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| California Fires Fanned by Strong Winds: Live Updates | California Fires Fanned by Strong Winds: Live Updates |
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| Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles said that while the Getty fire had burned 656 acres in West Los Angeles and was only 5 percent contained on Tuesday, “it’s a good sign, actually, that it didn’t grow by more.” | Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles said that while the Getty fire had burned 656 acres in West Los Angeles and was only 5 percent contained on Tuesday, “it’s a good sign, actually, that it didn’t grow by more.” |
| Mr. Garcetti thanked residents who had remained away from their homes in the evacuation area. He said that firefighters had extinguished some flare-ups, and he warned that higher winds expected in the evening could pick up embers from the fire and deposit them on houses in the evacuation area, possibly igniting them while residents who did not evacuate were sleeping. | Mr. Garcetti thanked residents who had remained away from their homes in the evacuation area. He said that firefighters had extinguished some flare-ups, and he warned that higher winds expected in the evening could pick up embers from the fire and deposit them on houses in the evacuation area, possibly igniting them while residents who did not evacuate were sleeping. |
| That danger was reiterated by Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas, who said that hot embers have been known to carry for miles on the wind. “Our goal today is to increase containment as much as possible,” he said, adding that he was “very concerned about tonight’s wind event.” | That danger was reiterated by Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas, who said that hot embers have been known to carry for miles on the wind. “Our goal today is to increase containment as much as possible,” he said, adding that he was “very concerned about tonight’s wind event.” |
| Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which broke out shortly after 1:30 a.m. Monday along the major freeway known as the 405, near the Getty Center, the mayor said. It quickly spread through neighborhoods north of Brentwood, destroying eight houses and damaging six more. Some 7,000 homes are in the area considered to be under threat, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. | Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which broke out shortly after 1:30 a.m. Monday along the major freeway known as the 405, near the Getty Center, the mayor said. It quickly spread through neighborhoods north of Brentwood, destroying eight houses and damaging six more. Some 7,000 homes are in the area considered to be under threat, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. |
| Tired firefighters in the Los Angeles County area worked overnight trying to get the brush fire under control. Exits from the 405 freeway remain closed between the Sunset and U.S. 101 interchanges. | Tired firefighters in the Los Angeles County area worked overnight trying to get the brush fire under control. Exits from the 405 freeway remain closed between the Sunset and U.S. 101 interchanges. |
| The worst kind of weather for wildfires — strong, gusty winds and very low humidity — is returning on Tuesday after a relative respite on Monday, the National Weather Service said, raising the prospect of more fire outbreaks and rapid growth of the blazes that are already burning. | The worst kind of weather for wildfires — strong, gusty winds and very low humidity — is returning on Tuesday after a relative respite on Monday, the National Weather Service said, raising the prospect of more fire outbreaks and rapid growth of the blazes that are already burning. |
| The agency has posted “red flag” warnings for most of Northern California and much of Southern California, taking effect at various times on Tuesday. | The agency has posted “red flag” warnings for most of Northern California and much of Southern California, taking effect at various times on Tuesday. |
| Forecasters are predicting winds between 50 m.ph. and 70 m.p.h. in Los Angeles County and Ventura County starting late Tuesday and continuing on Wednesday and Thursday, with some gusts up to 80 m.p.h. in the mountainous areas of Los Angeles County, the National Weather Service said. The scale for Category 1 hurricanes begins at 74 m.p.h. | Forecasters are predicting winds between 50 m.ph. and 70 m.p.h. in Los Angeles County and Ventura County starting late Tuesday and continuing on Wednesday and Thursday, with some gusts up to 80 m.p.h. in the mountainous areas of Los Angeles County, the National Weather Service said. The scale for Category 1 hurricanes begins at 74 m.p.h. |
| [Read about how climate change could shift California’s winds.] | |
| Winds gusts of up to 60 miles an hour could be expected beginning in the morning over a vast stretch of the state from the Sierras to the Pacific and from the southern fringes of the Bay Area north nearly to the Oregon border, except for coastal areas north of Sonoma County. | Winds gusts of up to 60 miles an hour could be expected beginning in the morning over a vast stretch of the state from the Sierras to the Pacific and from the southern fringes of the Bay Area north nearly to the Oregon border, except for coastal areas north of Sonoma County. |
| The winds, known as Santa Anas in the southern part of the state and Diablos in the north, arrive regularly in the fall. Recent research suggests that as the climate warms, Santa Ana winds may become less frequent. Coupled with precipitation changes, that could mean more intense fires later in the year. | The winds, known as Santa Anas in the southern part of the state and Diablos in the north, arrive regularly in the fall. Recent research suggests that as the climate warms, Santa Ana winds may become less frequent. Coupled with precipitation changes, that could mean more intense fires later in the year. |
| Red-flag weather has played an important role in driving the growth of the Kincade, Getty and other fires, and has prompted pre-emptive blackouts by utility companies hoping to keep wind-damaged power lines and equipment from touching off more blazes. | Red-flag weather has played an important role in driving the growth of the Kincade, Getty and other fires, and has prompted pre-emptive blackouts by utility companies hoping to keep wind-damaged power lines and equipment from touching off more blazes. |
| [The New York Times has photographers on the ground, documenting the California wildfires and the battle to contain them. Follow their work here.] | [The New York Times has photographers on the ground, documenting the California wildfires and the battle to contain them. Follow their work here.] |
| California’s latest fires are only complicating the efforts to shape the future of Pacific Gas and Electric, whose wildfire liabilities have left it in bankruptcy. | |
| The competing plans for reorganizing PG&E — one backed by management, another by wildfire victims, and each put forward by groups dominated by hedge funds — envision putting new money into the company. But the plans allow the offers to be changed or withdrawn if new fires attributed to PG&E destroy at least 500 structures before the end of the year. | |
| A bankruptcy judge has just named a mediator to help sort things out. As the effort continues, Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared that his office would “love” to see Warren E. Buffett’s holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, make a bid for PG&E. San Francisco has offered to pay $2.5 billion for PG&E’s grid in the city, a bid rejected by the company. And Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose favors a sweeping plan that would put PG&E in its customers’ hands. | |
| We’re continuing to update our page of maps showing the extent of the fires, power outages and evacuation zones. Data from Cal Fire shows how the Kincade fire in Northern California has spread and where it is burning most intensely. Satellite images pinpoint the Getty and Tick fires and affected areas nearby. | |
| Karen Orlando, a real estate agent, said the evacuations and blackouts prompted by the Kincade fire have startled residents in Sonoma County who are still working to rebuild after the Tubbs fire in 2017. | Karen Orlando, a real estate agent, said the evacuations and blackouts prompted by the Kincade fire have startled residents in Sonoma County who are still working to rebuild after the Tubbs fire in 2017. |
| “It was really traumatizing, what happened in 2017, and that scar was just starting to heal. Now it’s been completely reopened,” Ms. Orlando said. | “It was really traumatizing, what happened in 2017, and that scar was just starting to heal. Now it’s been completely reopened,” Ms. Orlando said. |
| Recovery after Tubbs was difficult for many people, she said, particularly those who were underinsured and were unable to get back on their feet quickly. Some people were able to rent homes, she said, but many were forced to leave the region altogether as housing costs soared, driven in part by scarcity made worse by the fire. | Recovery after Tubbs was difficult for many people, she said, particularly those who were underinsured and were unable to get back on their feet quickly. Some people were able to rent homes, she said, but many were forced to leave the region altogether as housing costs soared, driven in part by scarcity made worse by the fire. |
| “A few left,” she said. “A few just kind of sat by the sidelines and rented, they weren’t sure what to do. There were also some insurance bumps, some hiccups.” | “A few left,” she said. “A few just kind of sat by the sidelines and rented, they weren’t sure what to do. There were also some insurance bumps, some hiccups.” |
| Helping to rebuild the community after the Tubbs fire was very personal for her, she added. Twenty-two of her friends lost their homes in 2017, and some decided to leave altogether. Her family was forced to evacuate but has now returned to its home in Rincon Valley, northeast of Santa Rosa. | Helping to rebuild the community after the Tubbs fire was very personal for her, she added. Twenty-two of her friends lost their homes in 2017, and some decided to leave altogether. Her family was forced to evacuate but has now returned to its home in Rincon Valley, northeast of Santa Rosa. |
| “It’s heartbreaking — a lot of us still had PTSD,” she said. “But we’ve gotten used to it, actually. It sounds strange, but we learned a lot of lessons in 2017, so for the most part we’re all prepared with ‘go bags.’ We have binders with all of our important documents in one place.” | “It’s heartbreaking — a lot of us still had PTSD,” she said. “But we’ve gotten used to it, actually. It sounds strange, but we learned a lot of lessons in 2017, so for the most part we’re all prepared with ‘go bags.’ We have binders with all of our important documents in one place.” |
| Hundreds of firefighters mobilized to fight the Kincade fire gathered in the morning darkness on Tuesday for a briefing at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Crowded into an event hall in navy blue uniforms and yellow jackets, they listened as commanders took stock: Monday had been a good day. | Hundreds of firefighters mobilized to fight the Kincade fire gathered in the morning darkness on Tuesday for a briefing at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Crowded into an event hall in navy blue uniforms and yellow jackets, they listened as commanders took stock: Monday had been a good day. |
| The wind had died down, allowing for a real attack on the fire, which was 15 percent contained late Turesday morning. But the day was going to be difficult, the crews were told. | The wind had died down, allowing for a real attack on the fire, which was 15 percent contained late Turesday morning. But the day was going to be difficult, the crews were told. |
| “We’re going to be wind-tested again,” Ben Nichols, a representative from Cal Fire, the state firefighting and fire prevention agency, said at the briefing. | “We’re going to be wind-tested again,” Ben Nichols, a representative from Cal Fire, the state firefighting and fire prevention agency, said at the briefing. |
| The breeze was supposed to get particularly powerful in the afternoon and evening, hurling hot embers toward dry areas and threatening the many houses tucked into the wooded areas of Sonoma County. Protecting those houses would be a major priority. | The breeze was supposed to get particularly powerful in the afternoon and evening, hurling hot embers toward dry areas and threatening the many houses tucked into the wooded areas of Sonoma County. Protecting those houses would be a major priority. |
| Many of the firefighters have been on the line for days, and some have worked as many as 36 hours at a stretch with no rest. Top officials warned them against fatigue. | Many of the firefighters have been on the line for days, and some have worked as many as 36 hours at a stretch with no rest. Top officials warned them against fatigue. |
| Think things through, they were told. Have an escape plan. Throw out lunches that have gone bad after days in the truck. Don’t let sickness get in the way of work. And get ready for the wind. | Think things through, they were told. Have an escape plan. Throw out lunches that have gone bad after days in the truck. Don’t let sickness get in the way of work. And get ready for the wind. |
| Tuesday, said Mike Blankenheim of Cal Fire, was going to be a “max effort day.” | Tuesday, said Mike Blankenheim of Cal Fire, was going to be a “max effort day.” |
| Groups of volunteers in Northern California have spent days aiding in livestock and animal rescue since the start of the Kincade fire, lending their physical skills, expertise and equipment to the evacuation efforts of hundreds of thousands of people and their animals. | |
| Among them are team of wranglers known as Cowboy 911. | Among them are team of wranglers known as Cowboy 911. |
| What started as a Facebook group of 1,500 people last summer has turned into a sprawling network of 28,000 members. | What started as a Facebook group of 1,500 people last summer has turned into a sprawling network of 28,000 members. |
| “When I set up the group, I wasn’t even thinking about things like wildfires,” said Justin Jones, a 38-year-old horse trainer. Instead, he formed Cowboy 911 thinking it could be a resource for community members stuck in smaller situations, like if the wheels fell off an animal trailer and someone needed a hand. | “When I set up the group, I wasn’t even thinking about things like wildfires,” said Justin Jones, a 38-year-old horse trainer. Instead, he formed Cowboy 911 thinking it could be a resource for community members stuck in smaller situations, like if the wheels fell off an animal trailer and someone needed a hand. |
| But California and its wildfire seasons, which have become increasingly destructive in recent years, had different plans for the group. Last fall, its members responded to calls during the Carr and Camp fires, helping to rescue — by Mr. Jones’s account — more than 5,000 animals between the two fires. Its Facebook wall now serves as a message board, connecting people during natural disasters. | |
| Jill Lasaley Pierre, the group’s co-founder and Mr. Jones’s wife, said they’ve been responding to a lot of goat rescues, as well as ones for horses, sheep and llamas. | |
| On Tuesday morning, she dispatched the team to the Middletown area, after receiving a request at around midnight from a woman who was located just on the edge of the evacuation line. The woman said she had five horses but only two trailers, which meant she would have had to leave some of her horses behind. | |
| Fernanda Santos, a former New York Times correspondent based in Phoenix, is the author of “The Fire Line,” the story of 19 firefighters killed in an Arizona wildfire in 2013. | Fernanda Santos, a former New York Times correspondent based in Phoenix, is the author of “The Fire Line,” the story of 19 firefighters killed in an Arizona wildfire in 2013. |
| It is an arresting scene, the dangers unimaginable: Firefighters clad in yellow and green flame-resistant uniforms, battling a wind-whipped and fast-moving blaze with what amount to farming and logging tools. | It is an arresting scene, the dangers unimaginable: Firefighters clad in yellow and green flame-resistant uniforms, battling a wind-whipped and fast-moving blaze with what amount to farming and logging tools. |
| Fighting fires — including immense untamed wildfires — requires a combination of brutal force, endurance and skill. From the air, firefighters may release water and fire retardant, which can slow its spread but will not extinguish the raging flames. The most effective man-made way to contain a wildfire is to box it inside buffer zones that are absent of everything that burns — a laborious, intense pursuit that requires clearing the land. | Fighting fires — including immense untamed wildfires — requires a combination of brutal force, endurance and skill. From the air, firefighters may release water and fire retardant, which can slow its spread but will not extinguish the raging flames. The most effective man-made way to contain a wildfire is to box it inside buffer zones that are absent of everything that burns — a laborious, intense pursuit that requires clearing the land. |
| Members of a 20-person crew work in a line, hacking at the hardened ground, chopping down trees, yanking out roots and sawing down undergrowth. It is a carefully choreographed ballet, where one person’s movements affect the next’s. | Members of a 20-person crew work in a line, hacking at the hardened ground, chopping down trees, yanking out roots and sawing down undergrowth. It is a carefully choreographed ballet, where one person’s movements affect the next’s. |
| “Imagine, if you can, 16-hour days of manual labor where you’re hustling all the time, and you do it oftentimes for 14 days straight,” said Doug Harwood, a firefighter in the city of Prescott, Ariz., who spent years fighting wildfires in the Western United States. | “Imagine, if you can, 16-hour days of manual labor where you’re hustling all the time, and you do it oftentimes for 14 days straight,” said Doug Harwood, a firefighter in the city of Prescott, Ariz., who spent years fighting wildfires in the Western United States. |
| The mechanics of the job have not changed considerably since 1910, when a monster wildfire known as the Big Burn devoured 3 million acres and killed 85 people across three Northwestern states, and a United States Forest Service ranger named Ed Pulaski returned from obscurity a handy tool that can both dig soil and chop wood. | The mechanics of the job have not changed considerably since 1910, when a monster wildfire known as the Big Burn devoured 3 million acres and killed 85 people across three Northwestern states, and a United States Forest Service ranger named Ed Pulaski returned from obscurity a handy tool that can both dig soil and chop wood. |
| The Pulaski, as it is known, combines an ax and an adz in one head, and is now arguably the most important piece of equipment in wildfire suppression. | The Pulaski, as it is known, combines an ax and an adz in one head, and is now arguably the most important piece of equipment in wildfire suppression. |
| Alan Sinclair, who commands one of 16 teams trained to manage the most challenging wildfires in the United States, said team leaders have to weigh the risks of clearing land when flames may be racing toward them. At some point, it may be too risky, he said. | Alan Sinclair, who commands one of 16 teams trained to manage the most challenging wildfires in the United States, said team leaders have to weigh the risks of clearing land when flames may be racing toward them. At some point, it may be too risky, he said. |
| Communities can help, he said, by working together to create buffer zones around them, what is known as “defensible space,” before a fire strikes. | Communities can help, he said, by working together to create buffer zones around them, what is known as “defensible space,” before a fire strikes. |
| “It’s really hard for firefighters to go into an area where no work has been done and be expected to save the neighborhood,” Mr. Sinclair said. | “It’s really hard for firefighters to go into an area where no work has been done and be expected to save the neighborhood,” Mr. Sinclair said. |
| Power companies across the state warned that power could be cut pre-emptively because of worsening weather conditions. | Power companies across the state warned that power could be cut pre-emptively because of worsening weather conditions. |
| Pacific Gas and Electric said it would shut off power to an additional 600,000 customers in 29 counties in Northern California on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the danger that wind-damaged lines or equipment could cause more fires. Some 500,000 PG&E customers were still blacked out from previous shut-offs, and the company said it could be several days before power is restored. | |
| In and around Los Angeles, Southern California Edison said on Tuesday morning that as many as 205,000 customers could be affected by safety-related shutoffs, but that so far only a few hundred had been blacked out. | In and around Los Angeles, Southern California Edison said on Tuesday morning that as many as 205,000 customers could be affected by safety-related shutoffs, but that so far only a few hundred had been blacked out. |
| San Diego Gas & Electric warned that shutoffs may become necessary in some inland areas east and northeast of the city, but none had been imposed yet. | San Diego Gas & Electric warned that shutoffs may become necessary in some inland areas east and northeast of the city, but none had been imposed yet. |
| A new state web portal includes links to updated information on the power outages, as well as shelters and housing, road conditions and other information related to the fires, compiled by state agencies like Cal Fire and Caltrans. | A new state web portal includes links to updated information on the power outages, as well as shelters and housing, road conditions and other information related to the fires, compiled by state agencies like Cal Fire and Caltrans. |
| As ashen skies, raging wildfires and blackouts blanket areas of Northern and Southern California, many residents and evacuees are relying on Twitter hashtags for up-to-date information about their homes, loved ones, road closures and further evacuations. | As ashen skies, raging wildfires and blackouts blanket areas of Northern and Southern California, many residents and evacuees are relying on Twitter hashtags for up-to-date information about their homes, loved ones, road closures and further evacuations. |
| Over the past week, “Kincadefire,” “Gettyfire,” “Tickfire,” “Skyfire” and “Sawdayfire”— the names of the wildfires — have become popular search terms on social media. But often there is confusion as to where their names come from. | Over the past week, “Kincadefire,” “Gettyfire,” “Tickfire,” “Skyfire” and “Sawdayfire”— the names of the wildfires — have become popular search terms on social media. But often there is confusion as to where their names come from. |
| As opposed to the predetermined list of names provided for hurricanes, wildfires are named by officials according to the location or local landmark, including streets, lakes and mountains, where the fire broke out. Fires often go without names if they are too small. | As opposed to the predetermined list of names provided for hurricanes, wildfires are named by officials according to the location or local landmark, including streets, lakes and mountains, where the fire broke out. Fires often go without names if they are too small. |
| “Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locator, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name,” Cal Fire said. | “Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locator, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name,” Cal Fire said. |
| If there is a long human presence in the area, there’s no challenge in finding a name — officials just draw from geographically local, named landmarks, according to Susie Kocher, a Natural Resources Advisor at the University of California. | If there is a long human presence in the area, there’s no challenge in finding a name — officials just draw from geographically local, named landmarks, according to Susie Kocher, a Natural Resources Advisor at the University of California. |
| The 2003 San Diego Cedar fire, one of the state’s largest wildland fires in history, unsurprisingly spread across the Cedar Creek Falls area. It burned over 270,000 acres, destroyed more 2,200 homes and killed 14 civilians and one firefighter. | The 2003 San Diego Cedar fire, one of the state’s largest wildland fires in history, unsurprisingly spread across the Cedar Creek Falls area. It burned over 270,000 acres, destroyed more 2,200 homes and killed 14 civilians and one firefighter. |
| But when it comes to naming there are always weird exceptions. The 416 Fire, for example, burned more than 50,000 acres in Colorado in 2018. Why 416? According to the Durango Interagency Dispatch Center, it was after a “system-generated number” that represented the 416th “incident” in the San Juan National Forest that year. | But when it comes to naming there are always weird exceptions. The 416 Fire, for example, burned more than 50,000 acres in Colorado in 2018. Why 416? According to the Durango Interagency Dispatch Center, it was after a “system-generated number” that represented the 416th “incident” in the San Juan National Forest that year. |
| Another curious choice was in 2015, when fire officials in southeast Idaho ran out of naming ideas following the outbreak of a swarm of fires. For a fire with few landmarks nearby, they went with “Not Creative.” | |
| Reporting was contributed by Jose Del Real, Adeel Hassan, Ivan Penn, Liam Stack, Alexandra E. Petri and Vanessa Swales. | |