cook pines have a weird characteristic.
The towering trees lean conspicuously to one side, always toward the south, as though buffeted by years of strong winds.The towering trees lean conspicuously to one side, always toward the south, as though buffeted by years of strong winds.
But no one really understands why.But no one really understands why.
So a few years ago, botanists from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo took up the mystery.So a few years ago, botanists from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo took up the mystery.
They collected data from 100 or so trees in California. Every one leaned south.They collected data from 100 or so trees in California. Every one leaned south.
Then came an “aha” moment.Then came an “aha” moment.
The scientists reached out to a colleague in Australia and asked him to check the Cook pines there.The scientists reached out to a colleague in Australia and asked him to check the Cook pines there.
What he told them was “crazy,” said Jason Johns, who was the lead author of a study drawn from the research.What he told them was “crazy,” said Jason Johns, who was the lead author of a study drawn from the research.
“The pattern was there,” he said, “just in the opposite direction.”“The pattern was there,” he said, “just in the opposite direction.”
The trees appeared to be leaning toward the Equator, a trait never before documented in the plant kingdom.The trees appeared to be leaning toward the Equator, a trait never before documented in the plant kingdom.
Cook pines are native to New Caledonia, an archipelago in the South Pacific, but they’ve spread the globe, including thousands in California.Cook pines are native to New Caledonia, an archipelago in the South Pacific, but they’ve spread the globe, including thousands in California.
The Cal Poly researchers found that the leaning pattern held with measurements from Cook pines taken on five Continents.The Cal Poly researchers found that the leaning pattern held with measurements from Cook pines taken on five Continents.
According to their calculations, the odds that it resulted from chance, said Mr. Johns, “were point zero, zero, with like 14 zeros in front of it. It was pretty clear.”According to their calculations, the odds that it resulted from chance, said Mr. Johns, “were point zero, zero, with like 14 zeros in front of it. It was pretty clear.”
The why, however, remains an open question.The why, however, remains an open question.
Mr. Johns was reluctant to venture a theory. Pressed, he talked about a cell process called “signaling cascade” and the interplay between growth, sunlight and gravity.Mr. Johns was reluctant to venture a theory. Pressed, he talked about a cell process called “signaling cascade” and the interplay between growth, sunlight and gravity.
The Cook pine discovery, he offered, was an example of how far science has to go in understanding the way the world works.The Cook pine discovery, he offered, was an example of how far science has to go in understanding the way the world works.
“As you know with anything,” he said, “the more you uncover, the more you realize how little you know.”“As you know with anything,” he said, “the more you uncover, the more you realize how little you know.”
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Los Osos. Follow him on Twitter.The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Los Osos. Follow him on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.