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| California wildfires live: thousands forced to evacuate as blazes rage across state | California wildfires live: thousands forced to evacuate as blazes rage across state |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Cluster of wildfires in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, sparked by lightening and stoked by a heatwave, cover an estimated 46,225 acres | Cluster of wildfires in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, sparked by lightening and stoked by a heatwave, cover an estimated 46,225 acres |
| With temperatures soaring and millions of Californians attempting to work from home, power officials are asking residents to conserve power in hopes of avoiding further power outages. | |
| The California Independent System Operator, which runs the electric grid for most of the state, is asking people to set air conditioners at 78 degrees, avoid fans and appliances, and unplug unused devices between the hours of 2 PM to 9 PM. | |
| Last night, Cal-ISO cancelled planned power outages, crediting power conservation efforts across the state. Today, it’s asking residents to match yesterday’s efforts. | |
| The heat and rolling blackouts will impact communities unevenly. Asked by a reporter what support he can offer low-income residents threatened by Covid, heat and outages at once, Newsom said officials are moving fast to establish cooling centers where residents can find reprieve from the heat. -Mario Koran | |
| Three wildfires and more than 10,000 acres are currently burning out of control around the San Francisco Bay Area, prompting officials to issue evacuation orders for residents living near the blazes. | |
| Gavin Newsom, the state governor, said today that he has asked three states – Arizona, Nevada and Texas – to provide hundreds of fire engines to help contain the flames. | |
| Evacuation orders are also coming down for residents in Glenn and Tehama counties, north of the Bay Area. – Mario Koran | |
| Wildfires in northern California have made the air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area the worst in the world. | |
| As fires blaze through eight of the nine counties surrounding San Francisco, smoke is drifting across the region and light ash falls from the sky. | As fires blaze through eight of the nine counties surrounding San Francisco, smoke is drifting across the region and light ash falls from the sky. |
| The American Lung Association is urging resident to take greater caution, saying the poor air quality could exacerbate breathing problems for people who at-risk of contracting Covid-19. | The American Lung Association is urging resident to take greater caution, saying the poor air quality could exacerbate breathing problems for people who at-risk of contracting Covid-19. |
| “The combination of uncontained wildfires and extreme heat has created conditions that put even healthy individuals at risk,” Afif El-Hasan, an association spokesman told the Los Angeles Times. “The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic only makes these potential effects more serious.” | |
| Intense smoke and heat trigger coughing, wheezing, worsen lung function and lead to bronchitis or even death, he added. | Intense smoke and heat trigger coughing, wheezing, worsen lung function and lead to bronchitis or even death, he added. |
| Bandanas and most cloth masks may provide some protection against infection, but they don’t protect against particulate matter from the smoke, said Erin DeMerritt, the spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. | |
| -Mario Koran | -Mario Koran |
| Here’s a round-up of some of the most striking images so far as California battles numerous wildfires up and down the state. | Here’s a round-up of some of the most striking images so far as California battles numerous wildfires up and down the state. |
| As fires burn across the state, from Eureka to the outskirts of Los Angeles, Cal Fire has a simple and urgent message for Californians: pack your bags and be ready to go. | As fires burn across the state, from Eureka to the outskirts of Los Angeles, Cal Fire has a simple and urgent message for Californians: pack your bags and be ready to go. |
| “My recommendation is that all the citizens in California be ready to go if there is a wildfire,” the Cal Fire spokeswoman Lynnette Round told the Mercury News. | “My recommendation is that all the citizens in California be ready to go if there is a wildfire,” the Cal Fire spokeswoman Lynnette Round told the Mercury News. |
| “Residents have to have their bags packed up with your nose facing out your driveway so you can leave quickly. Everybody should be ready to go, especially if you’re in a wildfire area.” | “Residents have to have their bags packed up with your nose facing out your driveway so you can leave quickly. Everybody should be ready to go, especially if you’re in a wildfire area.” |
| Californians understand too well that the urgency is not overstated. Almost two years ago, the Camp fire that broke out in northern California became the deadliest and most destructive fire on record. Roughly 153,000 acres were burned, 18,800 structures destroyed and 85 people killed in that case. | Californians understand too well that the urgency is not overstated. Almost two years ago, the Camp fire that broke out in northern California became the deadliest and most destructive fire on record. Roughly 153,000 acres were burned, 18,800 structures destroyed and 85 people killed in that case. |
| Terrifying scenes posted on social media provide just a glimpse of what it looks like to drive through areas within such a blaze. | Terrifying scenes posted on social media provide just a glimpse of what it looks like to drive through areas within such a blaze. |
| Of the 367 known fires burning across California, 23 of them are considered major fires, or “complexes” – multiple fires burning in the same location. | Of the 367 known fires burning across California, 23 of them are considered major fires, or “complexes” – multiple fires burning in the same location. |
| While so far fire damage has been limited, there have been roughly 2,000 more fires than there were last year at the same time. The situation has not been helped by a heat dome that’s trapped hot air atop California, nor by the thousands of lightning strikes, some of which sparked wildfires. | While so far fire damage has been limited, there have been roughly 2,000 more fires than there were last year at the same time. The situation has not been helped by a heat dome that’s trapped hot air atop California, nor by the thousands of lightning strikes, some of which sparked wildfires. |
| Asked by a reporter how he can respond to so many challenges at once, Newsom pointed out that the state has seen it all before. | Asked by a reporter how he can respond to so many challenges at once, Newsom pointed out that the state has seen it all before. |
| “Many of these conditions, though they’re stacked on top of each other, are familiar, and there is long-term thinking about where to go and we’re not going to back off our commitment to make real a lot of things we’re promoting. The future happens here first.” | “Many of these conditions, though they’re stacked on top of each other, are familiar, and there is long-term thinking about where to go and we’re not going to back off our commitment to make real a lot of things we’re promoting. The future happens here first.” |
| -Mario Koran | -Mario Koran |
| Gavin Newsom just wrapped a press conference on the state’s response to a multitude of crises unfolding at once: pandemic, some 360 fires blazing across California and a record-breaking heatwave. | Gavin Newsom just wrapped a press conference on the state’s response to a multitude of crises unfolding at once: pandemic, some 360 fires blazing across California and a record-breaking heatwave. |
| “We are experiencing fires, the likes of which we haven’t seen in many, many years,” the governor said at Wednesday’s presser. The good news, he said, is that so far the concentration of fires, and resulting damage, is not as bad as past years. | “We are experiencing fires, the likes of which we haven’t seen in many, many years,” the governor said at Wednesday’s presser. The good news, he said, is that so far the concentration of fires, and resulting damage, is not as bad as past years. |
| The pandemic has complicated a response to fires. As cooling centers are established, and evacuated residents seek shelter, people still must be kept safe from Covid. The ranks of firefighters, filled in part by prison inmates, have been thinned as the virus keeps them from joining the fight. | The pandemic has complicated a response to fires. As cooling centers are established, and evacuated residents seek shelter, people still must be kept safe from Covid. The ranks of firefighters, filled in part by prison inmates, have been thinned as the virus keeps them from joining the fight. |
| -Mario Koran | -Mario Koran |
| The Bay Area is feeling the effects of fires in surrounding areas, with some of the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday. Residents have reported ash falling from the sky. | The Bay Area is feeling the effects of fires in surrounding areas, with some of the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday. Residents have reported ash falling from the sky. |
| Authorities are recommending Bay Area residents stay indoors and keep windows shut to mitigate the effects of poor air quality. The National Weather Service has noted that the smoke is causing increased temperatures in a number of Northern California cities including Sacramento, Yuba City, and Redding. | Authorities are recommending Bay Area residents stay indoors and keep windows shut to mitigate the effects of poor air quality. The National Weather Service has noted that the smoke is causing increased temperatures in a number of Northern California cities including Sacramento, Yuba City, and Redding. |
| If you were not already wearing a mask due to Covid, you should now be wearing one for fires, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management said. Unhealthy and sensitive groups should reduced prolonged outdoor exertion. | If you were not already wearing a mask due to Covid, you should now be wearing one for fires, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management said. Unhealthy and sensitive groups should reduced prolonged outdoor exertion. |
| A map from Colorado research facility CIRA shows the number of fires burning in California simultaneously. | A map from Colorado research facility CIRA shows the number of fires burning in California simultaneously. |
| Much of northern California is being affected, with the Bay Area surrounded by fires on all sides, if distantly. | Much of northern California is being affected, with the Bay Area surrounded by fires on all sides, if distantly. |
| Newsom said in the press conference there are 367 known fires burning in California as of now, including 23 major fires. He cited the ongoing heat wave in the state for increasing fire risk. | Newsom said in the press conference there are 367 known fires burning in California as of now, including 23 major fires. He cited the ongoing heat wave in the state for increasing fire risk. |
| The state experienced a potential world record for heat this week after recording a temperature of 130F or 54.4C in Death Valley. There have been 10,849 lightning strikes in the last 72 hours, Newsom said. | The state experienced a potential world record for heat this week after recording a temperature of 130F or 54.4C in Death Valley. There have been 10,849 lightning strikes in the last 72 hours, Newsom said. |
| “This is what this state does,” he said. “We’re quite familiar with these challenges. But there’s no question, while last year we experienced some acuity of fires, the total number of fires was substantially lower than what we’re experiencing this year. The last 72 hours has stretched resources.” | “This is what this state does,” he said. “We’re quite familiar with these challenges. But there’s no question, while last year we experienced some acuity of fires, the total number of fires was substantially lower than what we’re experiencing this year. The last 72 hours has stretched resources.” |
| As governor Gavin Newsom gives his press conference, it was announced additional cities in California have been asked to evacuate due to the River fire. | As governor Gavin Newsom gives his press conference, it was announced additional cities in California have been asked to evacuate due to the River fire. |
| According to the Monterey county Emergency Services, Highway 68 and River Road remain open for evacuations. | According to the Monterey county Emergency Services, Highway 68 and River Road remain open for evacuations. |
| Gavin Newsom, the California governor, is holding a press conference about the massive state-wide fires, which has prompted him to declare a state emergency. | Gavin Newsom, the California governor, is holding a press conference about the massive state-wide fires, which has prompted him to declare a state emergency. |
| Newsom says there have been 6,754 fires this year, as of 18 August – an increase from 4,007 at the same time last year. | Newsom says there have been 6,754 fires this year, as of 18 August – an increase from 4,007 at the same time last year. |
| “This fire season has been very active,” he said, citing more lightning strikes than last year. | “This fire season has been very active,” he said, citing more lightning strikes than last year. |
| The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said on Wednesday that resources in areas affected by the wildfires have been stretched thin. | The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said on Wednesday that resources in areas affected by the wildfires have been stretched thin. |
| The agency has requested assistance from neighboring states including 125 fire engines, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. At least 367 fires have broken out in California in the last 72 hours, most of them initiated by lightning strikes during recent extreme weather in the state. | The agency has requested assistance from neighboring states including 125 fire engines, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. At least 367 fires have broken out in California in the last 72 hours, most of them initiated by lightning strikes during recent extreme weather in the state. |
| Good afternoon, readers. Kari Paul here in the Guardian’s west coast bureau to walk you through the fire-related news of the day. | Good afternoon, readers. Kari Paul here in the Guardian’s west coast bureau to walk you through the fire-related news of the day. |
| There are currently fires in dozens of cities across the state of California with effects being seen in even more locations, including ash falling and smoky air conditions in major cities like San Francisco. Stay tuned for updates. | There are currently fires in dozens of cities across the state of California with effects being seen in even more locations, including ash falling and smoky air conditions in major cities like San Francisco. Stay tuned for updates. |
| Maanvi Singh reports: | Maanvi Singh reports: |
| Dozens of fires are raging across California, forcing tens of thousands of residents – who were already facing rolling blackouts and the coronavirus pandemic – to flee their homes. The flames, sparked by lightning and stoked by a searing heatwave and ferocious winds, have been moving quickly, overwhelming the state’s firefighters and first responders. | Dozens of fires are raging across California, forcing tens of thousands of residents – who were already facing rolling blackouts and the coronavirus pandemic – to flee their homes. The flames, sparked by lightning and stoked by a searing heatwave and ferocious winds, have been moving quickly, overwhelming the state’s firefighters and first responders. |
| “It’s kind of an overwhelming fire siege,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. | “It’s kind of an overwhelming fire siege,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. |
| A cluster of wildfires in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties now covers an estimated 46,225 acres, according to Cal Fire, the state’s fire agency. The flames have destroyed at least 50 buildings and structures and remain largely uncontained, and come just three years after devastating fires killed 22 and destroyed many wineries in the region. At dawn on Wednesday, firefighters and police officers went door-to-door in Vacaville, in Solano county, rushing to evacuate residents. At least 50 structures were destroyed and four people were injured, according to officials. Television reporters and local residents shared images of roads, fully flanked by flames, blackened land and columns of smoke swirling through neighborhoods. | A cluster of wildfires in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties now covers an estimated 46,225 acres, according to Cal Fire, the state’s fire agency. The flames have destroyed at least 50 buildings and structures and remain largely uncontained, and come just three years after devastating fires killed 22 and destroyed many wineries in the region. At dawn on Wednesday, firefighters and police officers went door-to-door in Vacaville, in Solano county, rushing to evacuate residents. At least 50 structures were destroyed and four people were injured, according to officials. Television reporters and local residents shared images of roads, fully flanked by flames, blackened land and columns of smoke swirling through neighborhoods. |
| The ash and soot, which have permeated through the state are especially concerning amid the coronavirus pandemic – as evidence builds that air pollution makes people more susceptible to Covid-19. | The ash and soot, which have permeated through the state are especially concerning amid the coronavirus pandemic – as evidence builds that air pollution makes people more susceptible to Covid-19. |
| Fires were burning in every Bay Area county but urban San Francisco. “So basically, everywhere there’s land to burn, there’s land burning in the Bay Area,” Swain said. | Fires were burning in every Bay Area county but urban San Francisco. “So basically, everywhere there’s land to burn, there’s land burning in the Bay Area,” Swain said. |
| In southern California, the Lake fire north-east of Los Angeles has been raging for more than a week, has spread across more than 21,000 acres. The Dome fire has eaten through more than 43,000 acres including the Mojave national preserve near the California-Nevada border – scorching ancient Joshua trees. | In southern California, the Lake fire north-east of Los Angeles has been raging for more than a week, has spread across more than 21,000 acres. The Dome fire has eaten through more than 43,000 acres including the Mojave national preserve near the California-Nevada border – scorching ancient Joshua trees. |