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| California wildfires: planes deployed to fight flames north of Los Angeles – live | California wildfires: planes deployed to fight flames north of Los Angeles – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Hey all, Vivian Ho taking over the blog for now. Here’s a quick update on where everything stands: | |
| The Kincade Fire in the Sonoma county wine region in the north San Francisco Bay Area has now burned up 21,900 acres and destroyed 49 homes, businesses and other structures. | |
| The Tick Fire in the northern Los Angeles county community of Santa Clarita has now burned up 4,300 acres. | |
| Both fires are only 5% contained - for those unfamiliar with wildfire terminology, containment means exactly what it sounds like. Firefighters try to establish a perimeter around the blaze to keep it from spreading. It’s tough, arduous work that requires more than just hoses and water - it’s a lot of digging, pushing flames toward natural barriers like cliffsides, cutting down vegetation and sometimes setting more fire in holding lines to scorch the earth and prevent the uncontrollable wildfire from catching. Containment can fluctuate - at one briefing the public information officer will say it’s 5% contained and then later in the day it will only be 3% - that’s because these situations are incredibly fluid and despite the firefighters’ best efforts, wildfires will grow in size and affect containment percentages. | |
| The wildfires are still raging in northern and southern California and folks are in for an anxious Friday and a dangerous weekend. | |
| I’m handing over from New York to my colleague in California, Vivian Ho, now, and she’ll take you though the afternoon. | |
| Here are the main developments of note so far today: | |
| California’s largest utility company, PG&E, admits it may have started the Kincade fire now raging in wine country. Its shares took a hit. | |
| In southern California, residents of the Santa Clarita valley north of Los Angeles have spoken to the Guardian’s Sam Levin, there, about evacuating from the Tick fire, some by the skin of their teeth. Talk of the climate crisis is in the air. | |
| San Francisco and area airports are likely to be affected by smoke blowing down from the Kincade fire. | |
| Public schools in the Los Angeles unified school district are closed today, including all those in the San Fernando Valley. | |
| The pink stuff | The pink stuff |
| Here’s LA county fire department battling to contain the Tick fire. | |
| #TickFire @LACOFD Firefighters braving arduous conditions shoring up and reinforcing containment lines. Supported by fixed wing retardant dropping aircraft the difficult work separating burned fuel from unburned vegetation continues. pic.twitter.com/gxSUcXyiCn | #TickFire @LACOFD Firefighters braving arduous conditions shoring up and reinforcing containment lines. Supported by fixed wing retardant dropping aircraft the difficult work separating burned fuel from unburned vegetation continues. pic.twitter.com/gxSUcXyiCn |
| And more smoke coming your way. | And more smoke coming your way. |
| SMOKE ADVISORY UPDATE: advisory extended through Saturday morning as #TickFire near #SantaClarita continues to burn: https://t.co/Y158Op74tv https://t.co/iGxSbjtBwW | SMOKE ADVISORY UPDATE: advisory extended through Saturday morning as #TickFire near #SantaClarita continues to burn: https://t.co/Y158Op74tv https://t.co/iGxSbjtBwW |
| California’s biggest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, on Friday admitted its electrical equipment may have ignited the ruinous wildfire spreading over the state’s wine country, despite blackouts imposed across the region to prevent blazes. | |
| The disclosure came as firefighters simultaneously battled flames in both northern and southern California: the fire amid Sonoma County’s vineyards, called the Kincade fire and a wind-whipped blaze that destroyed homes near Los Angeles, in Tick Canyon in the Santa Clarita valley, labeled the Tick fire. | |
| The fire near the northern California town of Geyserville has burned at least 49 buildings and 34 sq miles and prompted evacuation orders for some 2,000 people, the Associated Press writes. | |
| It was driven by the strong winds that had prompted Pacific Gas & Electric to impose sweeping blackouts affecting a half-million people in northern and central California. Power was restored to most people by Thursday evening, PG&E said. | |
| PG&E resorted to shutoffs after fallen power lines and other electrical equipment were blamed for several blazes in recent years that killed scores of people, burned thousands of homes and ran up billions of dollars in claims that drove the utility into bankruptcy. | |
| The PG&E CEO, Bill Johnson, said it was too soon to know if the faulty equipment sparked the fire. | |
| He said the tower had been inspected four times in the past two years and appeared to have been in excellent condition. | |
| Investors were leery, though, and PG&E stock fell more than 20% during the day. | |
| In shutting off the electricity, PG&E cut power to the distribution lines that supply homes, but not to its long-distance transmission lines. | In shutting off the electricity, PG&E cut power to the distribution lines that supply homes, but not to its long-distance transmission lines. |
| High winds in northern California had died down on Friday morning, but they are expected to pick up over the weekend, with gusts of 40 to 60mph in many places. PG&E warned it may black out an even larger region. | |
| The PG&E chief meteorologist, Scott Strenfel, said northern California could be in for the strongest offshore winds in years. | |
| ‘With global warming I do worry’ | |
| Large wildfires require a cocktail of conditions, such as favorable wind speed and direction, fuel, terrain and, of course, ignition, which can be as simple as a trailer throwing sparks by scraping on a road, my Guardian US environment reporter colleague Oliver Milman wrote in a report after the last bout of devastating wildfires in California. | |
| Broadly speaking, however, the climate crisis is making conditions more conducive to wildfires in the American west. Of the 20 largest wildfires in California’s recorded history, 15 have occurred since 2000, at a time when forests have become drier and warmer. | Broadly speaking, however, the climate crisis is making conditions more conducive to wildfires in the American west. Of the 20 largest wildfires in California’s recorded history, 15 have occurred since 2000, at a time when forests have become drier and warmer. |
| Since 1970, temperatures in the west have increased by about double the global average, lengthening the western wildfire season by several months and drying out large tracts of forests, making them more fire-prone. | Since 1970, temperatures in the west have increased by about double the global average, lengthening the western wildfire season by several months and drying out large tracts of forests, making them more fire-prone. |
| “Climate change is increasing the vulnerability of many forests to ecosystem changes and tree mortality through fire, insect infestations, drought and disease outbreaks,” a major climate assessment by the US government states. | “Climate change is increasing the vulnerability of many forests to ecosystem changes and tree mortality through fire, insect infestations, drought and disease outbreaks,” a major climate assessment by the US government states. |
| Out in Santa Clarita this morning, our reporter in the field, Sam Levin, caught an echo from one evacuee, Jeanne Weiss. | Out in Santa Clarita this morning, our reporter in the field, Sam Levin, caught an echo from one evacuee, Jeanne Weiss. |
| Jeanne Weiss, 50, said this is the first time she has had to evacuate. “We had everything packed and we were ready.” Her four cats are safe, she said.She is concerned about having to keep doing this. “With global warming, I do worry.” #TickFire pic.twitter.com/WVs5rLtUZE | Jeanne Weiss, 50, said this is the first time she has had to evacuate. “We had everything packed and we were ready.” Her four cats are safe, she said.She is concerned about having to keep doing this. “With global warming, I do worry.” #TickFire pic.twitter.com/WVs5rLtUZE |
| ‘We have everything that’s important to us here right now’ | |
| The Guardian’s LA correspondent, Sam Levin, rushed to the Tick fire zone this morning and has been speaking to people who escaped the flames by a squeak. | |
| Hunter Cerda, 26, and mom Sharell, 57, evacuated with five dogs. “We have everything that’s important to us here right now. Everything else can be replaced” Sharell said. Even if their home is safe this time, “We are for sure going to catch fire again,” said Hunter. #TickFire pic.twitter.com/DexTx5552R | Hunter Cerda, 26, and mom Sharell, 57, evacuated with five dogs. “We have everything that’s important to us here right now. Everything else can be replaced” Sharell said. Even if their home is safe this time, “We are for sure going to catch fire again,” said Hunter. #TickFire pic.twitter.com/DexTx5552R |
| He popped into an evacuation center in Santa Clarita. | He popped into an evacuation center in Santa Clarita. |
| Here’s one of the #TickFire evacuation centers in Santa Clarita. Red Cross here says 400 people have come through. Everyone is waiting for news about when they can return home — and if their homes are ok. pic.twitter.com/PnzvmxWvP9 | Here’s one of the #TickFire evacuation centers in Santa Clarita. Red Cross here says 400 people have come through. Everyone is waiting for news about when they can return home — and if their homes are ok. pic.twitter.com/PnzvmxWvP9 |
| ‘There was a wall of black smoke’ | |
| Charles Lindsey, 68, says the #tickfire started a mile from his house. “There was a wall of black smoke ... then 20 to 30 foot flames.”He spent hours trying to protect his home but eventually had to evacuate. pic.twitter.com/dqzARFEu9D | Charles Lindsey, 68, says the #tickfire started a mile from his house. “There was a wall of black smoke ... then 20 to 30 foot flames.”He spent hours trying to protect his home but eventually had to evacuate. pic.twitter.com/dqzARFEu9D |
| ‘It was the strongest wind we’ve ever experienced’ | |
| People who have fled the Tick wildfire in the Santa Clarita Valley about 40 miles from Los Angeles have been talking to my reporter colleague on the spot, Sam Levin. | People who have fled the Tick wildfire in the Santa Clarita Valley about 40 miles from Los Angeles have been talking to my reporter colleague on the spot, Sam Levin. |
| At #TickFire evacuation center, Brenda Taylor said this is the 8th or 9th time her family has had to evacuate in the last 20 years — and the closest call.“It was the strongest wind we’ve ever experienced,” she said. “It sounded unreal, almost like we were in a tornado.” pic.twitter.com/ZyweHbrzdi | At #TickFire evacuation center, Brenda Taylor said this is the 8th or 9th time her family has had to evacuate in the last 20 years — and the closest call.“It was the strongest wind we’ve ever experienced,” she said. “It sounded unreal, almost like we were in a tornado.” pic.twitter.com/ZyweHbrzdi |
| Brenda Taylor, 46, estimated that her family has had to evacuate eight or nine times in the last 20 years. | |
| “It has become the normal for us,” she said, as her two dogs ran in circles and barked outside an evacuation center in Santa Clarita. “They get really stressed,” she told Sam Levin. | |
| She said this was one of the closest calls she has ever experienced. | |
| “The wind was very, very loud and aggressive,” she said. “You could see the flames. It looked like it was right there.” | |
| She said she’s grown accustomed to fleeing fires. | |
| “Yes this is a home, but it’s a house so let’s just get out,” she said, adding that she grabbed photos and her children’s diplomas. “I’ve just gotten used to it. This is life out here.” | |
| ‘Confident we can put a dent in this’ | |
| That’s the most optimistic lens the LA county fire department can put on the Tick wildfire raging now, which began in Tick Canyon (such a pretty name) and has spread “aggressively” in the Santa Clarita Valley north of Los Angeles in the last 24 hours. | |
| The operations section chief Mike Inman just issued an update saying the fire’s rapid spread was hastened by 30mph winds and it was a 2am “significant wind event” today that caused it to jump the 14 Freeway on the south-eastern flank of the fire. There is also a northern flank as it spreads west. | |
| Inman said the fire crews are battling on the ground but fire retardant issued from aircraft is what they expect will help to contain the fire on both flanks as the day goes on. | Inman said the fire crews are battling on the ground but fire retardant issued from aircraft is what they expect will help to contain the fire on both flanks as the day goes on. |
| “We are confident we can put a dent in this,” he said. | “We are confident we can put a dent in this,” he said. |
| Here’s a tweet of the operational update from just moments ago. | Here’s a tweet of the operational update from just moments ago. |
| #TickFire *Operational Update* Friday October 23, 2019@LACOFD @SCVSHERIFF pic.twitter.com/WqvRZzfFin | #TickFire *Operational Update* Friday October 23, 2019@LACOFD @SCVSHERIFF pic.twitter.com/WqvRZzfFin |
| It’s the climate crisis... | It’s the climate crisis... |
| Climate scientists warned for several days before the wildfires broke out in California that this would be a week of especially intense fire weather across the state, my colleague Susie Cagle writes. | Climate scientists warned for several days before the wildfires broke out in California that this would be a week of especially intense fire weather across the state, my colleague Susie Cagle writes. |
| The worse could yet be to come this weekend. Fire risk remains critical across much of southern California through Friday night, and wind gusts reaching up to 90mph are expected in the remote mountainous peaks in the north bay region from Saturday evening through Monday morning. | The worse could yet be to come this weekend. Fire risk remains critical across much of southern California through Friday night, and wind gusts reaching up to 90mph are expected in the remote mountainous peaks in the north bay region from Saturday evening through Monday morning. |
| NBC meteorologist Rob Mayeda called the statewide weather event of especially strong winds and low humidity an “atmospheric hairdryer”. | NBC meteorologist Rob Mayeda called the statewide weather event of especially strong winds and low humidity an “atmospheric hairdryer”. |
| At an evacuation center in Santa Clarita near the Tick fire, Marcia Cooper Marquez said she was in bed at midnight when she heard authorities on her street ordering mandatory evacuations. | At an evacuation center in Santa Clarita near the Tick fire, Marcia Cooper Marquez said she was in bed at midnight when she heard authorities on her street ordering mandatory evacuations. |
| “I was in bed thinking this will pass,” the fifth grade teacher tells my colleague Sam Levin minutes ago. | “I was in bed thinking this will pass,” the fifth grade teacher tells my colleague Sam Levin minutes ago. |
| “For awhile everything was good, the winds had calmed. And then it got so bad.” She hadn’t prepared a “to-go” bag, and in a panic grabbed as much jewelry as she could find, including some pieces her husband had made. She also took sentimental photos — and she grabbed ten library books. | “For awhile everything was good, the winds had calmed. And then it got so bad.” She hadn’t prepared a “to-go” bag, and in a panic grabbed as much jewelry as she could find, including some pieces her husband had made. She also took sentimental photos — and she grabbed ten library books. |
| “I’m a book lover and a teacher. I didn’t want them to burn,” she said, adding that she realized she forgot to grab important identification documents. | “I’m a book lover and a teacher. I didn’t want them to burn,” she said, adding that she realized she forgot to grab important identification documents. |
| She said she was still waiting for news about her neighborhood, but was glad she was safe: “Last night was scary, because I didn’t know what was happening ... but I made it through the night.” “I don’t know what is happening at my home,” she added. | She said she was still waiting for news about her neighborhood, but was glad she was safe: “Last night was scary, because I didn’t know what was happening ... but I made it through the night.” “I don’t know what is happening at my home,” she added. |
| At a Santa Clarita evacuation center for #TickFire, Marcia Cooper Marquez told me she grabbed ten library books as she fled last night. pic.twitter.com/z3dfPfKf1C | At a Santa Clarita evacuation center for #TickFire, Marcia Cooper Marquez told me she grabbed ten library books as she fled last night. pic.twitter.com/z3dfPfKf1C |
| Did utility company start the Kincade inferno now burning in California wine country? | Did utility company start the Kincade inferno now burning in California wine country? |
| Pacific Gas & Electric, the huge utility that provides power to a huge swath of northern California, is conducting an internal investigation into how the Kincade wildfire burning in Sonoma County began. | Pacific Gas & Electric, the huge utility that provides power to a huge swath of northern California, is conducting an internal investigation into how the Kincade wildfire burning in Sonoma County began. |
| The utility company is not, at this time, taking responsibility for sparking the inferno on Wednesday night, which is still raging out of control today amid bone-dry conditions, high temperatures and strong seasonal winds. | The utility company is not, at this time, taking responsibility for sparking the inferno on Wednesday night, which is still raging out of control today amid bone-dry conditions, high temperatures and strong seasonal winds. |
| PG&E was responsible for the deadliest wildfire in California history, last November, an investigation by the state fire agency Cal Fire found earlier this year. | PG&E was responsible for the deadliest wildfire in California history, last November, an investigation by the state fire agency Cal Fire found earlier this year. |
| The Camp fire, which killed 85 people and almost completely incinerated the town of Paradise, was sparked by transmission lines owned by Pacific Gas & Electric in the early morning of 8 November, 2018, investigators concluded. “Tinder dry vegetation” and high winds “caused extreme rates of spread”, Cal Fire said in a statement in May. | The Camp fire, which killed 85 people and almost completely incinerated the town of Paradise, was sparked by transmission lines owned by Pacific Gas & Electric in the early morning of 8 November, 2018, investigators concluded. “Tinder dry vegetation” and high winds “caused extreme rates of spread”, Cal Fire said in a statement in May. |
| Since the Kincade fire began on Wednesday night, PG&E has filed a report with the California Public Utilities Commission, saying there was a malfunction in one of its transmission towers in the Geyserville area just before the fire started, the Washington Post has just reported. | Since the Kincade fire began on Wednesday night, PG&E has filed a report with the California Public Utilities Commission, saying there was a malfunction in one of its transmission towers in the Geyserville area just before the fire started, the Washington Post has just reported. |
| The fires currently burning in northern and southern California are not on the scale at this stage of the appalling and deadly infernos that fried huge parts of the state in 2017 and 2018. | The fires currently burning in northern and southern California are not on the scale at this stage of the appalling and deadly infernos that fried huge parts of the state in 2017 and 2018. |
| The current blazes continue to worsen dangerously, however, as firefighters battle to bring them under control amid erratic, dry winds. | The current blazes continue to worsen dangerously, however, as firefighters battle to bring them under control amid erratic, dry winds. |
| Here is my colleague Alastair Gee’s report on PG&E this spring. | Here is my colleague Alastair Gee’s report on PG&E this spring. |
| California power company caused wildfire that killed 85, investigation finds | California power company caused wildfire that killed 85, investigation finds |
| Reports are coming in that San Francisco airport could start to be affected by smoke from the Kincade Fire as early as 11AM local time today. | Reports are coming in that San Francisco airport could start to be affected by smoke from the Kincade Fire as early as 11AM local time today. |
| Oakland and San Jose airports are also expected to have problems today, with the prospect of them worsening as the afternoon proceeds. | Oakland and San Jose airports are also expected to have problems today, with the prospect of them worsening as the afternoon proceeds. |
| We’ll bring you more on this asap. | We’ll bring you more on this asap. |
| Here’s a tweet with air traffic control-related meteorological chat, about expected problems with visibility at the airports today. | Here’s a tweet with air traffic control-related meteorological chat, about expected problems with visibility at the airports today. |
| KZOA issues Meteorological Impact Statement https://t.co/lJjhtEMmiU | KZOA issues Meteorological Impact Statement https://t.co/lJjhtEMmiU |
| Evacuation orders remain in effect in Sonoma County | Evacuation orders remain in effect in Sonoma County |
| Sonoma County sheriff Mark Essick addressed a rumor that had been circulating on social media that evacuations orders had been lifted. “That is not accurate. All evacuations orders and warnings remain in effect,” Essick said, according to this report in the San Francisco Chronicle. | Sonoma County sheriff Mark Essick addressed a rumor that had been circulating on social media that evacuations orders had been lifted. “That is not accurate. All evacuations orders and warnings remain in effect,” Essick said, according to this report in the San Francisco Chronicle. |
| Red Flag warnings for 18 million | Red Flag warnings for 18 million |
| The National Weather Service in the Los Angeles area notes that Red Flag Warnings, which notify firefighting and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfires to start and spread rapidly, will remain in effect for Ventura County and Los Angeles County all day. | The National Weather Service in the Los Angeles area notes that Red Flag Warnings, which notify firefighting and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfires to start and spread rapidly, will remain in effect for Ventura County and Los Angeles County all day. |
| #RedFlagWarning remains in effect for #VenturaCounty & #LosAngeles County at least through this evening! Heat Advisories remain in effect for all coastal areas as highs are expected to be in the 90s today! #SoCal #CAwx #LAweather pic.twitter.com/Pfsamh6B3h | #RedFlagWarning remains in effect for #VenturaCounty & #LosAngeles County at least through this evening! Heat Advisories remain in effect for all coastal areas as highs are expected to be in the 90s today! #SoCal #CAwx #LAweather pic.twitter.com/Pfsamh6B3h |
| Meanwhile, in northern California, around 2,000 people have been under evacuation order as a result of the Kincade fire, around Geyserville, and no new evacuations are expected there this hour. | Meanwhile, in northern California, around 2,000 people have been under evacuation order as a result of the Kincade fire, around Geyserville, and no new evacuations are expected there this hour. |
| As more than 1,500 firefighters struggle to contain the two main wildfires raging north of San Francisco and just outside Los Angeles right now, tens of thousands of people have already been evacuated and, as the infernos worsen amid powerful, dry winds, thousands more have been waking up today to the prospect that they, too, may have to evacuate. | As more than 1,500 firefighters struggle to contain the two main wildfires raging north of San Francisco and just outside Los Angeles right now, tens of thousands of people have already been evacuated and, as the infernos worsen amid powerful, dry winds, thousands more have been waking up today to the prospect that they, too, may have to evacuate. |
| The Los Angeles County fire department is reporting that the so-called Tick Fire in the Santa Clarita Valley, which sprang into life just after 1PM local time yesterday on Tick Canyon Road, is nowhere near contained and jumped a main road artery overnight, the 14 Freeway that runs east-west past Santa Clarita before joining Interstates 5 and 405 that enter Los Angeles from the north-west. | The Los Angeles County fire department is reporting that the so-called Tick Fire in the Santa Clarita Valley, which sprang into life just after 1PM local time yesterday on Tick Canyon Road, is nowhere near contained and jumped a main road artery overnight, the 14 Freeway that runs east-west past Santa Clarita before joining Interstates 5 and 405 that enter Los Angeles from the north-west. |
| Early today, the fire department is reporting erratic winds up to 45mph and temperatures in the 90s F in the region, with low humidity - excessively dangerous fire conditions. | Early today, the fire department is reporting erratic winds up to 45mph and temperatures in the 90s F in the region, with low humidity - excessively dangerous fire conditions. |
| Approximately 40,000 residents are currently under evacuation orders and the authorities are working on where people can evacuate. Some 10,000 structures are threatened and so far there are no reports of injuries either to the public or firefighters. | Approximately 40,000 residents are currently under evacuation orders and the authorities are working on where people can evacuate. Some 10,000 structures are threatened and so far there are no reports of injuries either to the public or firefighters. |
| #TickFire Morning *Update* 10/25/19 pic.twitter.com/ykU6OsmZM6 | #TickFire Morning *Update* 10/25/19 pic.twitter.com/ykU6OsmZM6 |
| Kincade, Tick and many more | Kincade, Tick and many more |
| The two largest wildfires raging in California right now are the Kincade fire Sonoma County in wine country north of the San Francisco Bay Area and west of state capital Sacramento, and the Tick fire just to the north of Los Angeles. | The two largest wildfires raging in California right now are the Kincade fire Sonoma County in wine country north of the San Francisco Bay Area and west of state capital Sacramento, and the Tick fire just to the north of Los Angeles. |
| There are many smaller fires raging and Time magazine has a report that includes a map monitoring the locations of the different blazes, with live updates. | There are many smaller fires raging and Time magazine has a report that includes a map monitoring the locations of the different blazes, with live updates. |
| So far, the two main fires have burned up around 30 square miles in total. They are not under control and are getting worse. | So far, the two main fires have burned up around 30 square miles in total. They are not under control and are getting worse. |
| All Los Angeles Unified School District campuses in the San Fernando Valley will be closed Friday due to smoke and fire concerns. | All Los Angeles Unified School District campuses in the San Fernando Valley will be closed Friday due to smoke and fire concerns. |
| Community, Roscomare, Topanga, Valley View, Wonderland and Elementary schools will also be closed, the district announced, and the LA Times reported today. | Community, Roscomare, Topanga, Valley View, Wonderland and Elementary schools will also be closed, the district announced, and the LA Times reported today. |
| The Tick fire, on the outskirts of Santa Clarita, just north of LA, has accelerated and, fed by the Santa Ana winds, jumped the 14 Freeway earlier today, rampaging through dry undergrowth. | The Tick fire, on the outskirts of Santa Clarita, just north of LA, has accelerated and, fed by the Santa Ana winds, jumped the 14 Freeway earlier today, rampaging through dry undergrowth. |
| Sky Cornell, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, urged residents to evacuate when directed by police and fire officials. | Sky Cornell, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, urged residents to evacuate when directed by police and fire officials. |
| “We know people want to stay, but really that does nothing but hurt you and us,” he said. “We need the water pressure and we need the roads clear to be able to get in there.” | “We know people want to stay, but really that does nothing but hurt you and us,” he said. “We need the water pressure and we need the roads clear to be able to get in there.” |
| The National Weather Service in Oxnard reported that: “The strongest Santa Ana winds will continue to be focused across Los Angeles and Ventura counties Friday morning, with gusts of up to 65 mph,” the weather service said in a tweet. Winds and gusts will be strongest in the mountains, the tweet said, and the weather brings with it “very rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior possible with new ignitions.” | The National Weather Service in Oxnard reported that: “The strongest Santa Ana winds will continue to be focused across Los Angeles and Ventura counties Friday morning, with gusts of up to 65 mph,” the weather service said in a tweet. Winds and gusts will be strongest in the mountains, the tweet said, and the weather brings with it “very rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior possible with new ignitions.” |
| Latest smoke forecasts from the Kincade Fire in northern California say that smoke is spreading into the Bay Area this morning and will become more widespread this afternoon. | Latest smoke forecasts from the Kincade Fire in northern California say that smoke is spreading into the Bay Area this morning and will become more widespread this afternoon. |
| The worst of the smoke is expected to sweep down over San Francisco by late morning and into the afternoon. | The worst of the smoke is expected to sweep down over San Francisco by late morning and into the afternoon. |
| My west coast colleague in Oakland, Susie Cagle, reported overnight that: California is in the middle of a dire stretch of especially hot, windy weather that’s driving wild fires both small and large across the northern and southern regions of the state. | My west coast colleague in Oakland, Susie Cagle, reported overnight that: California is in the middle of a dire stretch of especially hot, windy weather that’s driving wild fires both small and large across the northern and southern regions of the state. |
| In Sonoma county wine country in the north San Francisco Bay Area, the Kincade fire burned more than 16,000 acres in and around the small town of Geyserville, and destroyed 49 structures. | In Sonoma county wine country in the north San Francisco Bay Area, the Kincade fire burned more than 16,000 acres in and around the small town of Geyserville, and destroyed 49 structures. |
| Electric utility PG&E had begun rolling blackouts in order to reduce fire risk in the area before the fire ignited, but told state regulators Thursday that one of its still-powered high voltage transmission towers broke near the suspected ignition point shortly before the fire’s start. | Electric utility PG&E had begun rolling blackouts in order to reduce fire risk in the area before the fire ignited, but told state regulators Thursday that one of its still-powered high voltage transmission towers broke near the suspected ignition point shortly before the fire’s start. |
| Fires sparked across the southland throughout Thursday evening and afternoon. | Fires sparked across the southland throughout Thursday evening and afternoon. |
| In the northern Los Angeles county community of Santa Clarita, the Tick fire forced upwards of 40,000 people from their homes and burned roughly 3,950 acres. | In the northern Los Angeles county community of Santa Clarita, the Tick fire forced upwards of 40,000 people from their homes and burned roughly 3,950 acres. |
| County supervisor Kathryn Barger said at least six residences had been destroyed. “But that number may rise,” she told reporters at a press conference. “We cannot let our guard down.” | County supervisor Kathryn Barger said at least six residences had been destroyed. “But that number may rise,” she told reporters at a press conference. “We cannot let our guard down.” |
| The latest smoke forecast from the HRRR model brings smoke from the #KincadeFire into the Bay Area this morning, becoming more widespread this afternoon. #CAwx #CAFire pic.twitter.com/451tYYx03C | The latest smoke forecast from the HRRR model brings smoke from the #KincadeFire into the Bay Area this morning, becoming more widespread this afternoon. #CAwx #CAFire pic.twitter.com/451tYYx03C |