This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/oct/29/california-wildfires-fires-los-angeles-getty-kincade-fire-san-francisco-live
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| California fires: millions to lose power as strong winds set to fan flames – live | California fires: millions to lose power as strong winds set to fan flames – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Pacific Gas & Electric has started shutting off power to parts of Marin county north of San Francisco, even before expected restorations of power from a previous shut-off had been completed, the AP reports. | |
| Virtually all customers of the wealthier suburb on the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge lost power 26 October as part of planned blackouts by PG&E to prevent the fires. The county has about 260,000 people, and some have been without power since Saturday afternoon. | |
| #PSPS: For safety, PG&E began shutting off power to portions of Marin County 8AM Tues. Oct. 29 to reduce wildfire risk. This is earlier than estimated due to dynamic weather environment and impacts on our transmission system from the Kincade Fire https://t.co/6nUvJxjxyF pic.twitter.com/JBvlYjE5Eo | |
| PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said the new round of shut-offs started around 8am Tuesday, earlier than estimated because of weather and “impacts on our transmission system” from a fire in wine country. | |
| The PG&E power shut-offs Tuesday are the third in a week and the fourth in one month. | |
| My colleague Mario Koran is now in San Rafael, a city just north of San Francisco affected by the power shutdowns: | My colleague Mario Koran is now in San Rafael, a city just north of San Francisco affected by the power shutdowns: |
| Downtown San Rafael is blinking to life after several days without power, but the progress is slow – a few traffic lights and a handful of stores are the only ones with power. | Downtown San Rafael is blinking to life after several days without power, but the progress is slow – a few traffic lights and a handful of stores are the only ones with power. |
| The trains aren’t running, either because they run on electricity or because the power is out on the railroad crossings, stalling the commute for workers. Eddie, who would only give his first name, has been out of work for four days since PG&E cut the lights at the restaurant where he works. He said he was worried about the loss of wages. | The trains aren’t running, either because they run on electricity or because the power is out on the railroad crossings, stalling the commute for workers. Eddie, who would only give his first name, has been out of work for four days since PG&E cut the lights at the restaurant where he works. He said he was worried about the loss of wages. |
| “If you don’t work in San Francisco or certain parts of Marin [county], you’re out of luck,” he said. He hasn’t been able to go to the grocery store because the lights have been out at, and the nearest market is too far for public transit. | “If you don’t work in San Francisco or certain parts of Marin [county], you’re out of luck,” he said. He hasn’t been able to go to the grocery store because the lights have been out at, and the nearest market is too far for public transit. |
| In LA, homeowners evacuating from the Getty fire did not alert their housekeepers and domestic workers about the hazards, leading some of them to show up to work as the fire spread. Thanks to LA Times reporter Brittny Mejia, there’s been growing attention in the last 24 hours about the impacts that the fires can have on more vulnerable residents. | In LA, homeowners evacuating from the Getty fire did not alert their housekeepers and domestic workers about the hazards, leading some of them to show up to work as the fire spread. Thanks to LA Times reporter Brittny Mejia, there’s been growing attention in the last 24 hours about the impacts that the fires can have on more vulnerable residents. |
| While reporting in evacuation zones, Mejia encountered housekeepers and gardeners trying to go work whose bosses said they forgot to alert them: | While reporting in evacuation zones, Mejia encountered housekeepers and gardeners trying to go work whose bosses said they forgot to alert them: |
| A thread: Getty fire: Housekeepers, gardener go to work despite the flames - Los Angeles Times https://t.co/G6UZm8bkdD | A thread: Getty fire: Housekeepers, gardener go to work despite the flames - Los Angeles Times https://t.co/G6UZm8bkdD |
| Ok also, final thing, when Angelica Mesinas spoke with her boss she thanked him and apologized!! After she’d trekked a mile to into a mandatory evac zone to clean! That’s really stuck with me today. pic.twitter.com/lEVzq5kX2E | Ok also, final thing, when Angelica Mesinas spoke with her boss she thanked him and apologized!! After she’d trekked a mile to into a mandatory evac zone to clean! That’s really stuck with me today. pic.twitter.com/lEVzq5kX2E |
| Yesterday, workers were showing up to Brentwood into the afternoon. Important to think of these workers who might not be aware of where exactly mandatory evacuation zones are or who need the paycheck and assume not hearing from their boss means they should come in https://t.co/O8NMwwiQdv | Yesterday, workers were showing up to Brentwood into the afternoon. Important to think of these workers who might not be aware of where exactly mandatory evacuation zones are or who need the paycheck and assume not hearing from their boss means they should come in https://t.co/O8NMwwiQdv |
| Some local lawmakers are now talking about the subject: | Some local lawmakers are now talking about the subject: |
| Councilman Mike Bonin mentioned reports of service workers -- maids, landscapers -- who were showing up to work at homes in Brentwood fire zone yesterday. Go look at @brittny_mejia's thread on this."Please warn them to stay away," Bonin said. | Councilman Mike Bonin mentioned reports of service workers -- maids, landscapers -- who were showing up to work at homes in Brentwood fire zone yesterday. Go look at @brittny_mejia's thread on this."Please warn them to stay away," Bonin said. |
| In my recent reporting on how LA is coping with the fires and bad air quality, the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California, a not-for-profit that assists immigrant workers, said domestic workers and day laborers are suffering from a number of health problems and other issues that arrives when fires hit their employers’ homes: | In my recent reporting on how LA is coping with the fires and bad air quality, the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California, a not-for-profit that assists immigrant workers, said domestic workers and day laborers are suffering from a number of health problems and other issues that arrives when fires hit their employers’ homes: |
| For day laborers and domestic workers, many of whom are undocumented and don’t have health insurance, the fires can mean lost work, untreated illness, or hazardous jobs, said Maegan Ortiz, director of a not-for-profit that has assisted immigrant workers affected by the fires. Some workers tend to houses in wealthy neighborhoods after their employers have evacuated, she said: “We hear about these persistent coughs that won’t go away, tightness in the chest, not feeling like you can breathe deeply.” | For day laborers and domestic workers, many of whom are undocumented and don’t have health insurance, the fires can mean lost work, untreated illness, or hazardous jobs, said Maegan Ortiz, director of a not-for-profit that has assisted immigrant workers affected by the fires. Some workers tend to houses in wealthy neighborhoods after their employers have evacuated, she said: “We hear about these persistent coughs that won’t go away, tightness in the chest, not feeling like you can breathe deeply.” |
| More here: | More here: |
| A special kind of hell: fires, smoke and heat turn LA into a deadly paradise | A special kind of hell: fires, smoke and heat turn LA into a deadly paradise |
| My colleague Katharine Gammon has written about the Getty Center’s plan to protect its art from fires. The blaze is far enough away that officials said it was not currently at risk. But if the fire got closer, the center was ready. Katharine reports: | My colleague Katharine Gammon has written about the Getty Center’s plan to protect its art from fires. The blaze is far enough away that officials said it was not currently at risk. But if the fire got closer, the center was ready. Katharine reports: |
| The Getty Center, which comprises a museum, research institutes and a foundation, is home to a vast collection of paintings and photography. But in wildfire-prone California, a museum has to have a plan – and officials say they’ve been preparing for this moment and are now putting that plan to the test. | The Getty Center, which comprises a museum, research institutes and a foundation, is home to a vast collection of paintings and photography. But in wildfire-prone California, a museum has to have a plan – and officials say they’ve been preparing for this moment and are now putting that plan to the test. |
| The Center is designed to be impervious to fire and smoke, with materials such as travertine stone, an extremely fire resistant type of limestone, as well as cement and steel. The rooftops are crushed stone, so embers have no chance to ignite. | The Center is designed to be impervious to fire and smoke, with materials such as travertine stone, an extremely fire resistant type of limestone, as well as cement and steel. The rooftops are crushed stone, so embers have no chance to ignite. |
| The museum’s landscaping is designed to be fire retardant, and maintenance workers do extensive brush clearance all around the property in order to eliminate fuel for the fire. Underneath the trees and grasses is a network of pipes, connected to a million-gallon water tank. Sprinklers can activate as soon as fire touches the ground. “We can use it for our own fire prevention,” spokesperson Lisa Lapin said. | The museum’s landscaping is designed to be fire retardant, and maintenance workers do extensive brush clearance all around the property in order to eliminate fuel for the fire. Underneath the trees and grasses is a network of pipes, connected to a million-gallon water tank. Sprinklers can activate as soon as fire touches the ground. “We can use it for our own fire prevention,” spokesperson Lisa Lapin said. |
| Read the full story here, which includes details of the center’s earthquake plan: | Read the full story here, which includes details of the center’s earthquake plan: |
| How LA's Getty Center built a fire-proof fortress for priceless art | How LA's Getty Center built a fire-proof fortress for priceless art |
| The fires have created bad air quality in northern and southern California, though in some areas there have been improvements today. | The fires have created bad air quality in northern and southern California, though in some areas there have been improvements today. |
| Around Santa Rosa and in Sonoma county by the Kincade fire, officials say the air remains at unhealthy levels, which means people should try and stay inside when possible. In many parts of the Bay Area, including San Francisco and Oakland, the air quality is now at “moderate” and “good” levels. | Around Santa Rosa and in Sonoma county by the Kincade fire, officials say the air remains at unhealthy levels, which means people should try and stay inside when possible. In many parts of the Bay Area, including San Francisco and Oakland, the air quality is now at “moderate” and “good” levels. |
| Today, 10/28, Spare the Air Alert! Bay Area air quality is expected to be Unhealthy in the Coastal and Central Bay, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in all other regions. pic.twitter.com/11XmSTPhte | Today, 10/28, Spare the Air Alert! Bay Area air quality is expected to be Unhealthy in the Coastal and Central Bay, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in all other regions. pic.twitter.com/11XmSTPhte |
| In Los Angeles, a smoke advisory was in effect through this morning, though the air seems to be improving now. | In Los Angeles, a smoke advisory was in effect through this morning, though the air seems to be improving now. |
| With a growing number of wildfires, the air quality in many parts of the state may be unhealthy. CDPH is providing additional information and tools on its website so individuals can check air quality and more. Learn more: https://t.co/weAOtcwT0G#KincadeFire #TickFire #GettyFire pic.twitter.com/23SwgLmLA5 | With a growing number of wildfires, the air quality in many parts of the state may be unhealthy. CDPH is providing additional information and tools on its website so individuals can check air quality and more. Learn more: https://t.co/weAOtcwT0G#KincadeFire #TickFire #GettyFire pic.twitter.com/23SwgLmLA5 |
| Some tips: | Some tips: |
| Smoke from the Getty fire makes for a bad air day. Some tips on the risks: https://t.co/fyrdVYW0Da #mydayinla | Smoke from the Getty fire makes for a bad air day. Some tips on the risks: https://t.co/fyrdVYW0Da #mydayinla |
| Authorities are finishing a press conference in Santa Rosa in Sonoma county. Here are some highlights: | Authorities are finishing a press conference in Santa Rosa in Sonoma county. Here are some highlights: |
| The fire is at 75,000 acres: “It grew a little bit overnight.” | The fire is at 75,000 acres: “It grew a little bit overnight.” |
| Currently, 90,000 structures remained threatened, and 124 structures have been destroyed. | Currently, 90,000 structures remained threatened, and 124 structures have been destroyed. |
| The National Weather Service says it is expecting a “challenging afternoon and evening” ahead with strong, dry offshore winds: “We’re in this critical 24-hour window.” After 24 hours, NWS expecting a more favorable forecast for the subsequent five to seven days, but no rain is projected. | The National Weather Service says it is expecting a “challenging afternoon and evening” ahead with strong, dry offshore winds: “We’re in this critical 24-hour window.” After 24 hours, NWS expecting a more favorable forecast for the subsequent five to seven days, but no rain is projected. |
| Given the strong winds, many evacuees will likely be unable to return home today, authorities said: “Today’s probably not a going to be a good day to talk about repopulation ... We understand people want to get back to their neighborhoods.” | Given the strong winds, many evacuees will likely be unable to return home today, authorities said: “Today’s probably not a going to be a good day to talk about repopulation ... We understand people want to get back to their neighborhoods.” |
| Authorities urged people to continue to be vigilant about fire hazards, with one law enforcement official noting that he had to stop someone who had thrown a cigarette butt on the highway. | Authorities urged people to continue to be vigilant about fire hazards, with one law enforcement official noting that he had to stop someone who had thrown a cigarette butt on the highway. |
| WATCH: Cal Fire gives update on Kincade Fire, now at more than 75,000 acres and 15 percent contained https://t.co/Kal5CUKUGI pic.twitter.com/z7KG4U5sIa | WATCH: Cal Fire gives update on Kincade Fire, now at more than 75,000 acres and 15 percent contained https://t.co/Kal5CUKUGI pic.twitter.com/z7KG4U5sIa |
| Here’s my colleague Susie Cagle’s recent dispatch from Sonoma county: | Here’s my colleague Susie Cagle’s recent dispatch from Sonoma county: |
| 'This time feels worse': California fire has troubling echoes of 2017 blaze | 'This time feels worse': California fire has troubling echoes of 2017 blaze |
| Good morning and welcome to our continued live coverage of the wildfires and blackouts impacting millions across California. I’m writing from Los Angeles, where a major fire near the Getty museum has burned more than 650 acres. Here’s where things stand as of Monday morning, and what we’re watching today: | Good morning and welcome to our continued live coverage of the wildfires and blackouts impacting millions across California. I’m writing from Los Angeles, where a major fire near the Getty museum has burned more than 650 acres. Here’s where things stand as of Monday morning, and what we’re watching today: |
| In northern California, violent winds of up to 100mph caused the Kincade fire, currently the largest in the state, to double in size over the weekend. | In northern California, violent winds of up to 100mph caused the Kincade fire, currently the largest in the state, to double in size over the weekend. |
| As of this morning, the Kincade fire has burned more than 75,000 acres and is only 15% contained. | As of this morning, the Kincade fire has burned more than 75,000 acres and is only 15% contained. |
| The Kincade fire has destroyed more than 123 structures and has forced an unprecedented evacuation of more than 185,000 in Sonoma county and the surrounding area | The Kincade fire has destroyed more than 123 structures and has forced an unprecedented evacuation of more than 185,000 in Sonoma county and the surrounding area |
| Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation (PG&E) said its latest blackout will start early today and affect about 1.5 million people. The announcement came even before the last blackout had ended, which shut off power to more than 2.5m people. | Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation (PG&E) said its latest blackout will start early today and affect about 1.5 million people. The announcement came even before the last blackout had ended, which shut off power to more than 2.5m people. |
| Strong winds are expected to complicate firefighting efforts today: “The worst of this is coming later today and tonight,” Marc Chenard, a forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, said early today. | Strong winds are expected to complicate firefighting efforts today: “The worst of this is coming later today and tonight,” Marc Chenard, a forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, said early today. |
| Until at least Wednesday in the wine country area, winds are expected to hit up to 65mph in the mountain areas and 35mph in the valleys and coast. | Until at least Wednesday in the wine country area, winds are expected to hit up to 65mph in the mountain areas and 35mph in the valleys and coast. |
| In the Getty fire in LA, eight residences have been destroyed. | In the Getty fire in LA, eight residences have been destroyed. |
| Southern California Edison had cut off power to about 800 people as of Monday night and warned that it was considering disconnecting about 400,000 more as winds return midweek. | Southern California Edison had cut off power to about 800 people as of Monday night and warned that it was considering disconnecting about 400,000 more as winds return midweek. |
| Our latest news story here: | Our latest news story here: |
| California: fierce winds may spread more fires as millions lose power | California: fierce winds may spread more fires as millions lose power |