latimes--2020-09-11--L.A. Mayor Garcetti tells managers to begin preparing for a 'potential layoff scenario'

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti instructed the city ’ s top managers on Friday to begin preparations for a “ potential layoff scenario , ” saying such measures may be needed to weather the budget crisis sparked by the outbreak of COVID-19 .
In a four-page memo , Garcetti ordered various city managers to identify positions that could be proposed for elimination , examining employee work history and other issues .
He also called on the city ’ s negotiators to work with public employee unions on cost-cutting proposals , including the possible postponement or outright cancellation of previously approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87 million below expectations for July and August , the first two months of the city ’ s fiscal year , Garcetti is also pressing department heads to find ways to cut costs another 3 % .
“ We must take action now to put ourselves in a better position to withstand the financial crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic in our city , ” the mayor wrote in his memo , which went to council members and the heads of most city agencies .
Garcetti ’ s instructions come as L.A. reaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has led to a major slowdown in tourism , a reduction in business activity and the temporary closure of cultural institutions .
Sales taxes , hotel taxes , parking ticket proceeds and other revenue have come in lower than the projections established before the arrival of the outbreak .
New pay raises approved by Garcetti and the City Council also have put pressure on the city ’ s finances .
Police officers are on track to receive a 4.8 % raise over the course of the current fiscal year , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % increase in July ; employees with the Coalition of L.A. City Unions are slated to receive two 2 % raises between January and June .
In a status report issued Friday , City Administrative Officer Richard Llewellyn estimated the city could face a gap of $ 200 million to $ 400 million , even if the economy mostly recovers next year .
The council has responded to the crisis by signing off on furloughs — one unpaid day off every two weeks — for more than 15,000 workers starting mid-October .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department by $ 150 million in July , taking the number of sworn officers down to its lowest level in a dozen years .
Craig Lally , president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League , said his union will continue to work with the city to address the budget crisis .
But he also noted that the cuts made two months ago will leave the LAPD with 250 fewer officers by mid-2021 .
“ We encourage other city departments to make similar sacrifices to protect basic city services , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city leaders to tap a portion of the funding L.A. received from the federal CARES Act , which provides money to help communities weather the coronavirus outbreak , to cover public safety costs .
Whether layoffs will ultimately be carried out , or are simply a bargaining chip as Garcetti seeks concessions from city unions , is not clear .
In his memo , Garcetti did not even describe the furloughs as a certainty , saying the city may impose them on some workers .
Even with a looming budget gap , Garcetti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furloughs on a huge chunk of the workforce , exempting police officers , firefighters , nurses , librarians and building inspectors , among others .
Council members also put a third of the money from the LAPD ’ s budget cut into a fund aimed at reducing the number of furlough days needed this year .
Bob Schoonover , president of Service Employees International Union Local 721 , said Friday ’ s memo simply shows that city officials are preparing for the worst-case scenario , taking administrative steps “ just in case revenues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his union , which represents about 12,000 city employees , would continue working with elected leaders on budget solutions .
Still , Schoonover remains an outspoken foe of the furlough program , saying it would hurt workers and can not be imposed unilaterally .
He and other union leaders have pushed for an alternative cost-saving initiative : buyouts of up to $ 80,000 to workers who are eligible to retire .
The council approved the buyouts in July but then found that the program drew a weaker-than-expected response from the workforce .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 14 million .
The financial crisis is the city ’ s most serious since the 2008 recession , which spurred city leaders to lay off workers , impose furloughs and give early retirement to 2,400 city employees .
The city is still paying for the cost of that early retirement initiative , which provided pensions to departing workers up to five years ahead of schedule .
In April , during his yearly State of the City address , Garcetti said he expected this year ’ s economic downturn will be worse for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a decade ago .

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called on department heads to identify positions that could be proposed for elimination under a “potential layoff scenario.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti instructed the city’s top managers on Friday to begin preparations for a “potential layoff scenario,” saying such measures may be needed to weather the budget crisis sparked by the outbreak of COVID-19.
In a four-page memo, Garcetti ordered various city managers to identify positions that could be proposed for elimination, examining employee work history and other issues. He also called on the city’s negotiators to work with public employee unions on cost-cutting proposals, including the possible postponement or outright cancellation of previously approved raises.
With revenue coming in $87 million below expectations for July and August, the first two months of the city’s fiscal year, Garcetti is also pressing department heads to find ways to cut costs another 3%.
“We must take action now to put ourselves in a better position to withstand the financial crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic in our city,” the mayor wrote in his memo, which went to council members and the heads of most city agencies.
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Garcetti’s instructions come as L.A. reaches the six-month mark in the pandemic, which has led to a major slowdown in tourism, a reduction in business activity and the temporary closure of cultural institutions. Sales taxes, hotel taxes, parking ticket proceeds and other revenue have come in lower than the projections established before the arrival of the outbreak.
New pay raises approved by Garcetti and the City Council also have put pressure on the city’s finances. Police officers are on track to receive a 4.8% raise over the course of the current fiscal year, along with new bonuses. Firefighters received a 4.75% increase in July; employees with the Coalition of L.A. City Unions are slated to receive two 2% raises between January and June.
In a status report issued Friday, City Administrative Officer Richard Llewellyn estimated the city could face a gap of $200 million to $400 million, even if the economy mostly recovers next year.
The council has responded to the crisis by signing off on furloughs — one unpaid day off every two weeks — for more than 15,000 workers starting mid-October. They reduced the budget of the Los Angeles Police Department by $150 million in July, taking the number of sworn officers down to its lowest level in a dozen years.
Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said his union will continue to work with the city to address the budget crisis. But he also noted that the cuts made two months ago will leave the LAPD with 250 fewer officers by mid-2021.
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“We encourage other city departments to make similar sacrifices to protect basic city services,” he said.
The league is pushing for city leaders to tap a portion of the funding L.A. received from the federal CARES Act, which provides money to help communities weather the coronavirus outbreak, to cover public safety costs.
Whether layoffs will ultimately be carried out, or are simply a bargaining chip as Garcetti seeks concessions from city unions, is not clear. In his memo, Garcetti did not even describe the furloughs as a certainty, saying the city may impose them on some workers.
Even with a looming budget gap, Garcetti and the council have declined to impose furloughs on a huge chunk of the workforce, exempting police officers, firefighters, nurses, librarians and building inspectors, among others. Council members also put a third of the money from the LAPD’s budget cut into a fund aimed at reducing the number of furlough days needed this year.
Bob Schoonover, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721, said Friday’s memo simply shows that city officials are preparing for the worst-case scenario, taking administrative steps “just in case revenues continue to fall short.”
He said his union, which represents about 12,000 city employees, would continue working with elected leaders on budget solutions.
Still, Schoonover remains an outspoken foe of the furlough program, saying it would hurt workers and cannot be imposed unilaterally. He and other union leaders have pushed for an alternative cost-saving initiative: buyouts of up to $80,000 to workers who are eligible to retire.
The council approved the buyouts in July but then found that the program drew a weaker-than-expected response from the workforce. It is now expected to save up to $14 million.
The financial crisis is the city’s most serious since the 2008 recession, which spurred city leaders to lay off workers, impose furloughs and give early retirement to 2,400 city employees. The city is still paying for the cost of that early retirement initiative, which provided pensions to departing workers up to five years ahead of schedule.
In April, during his yearly State of the City address, Garcetti said he expected this year’s economic downturn will be worse for the city than the one that began more than a decade ago.


latimes--2020-09-11--Crews begin to make progress in containing Bobcat fire as smoke smothers L.A.

Smoke continued to clog the air over the San Gabriel Valley and parts of eastern Los Angeles on Friday morning as crews gained a small toehold on the Bobcat fire after several days of .
The blaze has now seared more than 26,000 acres , according to the , and is continuing to move deeper into the Angeles National Forest .
It was 6 % contained as of Friday morning .
Stephen Cooper , an Altadena resident and fitness instructor , said the smoke was so thick Friday morning that he canceled his outdoor fitness class .
“ This morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the [ air quality index ] and that was 205 — ‘ very unhealthy , ’ ” he said .
“ I ’ m usually hammering on my clients about the importance of consistency when it comes to training and healthy eating , but when it ’ s unhealthy like this , it makes no sense to push it.
” The said smoke advisories will remain in effect throughout the day .
Areas along the 210 Freeway from Pasadena to Rancho Cucamonga are likely to see the highest levels of particulate matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires or areas not covered by a smoke advisory , if you can smell smoke or see ash from a wildfire , avoid or limit outdoor activities , ” the district said .
Cooper said he hasn ’ t been sleeping well and has been keeping his bedroom curtains open “ so as to keep an eye on the mountains above me.
” Altadena is one of seven communities that remain under an , along with Monrovia , Arcadia , Bradbury , Sierra Madre , Duarte and Pasadena .
“ I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they can be wicked , ” said Cooper , whose fitness class wasn ’ t the only outdoor activity canceled by the smoke .
Poor air quality also contributed to the closure of eight parks in Los Angeles County : Eaton Canyon , Devil ’ s Punchbowl , Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park , Lario Staging Area , Marshall Canyon , Peck Road Water Conservation Park , San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area .
The closures , which will remain throughout the weekend , were ordered “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , community and staff , ” the county ’ s Department of Parks and Recreation said .
L.A. County Fire Capt .
David Dantic said Friday morning that crews are expecting the fire to continue burning away from neighboring communities .
“ Our main objective is to put a whole containment line around the fire , but probably the most active area today will be in the north , northeast of the fire , ” Dantic said .
As the fire continues moving through the forest , some foothill communities are cautiously optimistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly threatened by the fire earlier this week — voluntary evacuation notices were lifted Wednesday .
A Red Cross evacuation point at the Santa Anita Racetrack Thursday after the fire shifted away from the region , although the agency is continuing to monitor its spread , Red Cross Los Angeles spokewoman Marium Mohiuddin said .
“ As the situation changes and grows , the Red Cross is in touch with community partners to see how we can help , ” she said .
“ If that means reopening an evacuation point , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Cross is currently offering for anyone affected by the fire .
Residents in other areas , however , remain on pins and needles as flames in the nearby hills burn visibly red .
In Monrovia , police had to break up traffic jams caused by spectators who came to take photos of the fire Thursday night , city officials said .
“ As we patrolled neighborhoods , it became clear that many of the people causing the traffic were coming in from out of town — some as far as Long Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photograph the fire , ” the city said in an update Friday morning .
Portions of the blaze are still creeping toward the community , and Monrovia police have set up checkpoints to discourage “ everyone , especially visitors and gawkers , from impeding potential evacuation routes.
” Although crews will focus on the northeastern flank of the fire Friday , the forest ’ s steep , rocky terrain makes it difficult to reach certain areas on foot , Dantic said , and retardant drops that helped keep the fire in check overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Helicopters and air support can only go if the weather cooperates , if they can actually see , ” he said .
“ The smoke and the marine layer have contributed to us not flying at certain times in the day.
” The Bobcat fire ignited Sunday and is currently one of more than 25 wildfires burning across California .
It burned for five days with no containment and doubled in size in one day before shifting away from foothill communities .
“ Being such a large footprint , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 % containment attained since Thursday .
“ Of course , we want 100 % .
”

Smoke loomed over Azusa on Wednesday as the Bobcat fire burned in the Angeles National Forest.
Smoke continued to clog the air over the San Gabriel Valley and parts of eastern Los Angeles on Friday morning as crews gained a small toehold on the Bobcat fire after several days of unchecked burning .
The blaze has now seared more than 26,000 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service , and is continuing to move deeper into the Angeles National Forest. It was 6% contained as of Friday morning.
Stephen Cooper, an Altadena resident and fitness instructor, said the smoke was so thick Friday morning that he canceled his outdoor fitness class.
A man walks on the Santa Fe Dam as smoke rises from the Bobcat fire in the San Gabriel Mountains above Duarte. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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“This morning I could smell smoke and then looked at the [air quality index] and that was 205 — ‘very unhealthy,’” he said. “I’m usually hammering on my clients about the importance of consistency when it comes to training and healthy eating, but when it’s unhealthy like this, it makes no sense to push it.”
The South Coast Air Quality Management District said smoke advisories will remain in effect throughout the day. Areas along the 210 Freeway from Pasadena to Rancho Cucamonga are likely to see the highest levels of particulate matter.
“Even in areas far from fires or areas not covered by a smoke advisory, if you can smell smoke or see ash from a wildfire, avoid or limit outdoor activities,” the district said.
Cooper said he hasn’t been sleeping well and has been keeping his bedroom curtains open “so as to keep an eye on the mountains above me.”
Altadena is one of seven communities that remain under an evacuation warning , along with Monrovia, Arcadia, Bradbury, Sierra Madre, Duarte and Pasadena.
“I’ve seen the flames from past fires, and they can be wicked,” said Cooper, whose fitness class wasn’t the only outdoor activity canceled by the smoke.
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Poor air quality also contributed to the closure of eight parks in Los Angeles County: Eaton Canyon, Devil’s Punchbowl, Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, Lario Staging Area, Marshall Canyon, Peck Road Water Conservation Park, San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area.
The closures, which will remain throughout the weekend, were ordered “in the best interest of park guests, community and staff,” the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation said.
L.A. County Fire Capt. David Dantic said Friday morning that crews are expecting the fire to continue burning away from neighboring communities.
“Our main objective is to put a whole containment line around the fire, but probably the most active area today will be in the north, northeast of the fire,” Dantic said.
California Photos: Bobcat fire rages in the Angeles National Forest Fears of a significant spread of the Bobcat fire dissipated as Santa Ana winds failed to materialize, but foothill communities remain on high alert.
As the fire continues moving through the forest, some foothill communities are cautiously optimistic.
In Arcadia — in an area significantly threatened by the fire earlier this week — voluntary evacuation notices were lifted Wednesday. A Red Cross evacuation point at the Santa Anita Racetrack closed Thursday after the fire shifted away from the region, although the agency is continuing to monitor its spread, Red Cross Los Angeles spokewoman Marium Mohiuddin said.
“As the situation changes and grows, the Red Cross is in touch with community partners to see how we can help,” she said. “If that means reopening an evacuation point, we’ll definitely do that.”
The Red Cross is currently offering virtual and telephone assistance for anyone affected by the fire.
Residents in other areas, however, remain on pins and needles as flames in the nearby hills burn visibly red.
In Monrovia, police had to break up traffic jams caused by spectators who came to take photos of the fire Thursday night, city officials said.
“As we patrolled neighborhoods, it became clear that many of the people causing the traffic were coming in from out of town — some as far as Long Beach and Orange County — to observe and photograph the fire,” the city said in an update Friday morning.
Portions of the blaze are still creeping toward the community, and Monrovia police have set up checkpoints to discourage “everyone, especially visitors and gawkers, from impeding potential evacuation routes.”
California Los Angeles suffers worst smog in almost 30 years Air quality officials said the high pollution readings were a result of intense heat combined with stagnant weather conditions.
Although crews will focus on the northeastern flank of the fire Friday, the forest’s steep, rocky terrain makes it difficult to reach certain areas on foot, Dantic said, and retardant drops that helped keep the fire in check overnight could be hampered by low-visibility conditions.
“Helicopters and air support can only go if the weather cooperates, if they can actually see,” he said. “The smoke and the marine layer have contributed to us not flying at certain times in the day.”
The Bobcat fire ignited Sunday and is currently one of more than 25 wildfires burning across California. It burned for five days with no containment and doubled in size in one day before shifting away from foothill communities.
“Being such a large footprint, it’s something,” Dantic said of the 6% containment attained since Thursday. “Of course, we want 100%.”


latimes--2020-09-11--Six of California's largest fires in history ignited this year. Here's what we know

Underscoring how rising temperatures are fueling bigger , more destructive fires , six of the top 20 blazes ever in California have occurred this year .
On Thursday , the August Complex fire officially became the burning more than 471,000 acres .
Since then , authorities have grouped it with other fires , bringing its official acreage to more than 746,000 acres .
The overall complex is only 25 % contained .
as more than 30 separate fires in the Mendocino National Forest caused by lightning .
It is burning in Glenn , Mendocino , Lake , Tehama and Trinity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month of August have also made their way into the record books .
The SCU Complex fire east of the Bay Area is now No .
3 at 396,000 acres , and the North Bay LNU fire is No .
4 with 363,000 acres burned .
Huge , but relatively few confirmed fatalities The August Complex and the , which burned more than 459,000 acres back in 2018 , are now the state ’ s biggest .
But both burned in remote areas and caused relatively few losses to life and property .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and killed one person .
By far the deadliest fire occurred in Paradise in 2018 .
But the North Complex fire in Butte County , which includes the Bear fire , is shaping up to join the list of the deadliest , and one of the biggest , blazes in state history .
As of Friday morning , it had burned 252,534 acres , with 10 deaths confirmed and more than a dozen people still missing .
It burned into tiny mountain hamlets , destroying many structures .
Here is a list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A home smolders in ruins in the aftermath of the Bear fire in Brush Creek.
Underscoring how rising temperatures are fueling bigger, more destructive fires, six of the top 20 blazes ever in California have occurred this year.
The 2020 fire season has been record-breaking, in not only the total amount of acres burned at just over 3 million, but also 6 of the top 20 largest wildfires in California history have occurred this year. pic.twitter.com/CmmhH5wTVX — CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) September 10, 2020
A new record fire
On Thursday, the August Complex fire officially became the largest blaze in California history, burning more than 471,000 acres. Since then, authorities have grouped it with other fires, bringing its official acreage to more than 746,000 acres. The overall complex is only 25% contained.
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The August Complex started as more than 30 separate fires in the Mendocino National Forest caused by lightning. It is burning in Glenn, Mendocino, Lake, Tehama and Trinity counties.
Two other fires in the month of August have also made their way into the record books. The SCU Complex fire east of the Bay Area is now No. 3 at 396,000 acres, and the North Bay LNU fire is No. 4 with 363,000 acres burned.
Huge, but relatively few confirmed fatalities
The August Complex and the the 2018 Mendocino Complex fire , which burned more than 459,000 acres back in 2018, are now the state’s biggest.
But both burned in remote areas and caused relatively few losses to life and property. The August fire has destroyed 26 structures and killed one person.
Largest fires in California history:
August Complex: 471,185
Mendocino Complex (2018): 459,123
SCU Lightning Complex: 396,624
LNU Lightning Complex: 363,220
Thomas (2017): 281,893
Cedar (2013): 273,246
Rush (2012): 271,911
Rim (2013) 257,314
Death toll
By far the deadliest fire occurred in Paradise in 2018.
But the North Complex fire in Butte County, which includes the Bear fire, is shaping up to join the list of the deadliest, and one of the biggest, blazes in state history. As of Friday morning, it had burned 252,534 acres, with 10 deaths confirmed and more than a dozen people still missing. It burned into tiny mountain hamlets, destroying many structures.
Here is a list of the deadliest fires in California history:
1. CAMP FIRE | November 2018 | Butte County | 85 (deaths)
2. GRIFFITH PARK October 1933 | Los Angeles | 29
3 TUNNEL | October 1991 | Oakland | 25
4 TUBBS | October 2017 | Napa, Sonoma, Lake | 22
5 CEDAR |October 2003 | San Diego |15
6 RATTLESNAKE | July 1953 | Glenn | 15
7 LOOP | November 1966 | Los Angeles | 12
8 HAUSER CREEK October 1943 | San Diego | 11
9 INAJA | November 1956 | San Diego | 11
10 IRON ALPS COMPLEX | August 2008 | Trinity | 10


latimes--2020-09-11--La Niña is back. What does that mean for California's drought?

La Niña conditions were observed in the Pacific Ocean last month , and there is a 75 % chance the weather pattern will persist through the winter , forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said .
A La Niña climate pattern has been slowly building over the summer , and now we ’ re in “ strengthening La Niña territory , ” climatologist Bill Patzert said Thursday .
What does that mean for California and the Southwest ?
“ Typically speaking , La Niñas turn out dry for Southern California , and El Niños turn out wet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
La Niña is the cool phase of a climate phenomenon called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation , often referred to as ENSO .
Its warmer , better-known , sibling is known as El Niño , and there is third , neutral phase between those two on the continuum .
Specific conditions for the ocean and atmosphere must be present for an El Niño or La Niña weather pattern .
In the case of La Niña , below-average sea surface temperatures occur in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean .
Easterly winds over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decreases over the the central and eastern tropical Pacific and increases over the western Pacific , Indonesia and the Philippines .
“ La Niñas are never a sure bet , ” Patzert said .
He points to downtown Los Angeles to illustrate how rainfall totals can still be above average in weak La Niña years .
The 143-year annual average rainfall for downtown L.A. is 14.93 inches .
In 2001 , 17.94 inches of rain fell , and in 2017 , 19 inches fell .
Both were weak La Niña years .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player in the rainfall prediction game , ” said Patzert , citing numerous global climate factors .
Typically , though , La Niñas are often associated with colder , stormier-than-average conditions and increased precipitation across the the northern parts of the U.S. , and warmer , drier and less stormy conditions in the southern portions of the country .
If this scenario unfolds , it would exacerbate drought conditions in Arizona , Colorado , Utah and California and worsen the wildfire outlook for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021 .
The most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , shows more of California slipping into drought .
In the last week , an additional 1.2 % of the Golden State was identified as being in severe drought .
“ The Drought Monitor may not show it , but those of us who are living through the severe fires know that Central and Southern Coastal California are bone dry and incendiary , ” Patzert said .
Most of San Bernardino , Riverside , half of San Diego and all of Imperial counties are considered to be abnormally dry .
Most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in severe drought , and a portion of the state along the Oregon border , mainly in Siskiyou County , is in extreme drought .
The northern Sierra region , where the state ’ s biggest reservoirs are located , is in severe drought .
The potential that a dry winter may result from La Niña is not good news for a state parched by drought and suffering the worst wildfire season on record .
“ The dice are loaded for drought , but it ’ s not a sure thing , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still a crap shoot , but firefighters , water managers and farmers would be wise to be prepared .
”

La Niña conditions were observed in the Pacific Ocean last month, and there is a 75% chance the weather pattern will persist through the winter, forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
A La Niña climate pattern has been slowly building over the summer, and now we’re in “strengthening La Niña territory,” climatologist Bill Patzert said Thursday.
What does that mean for California and the Southwest?
“Typically speaking, La Niñas turn out dry for Southern California, and El Niños turn out wet. But not always,” Patzert said.
La Niña is the cool phase of a climate phenomenon called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, often referred to as ENSO. Its warmer, better-known, sibling is known as El Niño, and there is third, neutral phase between those two on the continuum.
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La Niña conditions have been building throughout the summer. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
Specific conditions for the ocean and atmosphere must be present for an El Niño or La Niña weather pattern.
In the case of La Niña, below-average sea surface temperatures occur in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Easterly winds over the equator strengthen, and rainfall usually decreases over the the central and eastern tropical Pacific and increases over the western Pacific, Indonesia and the Philippines.
“La Niñas are never a sure bet,” Patzert said.
He points to downtown Los Angeles to illustrate how rainfall totals can still be above average in weak La Niña years. The 143-year annual average rainfall for downtown L.A. is 14.93 inches. In 2001, 17.94 inches of rain fell, and in 2017, 19 inches fell. Both were weak La Niña years.
“La Niña isn’t the only player in the rainfall prediction game,” said Patzert, citing numerous global climate factors.
La Niña can mean a dry winter in the Southwest. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
Typically, though, La Niñas are often associated with colder, stormier-than-average conditions and increased precipitation across the the northern parts of the U.S., and warmer, drier and less stormy conditions in the southern portions of the country.
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If this scenario unfolds, it would exacerbate drought conditions in Arizona, Colorado, Utah and California and worsen the wildfire outlook for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.
The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor data, released Thursday, shows more of California slipping into drought. In the last week, an additional 1.2% of the Golden State was identified as being in severe drought.
“The Drought Monitor may not show it, but those of us who are living through the severe fires know that Central and Southern Coastal California are bone dry and incendiary,” Patzert said.
Most of San Bernardino, Riverside, half of San Diego and all of Imperial counties are considered to be abnormally dry. Most of Northern California above the Bay Area is in severe drought, and a portion of the state along the Oregon border, mainly in Siskiyou County, is in extreme drought. The northern Sierra region, where the state’s biggest reservoirs are located, is in severe drought.
The potential that a dry winter may result from La Niña is not good news for a state parched by drought and suffering the worst wildfire season on record.
“The dice are loaded for drought, but it’s not a sure thing,” Patzert said. “It’s still a crap shoot, but firefighters, water managers and farmers would be wise to be prepared.”


latimes--2020-09-11--Black Lives Matter brings new vitality to Leimert Park. Owners are hoping it will last

From the porch of his namesake shop in Leimert Park Village , Sika Dwimfo , 79 , has watched the community absorb the tides of history .
Sika , who is known to everyone in the neighborhood by his mononym , can often be found sitting in a lawn chair in front of the store , greeting passersby and observing the happenings in Leimert Park as he ’ s been doing for nearly 30 years .
He ’ s had a front-row seat to major events including the 1992 riots , economic downturns , changing demographics and more recently the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community ’ s unique identity as a cultural hub for the Black community .
But in the midst of the global pandemic and the boiling point of racial tensions occurring worldwide , Leimert Park is experiencing a revival .
After closing his store — which is known for nose piercings , African imports and handmade jewelry — for two months due to the coronavirus , Sika has been receiving his best sales since opening in 1992 .
Many of his neighbors have been experiencing a similar growth .
Now , when Sika @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boulevard , he hears the sounds of reggae music blaring from car stereos for the entire block to hear .
He sees people dining outside and lining up to enter stores that have reached capacity .
And he watches a steady flow of cars filled with potential customers come in and out of the area throughout the day .
“ It ’ s like a new beginning to a cultural revolution , ” Sika said .
The police killing of George Floyd and the surge of activism around Black Lives Matter has suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destination for discussion , gatherings and commerce .
And the movement ’ s push to support Black-owned businesses has also attracted Black shoppers who are intent on spending money in their communities .
“ I always want to support other Black entrepreneurs , ” said Terri Thomas , who was shopping in the village on a recent Saturday afternoon .
“ A lot of the things you see happening with gentrification , it ’ s like really heartwarming that the Black community still has something that they can cherish , and other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not just for Black people .
I think it ’ s important for everyone.
” Netez Brown trekked on least three freeways via a ride-share service from North Hollywood to purchase sage from Sika and to buy a fruit smoothie from Harun Coffee on a recent Monday afternoon .
“ I think it ’ s important that we bring the revenue back into our community , ” she said about Leimert Park .
“ I ’ ve definitely been more intentional about it lately.
” The community ’ s annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place where they could unapologetically celebrate their Blackness and for others to learn about the culture .
The event brought nearly $ 600,000 to the neighborhood , according to Tony Jolly , one of the organizers .
Stylist and costume designer Zerina Akers added several Leimert Park businesses to her curated directory of Black-owned businesses featured on Beyoncé ’ s website .
Several publications — including The Times — have also created similar lists .
In a newly released music video called “ Entrepreneur , ” Bey ’ s husband , Jay-Z , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several of the business owners in the area .
The recent surge in business has sparked a new energy in Leimert Park , which has been struggling financially in recent years amid construction of the Crenshaw Metro line , the overall decline of retail and creeping gentrification .
But some wonder if it ’ s a temporary improvement .
Earl Ofari Hutchinson , president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable , said the shopping district will need to make crucial changes in order for the community to continue to thrive .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary spurt to and interest in Black businesses in Leimert Park , ” Hutchinson said .
“ But it was fleeting and not in and of itself sustainable for the area ’ s business to grow.
” He added : “ The businesses in Leimert Park for the most part suffer the same handicaps that all small businesses do .
That is a chronic lack of capital , a stable and growing customer base , and wide promotion .
Survival and growth for Leimert Park businesses depend squarely on providing good products , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good , stable clientele.
” Akil West , opened a sneaker boutique , Black marketplace and incubator for aspiring designers , in August .
He ’ s the new kid on the block , but he already recognizes what some of the veteran owners have been saying .
The empty storefronts need to be filled .
“ They ’ re only investing in their real estate .
They ’ re not investing in the community , ” said West , who grew up in the area .
“ If these people continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leimert Park with vacancies , we ’ ll never get over that hump.
” The future of Leimert Park has long been a point of much debate in L.A. ’ s Black community .
The population of Black people in Los Angeles has declined over the last 30 years , and some historic business districts like Central Avenue have seen an influx of Latino residents .
Leimert Park and the surrounding Crenshaw area remain a commercial and hub for Black people , but anxieties about gentrification have sparked questions about what will come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to Black business owners to take ownership of the community ’ s fate .
“ This area is going to change within another year , ” said James Fugate , co-owner of landmark Black bookstore Eso Won Books .
“ It ’ s becoming more of a place where people of all races feel comfortable living here and people are going to want services.
” He added : “ I think we have to continue to emphasize that we are the ones that control our destiny .
If we want more Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own community , and that ’ s what it takes.
” Many business owners like Adé Neff , who runs have been in talks with others about creating a community coalition and a merchants ’ association to focus on next steps for the community .
But like a village , he said the business owners will have to work together to create permanent change .
“ Intentionality is everything , ” Neff said .
“ We ’ ve built Black wall streets before in other cities , so there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it again .
“ It ’ s a new era of vibrancy in Leimert Park , ” he added .
For Marlene Sinclair-Beckford , who opened nearly 15 years ago , part of that change needs to include the implementation of new guidelines and regulations to be upheld in the community .
This is “ important to keep us stable and to keep us focused , ” she said .
“ It ’ s great that it ’ s open to everyone , but there has to be policies set in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow those policies in order for us to survive.
” But despite valid concerns about Leimert Park ’ s future , most store owners are just grateful that they ’ ve been able to stay afloat during the pandemic , and they have been making necessary adjustments to keep up with the times .
“ We ’ re all being blessed , ” Sinclair-Beckford said about business owners in Leimert Park .
“ I ’ m grateful for that.
” After locking up his shop at the end of the day , Sika @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lawn chairs to face Hot and Cool Cafe , which was holding an outdoor jazz night in a decorated alleyway .
As a six-piece band played backup music for open mic performers and attendees danced in the street , Sika sipped on a glass of wine and bobbed his head to the tunes that traveled throughout the block .
He reveled in the moment , which he said reminded him of Leimert Park during its heyday , sensing it would last .

From the porch of his namesake shop in Leimert Park Village, Sika Dwimfo, 79, has watched the community absorb the tides of history.
Sika, who is known to everyone in the neighborhood by his mononym, can often be found sitting in a lawn chair in front of the store, greeting passersby and observing the happenings in Leimert Park as he’s been doing for nearly 30 years.
He’s had a front-row seat to major events including the 1992 riots, economic downturns, changing demographics and more recently the rapid gentrification that some fear could taint the community’s unique identity as a cultural hub for the Black community.
On most days, you can find Sika Dwimfo, 79, sitting outside his namesake store in Leimert Park Village. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
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But in the midst of the global pandemic and the boiling point of racial tensions occurring worldwide, Leimert Park is experiencing a revival.
After closing his store — which is known for nose piercings, African imports and handmade jewelry — for two months due to the coronavirus, Sika has been receiving his best sales since opening in 1992. Many of his neighbors have been experiencing a similar growth.
Now, when Sika looks out to the village along Degnan Boulevard, he hears the sounds of reggae music blaring from car stereos for the entire block to hear. He sees people dining outside and lining up to enter stores that have reached capacity. And he watches a steady flow of cars filled with potential customers come in and out of the area throughout the day.
“It’s like a new beginning to a cultural revolution,” Sika said.
A man walks by a painting of George Floyd in Leimert Park. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
The police killing of George Floyd and the surge of activism around Black Lives Matter has suddenly made the shopping district once again a destination for discussion, gatherings and commerce. And the movement’s push to support Black-owned businesses has also attracted Black shoppers who are intent on spending money in their communities.
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“I always want to support other Black entrepreneurs,” said Terri Thomas, who was shopping in the village on a recent Saturday afternoon.
“A lot of the things you see happening with gentrification, it’s like really heartwarming that the Black community still has something that they can cherish, and other people too,” she added. “It’s not just for Black people. I think it’s important for everyone.”
A man walks by a mural Leimert Park. “It’s not just for Black people. I think it’s important for everyone,” one shopper said of Leimert Park. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Netez Brown trekked on least three freeways via a ride-share service from North Hollywood to purchase sage from Sika and to buy a fruit smoothie from Harun Coffee on a recent Monday afternoon.
“I think it’s important that we bring the revenue back into our community,” she said about Leimert Park. “I’ve definitely been more intentional about it lately.”
The community’s annual Juneteenth festival also drew newcomers to a place where they could unapologetically celebrate their Blackness and for others to learn about the culture. The event brought nearly $600,000 to the neighborhood, according to Tony Jolly, one of the organizers.
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A women works outdoors at Harun Coffee in Leimert Park. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Stylist and costume designer Zerina Akers added several Leimert Park businesses to her curated directory of Black-owned businesses featured on Beyoncé’s website. Several publications — including The Times — have also created similar lists. In a newly released music video called “Entrepreneur,” Bey’s husband, Jay-Z, and Pharrell also gave a nod to several of the business owners in the area.
The recent surge in business has sparked a new energy in Leimert Park, which has been struggling financially in recent years amid construction of the Crenshaw Metro line, the overall decline of retail and creeping gentrification. But some wonder if it’s a temporary improvement.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, said the shopping district will need to make crucial changes in order for the community to continue to thrive.
“The Black Lives Matter movement gave a temporary spurt to and interest in Black businesses in Leimert Park,” Hutchinson said. “But it was fleeting and not in and of itself sustainable for the area’s business to grow.”
He added: “The businesses in Leimert Park for the most part suffer the same handicaps that all small businesses do. That is a chronic lack of capital, a stable and growing customer base, and wide promotion. Survival and growth for Leimert Park businesses depend squarely on providing good products, good promotion, good marketing and a good, stable clientele.”
Artist Patrick Henry Johnson, left, and Alicia Teele attend grand opening of Sole Folks, where Teele is the art director. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Akil West opened Sole Folks, a sneaker boutique, Black marketplace and incubator for aspiring designers, in August. He’s the new kid on the block, but he already recognizes what some of the veteran owners have been saying. The empty storefronts need to be filled.
“They’re only investing in their real estate. They’re not investing in the community,” said West, who grew up in the area. “If these people continue to be allowed to lapidate the streets of Leimert Park with vacancies, we’ll never get over that hump.”
The future of Leimert Park has long been a point of much debate in L.A.’s Black community. The population of Black people in Los Angeles has declined over the last 30 years, and some historic business districts like Central Avenue have seen an influx of Latino residents. Leimert Park and the surrounding Crenshaw area remain a commercial hub for Black people, but anxieties about gentrification have sparked questions about what will come.
James Fugate, co-owner of Eso Won Books, believes Leimert Park will change even more within another year. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Some feel that it’s up to Black business owners to take ownership of the community’s fate.
“This area is going to change within another year,” said James Fugate, co-owner of landmark Black bookstore Eso Won Books. “It’s becoming more of a place where people of all races feel comfortable living here and people are going to want services.”
He added: “I think we have to continue to emphasize that we are the ones that control our destiny. If we want more Black businesses, we have to invest in our own community, and that’s what it takes.”
Many business owners like Adé Neff, who runs Ride On! Bike Shop/Co-Op, have been in talks with others about creating a community coalition and a merchants’ association to focus on next steps for the community. But like a village, he said the business owners will have to work together to create permanent change.
“We’ve built Black wall streets before in other cities, so there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to do it again,” says Adé Neff, 55, who owns a bike shop in Leimert Park. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
“Intentionality is everything,” Neff said. “We’ve built Black wall streets before in other cities, so there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to do it again.
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“It’s a new era of vibrancy in Leimert Park,” he added.
For Marlene Sinclair-Beckford, who opened Ackee Bamboo nearly 15 years ago, part of that change needs to include the implementation of new guidelines and regulations to be upheld in the community.
Marlene Sinclair-Beckford, center, opened Ackee Bamboo nearly 15 years ago. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
This is “important to keep us stable and to keep us focused,” she said. “It’s great that it’s open to everyone, but there has to be policies set in place, and we all have to follow those policies in order for us to survive.”
But despite valid concerns about Leimert Park’s future, most store owners are just grateful that they’ve been able to stay afloat during the pandemic, and they have been making necessary adjustments to keep up with the times.
“We’re all being blessed,” Sinclair-Beckford said about business owners in Leimert Park. “I’m grateful for that.”
Chris Powe plays saxophone with a jazz collective in Leimert Park. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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After locking up his shop at the end of the day, Sika and his daughter, Milan, turned their lawn chairs to face Hot and Cool Cafe, which was holding an outdoor jazz night in a decorated alleyway.
As a six-piece band played backup music for open mic performers and attendees danced in the street, Sika sipped on a glass of wine and bobbed his head to the tunes that traveled throughout the block. He reveled in the moment, which he said reminded him of Leimert Park during its heyday, sensing it would last.


latimes--2020-09-11--'Everything is gone': Mass destruction in region still reeling from Paradise fire

Frank Martinez considers himself a veteran of California wildfires , both as refugee and responder , feeding fire crews and survivors and running when flames hit too close to home .
“ We ’ ve done this before , ” Martinez said Thursday morning , sitting with his breathing machine inside a friend ’ s restaurant .
After fleeing from the Bear fire in the early morning darkness Wednesday , the restaurant basement had become his temporary home .
He had no idea if his own home was still standing .
It would be several hours before he had an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the rural hills outside of Oroville , where the Bear fire is wreaking destruction .
Since 2015 , flames have chased him from his double-wide trailer on four separate occasions .
And that doesn ’ t include the time he had to evacuate when the nearby dam threatened to burst .
In all of the other blazes , when he ’ s been able to remain on the acre-plus of parched land he calls home , Martinez has taken in those who had to flee from the surrounding hills and ridges — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 and a couple dozen during the Wall fire in 2017 .
He ’ s also fed thousands more by raising money online — he estimates about $ 100,000 — and cooking up meals himself — turkey and brisket and ribs with a rub made of coriander and brown sugar .
On Tuesday , with flames bearing down on the wooded enclave of Berry Creek , a hamlet of about 1,200 people northeast of Oroville , friends once again pulled into his dirt drive looking for refuge .
But this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , he would be the one fleeing and in need of a helping hand .
By 1 a.m. , Martinez and his roommate Rick Wolfe , 60 , received their own order to evacuate , and the caravan of more than 20 people made its way to the flatlands of Oroville , spreading out over hotels , relatives ’ homes and any available space .
Despite all the planning and knowledge of previous fires , when the word came again , getting out turned chaotic .
“ I was so worried about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left all my clothes in the dryer , ” he said .
“ Tensions were high .
Stress was high.
” Martinez and Wolfe ’ s first stop Wednesday was the parking lot of the Oroville Walmart , which was also a de facto evacuee center after the Camp fire , when norovirus , a disease that causes diarrhea and vomiting , hit local shelters .
On Thursday , the big-box store blasted a recording asking fire victims not to stay .
Gretchen Keary slept on the front seat of her Dodge Ram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area called Kelly Ridge Tuesday night , while her boyfriend , Will Henry , made do on the ground outside .
The two had purchased sleeping bags at Walmart , along with crates for their three cats .
On Thursday morning , they were packing up to go in search of breakfast and a better place to stay .
Keary had moved from the Bay Area about two years ago and “ it ’ s been life by wildfire ever since , ” she said .
“ The planet is pissed off.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give his last name , had evacuated on his Harley-Davidson from Berry Creek .
He , too , had no idea if his house still stood , but he wasn ’ t surprised by the destruction in the tiny town he called home .
Multiple residents of Berry Creek described it as densely overgrown with trees and brush .
Talk of it being the next Paradise was not uncommon .
“ They knew it was going to happen , ” Bill said .
“ The woods are just so thick of dead timber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ground .
There ’ s places you can ’ t even walk through.
” Patsy Oxford is principal of Berry Creek Elementary School .
Because hers is the only school in the Pioneer Union Elementary School District , she ’ s also the superintendent .
Her school is gone , burned to the ground , but her students , all 60 or so of them , still need to eat .
One hundred percent of the student body at Berry Creek Elementary receives lunch assistance ; 91 % of the students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Right now , the county is figuring out how to get food to the students and their families , she said , working to establish pickup sites , trying to arrange for nonperishable supplies that can be useful for families living in hotels and other temporary housing .
“ Still , it was a great school !
” Oxford exclaimed .
“ We just got high-speed internet , we ’ re into the 21st century !
We got it the week we went out with COVID .
It allowed us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids had Chromebooks .
Some lost them [ in the fire ] .
We just gave out hotspots on Tuesday .
Some kids got them , some didn ’ t .
We ’ ll replace those.
” Oxford ’ s house in the Berry Creek neighborhood of Lake Madrone did not burn , although she has been evacuated and is staying with her daughter in nearby Chico .
Eight of the 12 staff members lost their homes .
The other three live in Chico and are fine .
When Oxford answered the phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re just watching a video.
” It was on Facebook , she said , and it showed the fire ’ s devastation .
She paused .
Choked up .
Continued .
“ We thought , ‘ Oh , maybe something survived.
’ “ But nothing survived .
Only there ’ s a red door in the middle of it .
I want that door , ” Oxford said .
“ It ’ s like Paradise was .
The fire just went through and everything is gone .
One student on the street , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing .
Still standing is good , but it ’ s going to be a long haul.
” Echoes of nearby Paradise are everywhere in the Berry Creek fire , with so many reminded of the small town destroyed two years ago .
The Oroville School District has reached out , and people are talking about finding space , maybe a couple of vacant classrooms , for Berry Creek Elementary to use to regroup .
That space is in the same school Paradise educators used after their town was razed .
Educators from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Camp fire — have offered advice and moral support .
The community is hoping to get trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency left over from the 2018 inferno .
The Gridley fairgrounds have opened up for evacuees , Oxford said , just like it did in the earlier disaster .
The same foundations that helped after the Camp fire are poised to help now : The North Valley Community Foundation , Butte County Schools Long-Term Recovery Fund , the Butte Strong Fund .
“ One of the big things Paradise said was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oxford said .
“ Let them see each other .
With COVID , that ’ s hard .
We ’ ll Zoom in a week or so .
We ’ re hoping to connect with the Paradise kids , maybe with a video , ‘ Things Get Better.
’ “ It ’ s pretty darn devastating , pretty horrible , ” she said .
“ Unfortunately , everyone in Butte County has been down this road before.
” The difference , this time , is the educational effort forced on the world by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loves to hate .
“ We ’ re doing distance learning , ” Oxford said .
“ That ’ s , in a bizarre way , a good thing.… “ The upside of COVID-19 .
Who knew ?
Who knew there was an upside ?
” On Thursday afternoon , smoke as thick as coastal fog hovered over the water of Lake Oroville and fire continued to burn around Berry Creek , although the main blaze had moved on .
Red licks of flame sprouted from power poles and crackled in curving lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from power linemen to animal rescuers , trudged up the closed road to begin the work of recovery , which will take years .
A stallion and a mare were loaded into a trailer , firefighters with water trucks sprayed troublesome spots , and a few die-hards who refused the evacuation order waited in cars on or lawn chairs for the chance to return to what was left .
By Thursday afternoon , Martinez and a reporter made it to his house , which was still standing .
“ My God , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , as the low brown trailer came into site , unharmed .
An RV and a pontoon boat were nearby .
Fire had not made it here , though burned trees from the 2017 Wall fire , which came within two feet of his propane tank , still remained .
At 1:19 , he texted his friend Lilli Heart , who lives in the town of Cottonwood , not far from Redding .
When Heart lost her Paradise home in the Camp fire , Martinez reached out on Facebook nine days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweetheart , ” he said by Facebook Messenger .
“ What do you need right now ?
What do you need today ?
” The two have never actually met , but Heart sent money to Martinez ’ s PayPal account to help him in this terrible time .
She didn ’ t think twice , after all he ’ d done for so many people .
She wasn ’ t the only one to help the man who had helped so many .
“ Our house is still there , ” Martinez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God .
This is the second fire we were told our house is gone .
We are not out of danger .
But it ’ s still there ... ..
I want to send you the money back ... .
I want to send everybody ’ s funds back.
” And later : “ I feel so bad .
Oh my God , I can ’ t believe this happened .
Berry Creek is gone .
All 12 people who are missing are our friends , and two have perished.
” Heart had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ d learned from hard experience .
“ It ’ s not the time to feel bad if your home is still there , ” she texted back on Thursday afternoon .
“ It is time to celebrate your good fortune .
”

Evacuees Frank Martinez, left, and his friend Rick Wolfe sit in Martinez’s van with their dogs in the aftermath of the Bear fire in Oroville, Calif.
Frank Martinez considers himself a veteran of California wildfires, both as refugee and responder, feeding fire crews and survivors and running when flames hit too close to home.
“We’ve done this before,” Martinez said Thursday morning, sitting with his breathing machine inside a friend’s restaurant. After fleeing from the Bear fire in the early morning darkness Wednesday, the restaurant basement had become his temporary home.
He had no idea if his own home was still standing. It would be several hours before he had an answer.
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Martinez, 55, lives in the rural hills outside of Oroville, where the Bear fire is wreaking destruction. Since 2015, flames have chased him from his double-wide trailer on four separate occasions. And that doesn’t include the time he had to evacuate when the nearby dam threatened to burst.
In all of the other blazes, when he’s been able to remain on the acre-plus of parched land he calls home, Martinez has taken in those who had to flee from the surrounding hills and ridges — about 30 people during the Camp fire in 2018 and a couple dozen during the Wall fire in 2017.
He’s also fed thousands more by raising money online — he estimates about $100,000 — and cooking up meals himself — turkey and brisket and ribs with a rub made of coriander and brown sugar.
On Tuesday, with flames bearing down on the wooded enclave of Berry Creek, a hamlet of about 1,200 people northeast of Oroville, friends once again pulled into his dirt drive looking for refuge. But this time, his hospitality was short lived. This time, he would be the one fleeing and in need of a helping hand.
By 1 a.m., Martinez and his roommate Rick Wolfe, 60, received their own order to evacuate, and the caravan of more than 20 people made its way to the flatlands of Oroville, spreading out over hotels, relatives’ homes and any available space. Despite all the planning and knowledge of previous fires, when the word came again, getting out turned chaotic.
“I was so worried about the dogs and my roommate, I left all my clothes in the dryer,” he said. “Tensions were high. Stress was high.”
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Martinez and Wolfe’s first stop Wednesday was the parking lot of the Oroville Walmart, which was also a de facto evacuee center after the Camp fire, when norovirus, a disease that causes diarrhea and vomiting, hit local shelters. On Thursday, the big-box store blasted a recording asking fire victims not to stay.
Not everyone listened.
Gretchen Keary slept on the front seat of her Dodge Ram truck after running from flames in an area called Kelly Ridge Tuesday night, while her boyfriend, Will Henry, made do on the ground outside. The two had purchased sleeping bags at Walmart, along with crates for their three cats. On Thursday morning, they were packing up to go in search of breakfast and a better place to stay.
Keary had moved from the Bay Area about two years ago and “it’s been life by wildfire ever since,” she said. “The planet is pissed off.”
Nearby, Bill, who declined to give his last name, had evacuated on his Harley-Davidson from Berry Creek. He, too, had no idea if his house still stood, but he wasn’t surprised by the destruction in the tiny town he called home. Multiple residents of Berry Creek described it as densely overgrown with trees and brush. Talk of it being the next Paradise was not uncommon.
“They knew it was going to happen,” Bill said. “The woods are just so thick of dead timber, it’s four feet thick on the ground. There’s places you can’t even walk through.”
Patsy Oxford is principal of Berry Creek Elementary School. Because hers is the only school in the Pioneer Union Elementary School District, she’s also the superintendent.
Her school is gone, burned to the ground, but her students, all 60 or so of them, still need to eat. One hundred percent of the student body at Berry Creek Elementary receives lunch assistance; 91% of the students are “socioeconomically disadvantaged,” she said.
Right now, the county is figuring out how to get food to the students and their families, she said, working to establish pickup sites, trying to arrange for nonperishable supplies that can be useful for families living in hotels and other temporary housing.
“Still, it was a great school!” Oxford exclaimed. “We just got high-speed internet, we’re into the 21st century! We got it the week we went out with COVID. It allowed us to at least get kids connected.… All the kids had Chromebooks. Some lost them [in the fire]. We just gave out hotspots on Tuesday. Some kids got them, some didn’t. We’ll replace those.”
Oxford’s house in the Berry Creek neighborhood of Lake Madrone did not burn, although she has been evacuated and is staying with her daughter in nearby Chico. Eight of the 12 staff members lost their homes. The other three live in Chico and are fine.
When Oxford answered the phone, she said, “we’re just watching a video.” It was on Facebook, she said, and it showed the fire’s devastation. She paused. Choked up. Continued. “We thought, ‘Oh, maybe something survived.’
“But nothing survived. Only there’s a red door in the middle of it. I want that door,” Oxford said. “It’s like Paradise was. The fire just went through and everything is gone. One student on the street, his house, it’s still standing. Still standing is good, but it’s going to be a long haul.”
Echoes of nearby Paradise are everywhere in the Berry Creek fire, with so many reminded of the small town destroyed two years ago. The Oroville School District has reached out, and people are talking about finding space, maybe a couple of vacant classrooms, for Berry Creek Elementary to use to regroup. That space is in the same school Paradise educators used after their town was razed.
Educators from Paradise and Concow — victims of the Camp fire — have offered advice and moral support. The community is hoping to get trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency left over from the 2018 inferno. The Gridley fairgrounds have opened up for evacuees, Oxford said, just like it did in the earlier disaster.
The same foundations that helped after the Camp fire are poised to help now: The North Valley Community Foundation, Butte County Schools Long-Term Recovery Fund, the Butte Strong Fund.
“One of the big things Paradise said was get the kids to connect,” Oxford said. “Let them see each other. With COVID, that’s hard. We’ll Zoom in a week or so. We’re hoping to connect with the Paradise kids, maybe with a video, ‘Things Get Better.’
“It’s pretty darn devastating, pretty horrible,” she said. “Unfortunately, everyone in Butte County has been down this road before.”
The difference, this time, is the educational effort forced on the world by the novel coronavirus, the circumstance everyone loves to hate.
“We’re doing distance learning,” Oxford said. “That’s, in a bizarre way, a good thing.…
“The upside of COVID-19. Who knew? Who knew there was an upside?”
On Thursday afternoon, smoke as thick as coastal fog hovered over the water of Lake Oroville and fire continued to burn around Berry Creek, although the main blaze had moved on. Red licks of flame sprouted from power poles and crackled in curving lines across scrub grass.
Hundreds of workers, from power linemen to animal rescuers, trudged up the closed road to begin the work of recovery, which will take years. A stallion and a mare were loaded into a trailer, firefighters with water trucks sprayed troublesome spots, and a few die-hards who refused the evacuation order waited in cars on or lawn chairs for the chance to return to what was left.
By Thursday afternoon, Martinez and a reporter made it to his house, which was still standing.
“My God, my God, my God,” he said, as the low brown trailer came into site, unharmed. An RV and a pontoon boat were nearby. Fire had not made it here, though burned trees from the 2017 Wall fire, which came within two feet of his propane tank, still remained.
At 1:19, he texted his friend Lilli Heart, who lives in the town of Cottonwood, not far from Redding. When Heart lost her Paradise home in the Camp fire, Martinez reached out on Facebook nine days later. “I have resources, sweetheart,” he said by Facebook Messenger. “What do you need right now? What do you need today?”
The two have never actually met, but Heart sent money to Martinez’s PayPal account to help him in this terrible time. She didn’t think twice, after all he’d done for so many people. She wasn’t the only one to help the man who had helped so many.
“Our house is still there,” Martinez texted to Heart. “Oh my God. This is the second fire we were told our house is gone. We are not out of danger. But it’s still there..... I want to send you the money back.... I want to send everybody’s funds back.”
And later: “I feel so bad. Oh my God, I can’t believe this happened. Berry Creek is gone. All 12 people who are missing are our friends, and two have perished.”
Heart had a simple response. It was one she’d learned from hard experience.
“It’s not the time to feel bad if your home is still there,” she texted back on Thursday afternoon. “It is time to celebrate your good fortune.”


latimes--2020-09-11--Staggering California wildfire toll: Unprecedented destruction, rising deaths and lost hope

Even before the peak of fire season , a record 3 million acres have burned across California this year , with so many blazes simultaneously whipping through dry wilderness that many have converged into massive “ complexes , ” the scope of which the state has never seen .
On Thursday , the August Complex — the product of 37 fires in and around Tehama County — became the largest ever recorded in California at 471,000 acres .
But its remoteness made it less a priority than several other major fires edging closer to mountain towns and foothill suburbs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ blaze near Oroville , mushroomed this week into an inferno that was blamed for 10 deaths as of Thursday evening , with 16 people missing .
It has scorched more than 252,000 acres and forced some 20,000 residents in Plumas , Butte and Yuba counties from their homes .
The smoke layer was so thick midweek that officials were just getting a grasp of the devastation Thursday as the winds died down .
Lake Oroville still lay shrouded in a dense layer of smoke .
In the city , shell-shocked evacuees drove with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much for the coronavirus as to filter ash wafting like snow .
They searched for scarce hotel rooms , hot meals and friendly places to park cars packed with their chosen possessions .
Up on the mountain , where the fire still burned , a small number of people remained behind the evacuation lines with power cut off and wells not working — bone-tired from this fire and the many before it .
Kendall Hill , 15 , sat in a camp chair in a parking lot with his dad , helping friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to exhausted first-responders .
Hill fled his home in Berry Creek on Tuesday night , leaving before flames arrived .
Fortunately , his home survived , but some of his family in the area lost theirs .
“ It ’ s sad , ” he said , exhaustion in his eyes .
“ Emotional.
” Little was left but chimneys , washing machines and the smoking remains of cars and trucks in tiny Berry Creek .
In a community many described as “ family , ” Butte County Animal Control officer Lynette Brennan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for firefighters to deliver two injured dogs they recovered .
Inside a trailer , she had two horses , one burned , waiting to be taken down the hill .
She has worked this job for eight years and been through multiple fires .
“ It ’ s daunting , ” she said .
“ You see everything destroyed.
” Brennan said one of the hardest parts is personally knowing so many people who lost homes , and that many will not be able to rebuild .
“ You know they lost everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
The many fires of the North Complex had calmed down enough Thursday for some to start taking stock of their losses .
But in the last month , when one blaze slowed , another inevitably exploded .
In the far north , the Slater fire took off Wednesday night , growing from 30,000 acres to more than 120,000 by 7 a.m. Thursday .
It crossed the border into Oregon , a state already besieged by its own fires , with half a million people under evacuation orders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ footprint of the blaze .
With that fire ’ s expansion , Gov .
Gavin Newsom added Siskiyou County to its list of 17 other counties in a state of emergency .
Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said dangerously dry conditions led “ to explosive fires that have really just skyrocketed us past the 3-million mark for the first time in our recorded history.
” “ Unfortunately , with several more months of fire season to go , this number could continue to increase , ” he said Thursday .
The sheer number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West has left fire crews stretched like never before .
The U.S. Forest Service reported that just 1,117 personnel were on the August Complex .
By comparison , nearly 4,000 personnel battled the 2018 Mendocino Complex that had been the state ’ s largest until it was surpassed by the August Complex .
The 2017 Thomas Fire had nearly 9,000 people on the scene at one point .
The complex fires burning now date back to a freak mid-August siege of dry lightning across Northern California , sparking four of the 10 largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the August and North Complex fires were ignited in that storm , continued burning in the back country , then exploded with this week ’ s heatwave and high winds .
Two others — the SCU Lightning Complex in the hills east of San Jose and the LNU Lightning Complex in the North Bay and wine country — are still burning but almost entirely contained .
They account for the third and fourth largest since California began keeping records in 1932 .
The Dolan fire , which ignited Aug. 18 north of Limekiln @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also seen extreme growth this week , tripling in size to 110,000 acres .
A second salvo of new fire ignitions worsened the dire situation , with the Bobcat fire in the San Gabriel Mountains , the Valley Fire southeast San Diego County , the El Dorado fire near Yucaipa , the Creek fire roaring out of the Sierra National Forest .
At the Creek fire , lighter winds cleared the air long enough beginning Wednesday afternoon to finally give aircraft an opportunity to line the forest with retardant , as crews on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to harden the defenses around areas such as Meadow Lakes and Tollhouse .
“ We ’ re really trying to start gaining containment on this fire , ” said Chris Vestal , a spokesman for the Creek fire response .
“ A lot of what we want to do is make sure everything that is standing stays standing.
” Above Monrovia , the Bobcat fire was updated to a “ Type 1 ” incident Thursday by forest service officials , reflecting a need for more personnel and equipment .
“ Potential size and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reclassification , according to Forest Service representative Micah Bell .
“ I ’ ve actually seen Type 1 teams handle fires that were barely 2,000 acres , but it was the complexity of managing it that requires a bigger team , ” Bell said .
Though the fire has swelled significantly — nearly doubling in size Wednesday — much of the growth was in its northeastern portion , Bell said , away from threatened foothill communities .
Six areas remain under an evacuation warning : Duarte , Bradbury , Monrovia , Sierra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope is that weather conditions will “ improve across the state today , with most areas experiencing seasonal temperatures and dry conditions , ” according to Cal Fire .
“ Northern California should expect average temperatures through the weekend , with a possible cooling trend next week , ” officials wrote Thursday .
“ In Southern California , temperatures will be at or slightly above normal.
” Chabria reported from Oroville , St. John from Chico , Money and Mozingo from Los Angeles .
Times staff writers Joseph Serna , Hayley Smith , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .

Anita Chabria, Paige St. John, Luke Money, Joe Mozingo

Flames consume dry brush around Santa Barbara firefighters as they set a backfire along Oro Quincy Highway in the aftermath of the Bear fire in Oroville. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A man stands on a dock at the Shaver Lake Marina as the Creek fire approaches on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Flames leap into the sky as fire engulfs trees near Shaver Lake. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A duck swims in Shaver Lake as the Creek fire approaches on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter conducts a back-burn operation along California 168 as the Creek fire approaches the Shaver Lake Marina. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A member of the Laguna Hotshots Crew battles the Creek fire on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A vehicle streaks along California 168 as the Creek fire creeps closer to Shaver Lake, Calif., on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A member of the Laguna Hotshots Crew is silhouetted against a background of flames. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Members of the Laguna Hotshots Crew walk down Huntington Lake Road to battle the Creek fire on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
The Laguna Hotshots Crew out of the Cleveland National Forest battles the Creek fire as it approaches the Southern California Edison Big Creek Hydroelectric Plant on Sept. 6 in Big Creek, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A vehicle streaks by as Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffery Shipman stands along California 168, with the Creek fire in the background on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A table stands outside the destroyed Cressman’s General Store in Fresno County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A plume rises from the Bear fire as it burns along Lake Oroville in Butte County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
Frank Martinez, left, and Rick Wolfe with their nine dogs in Oroville, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter battles the Creek fire as it threatens homes in Madera County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A crew from Trinity River Conservation Camp, a prison facility, does mop-up work on Stringtown Road on Friday, the day after a flare-up in the area. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Melted goggles lie on the ground next to the burned-out truck on Stringtown Road. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Propane gas burns Friday at the ruins of a home on Zink Road in the Berry Creek area of Butte County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Thick smoke shrouds iconic Half Dome towering over Yosemite Valley in a view from Sentinel Bridge over the Merced River on Sept. 13. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A deer grazes in Cook’s Meadow as thick smoke shrouds the iconic landmarks of Yosemite Valley. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Thick smoke from multiple forest fires shrouds iconic El Capitan, right, and the walls of Yosemite Valley. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Lance Georgeson of Mammoth Lakes paddleboards on Tenaya Lake on Sept. 13 in Yosemite National Park. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Even before the peak of fire season, a record 3 million acres have burned across California this year, with so many blazes simultaneously whipping through dry wilderness that many have converged into massive “complexes,” the scope of which the state has never seen.
On Thursday, the August Complex — the product of 37 fires in and around Tehama County — became the largest ever recorded in California at 471,000 acres.
But its remoteness made it less a priority than several other major fires edging closer to mountain towns and foothill suburbs.
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VIDEO | 01:05 California wildfires have created unprecedented destruction Even before the peak of fire season, six of the 20 largest blazes in California history have occurred this year.
One of those, the North Complex blaze near Oroville, mushroomed this week into an inferno that was blamed for 10 deaths as of Thursday evening, with 16 people missing. It has scorched more than 252,000 acres and forced some 20,000 residents in Plumas, Butte and Yuba counties from their homes. The smoke layer was so thick midweek that officials were just getting a grasp of the devastation Thursday as the winds died down.
A fox pauses amid burned brush in the forest in the aftermath of the Bear fire in Berry Creek. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Lake Oroville still lay shrouded in a dense layer of smoke. In the city, shell-shocked evacuees drove with headlights all day, wearing masks as much for the coronavirus as to filter ash wafting like snow. They searched for scarce hotel rooms, hot meals and friendly places to park cars packed with their chosen possessions.
Up on the mountain, where the fire still burned, a small number of people remained behind the evacuation lines with power cut off and wells not working — bone-tired from this fire and the many before it.
Kendall Hill, 15, sat in a camp chair in a parking lot with his dad, helping friends give out free hot dogs and chips to exhausted first-responders. Hill fled his home in Berry Creek on Tuesday night, leaving before flames arrived. Fortunately, his home survived, but some of his family in the area lost theirs.
“It’s sad,” he said, exhaustion in his eyes. “Emotional.”
Little was left but chimneys, washing machines and the smoking remains of cars and trucks in tiny Berry Creek.
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World & Nation Climate change brings Santa Ana-like winds and explosive wildfires to Oregon Like the winds that race down the mountainsides near Los Angeles each fall, gaining heat and fanning the flames as they go, the gales that struck Oregon over the weekend have turned small fires into infernos.
In a community many described as “family,” Butte County Animal Control officer Lynette Brennan waited by the side of the road for firefighters to deliver two injured dogs they recovered.
Inside a trailer, she had two horses, one burned, waiting to be taken down the hill. She has worked this job for eight years and been through multiple fires.
“It’s daunting,” she said. “You see everything destroyed.”
Brennan said one of the hardest parts is personally knowing so many people who lost homes, and that many will not be able to rebuild. “You know they lost everything, and there is no recouping that,” she said.
The many fires of the North Complex had calmed down enough Thursday for some to start taking stock of their losses.
But in the last month, when one blaze slowed, another inevitably exploded.
Flames consume dry brush around City of Santa Barbara firefighters Eric Cole, left, and Mark Kramer as the crew sets a backfire along Oro Quincy Hwy. in the aftermath of the Bear fire on Thursday in Oroville, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
In the far north, the Slater fire took off Wednesday night, growing from 30,000 acres to more than 120,000 by 7 a.m. Thursday. It crossed the border into Oregon, a state already besieged by its own fires, with half a million people under evacuation orders. Two bodies have been recovered in the footprint of the blaze.
With that fire’s expansion, Gov. Gavin Newsom added Siskiyou County to its list of 17 other counties in a state of emergency.
Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said dangerously dry conditions led “to explosive fires that have really just skyrocketed us past the 3-million mark for the first time in our recorded history.”
“Unfortunately, with several more months of fire season to go, this number could continue to increase,” he said Thursday.
The sheer number of wildfires across California and the parched West has left fire crews stretched like never before.
The U.S. Forest Service reported that just 1,117 personnel were on the August Complex.
A horse stands motionless in a field along Bald Rock Rd. in the aftermath of the Bear fire on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Berry Creek, CA. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
By comparison, nearly 4,000 personnel battled the 2018 Mendocino Complex that had been the state’s largest until it was surpassed by the August Complex. The 2017 Thomas Fire had nearly 9,000 people on the scene at one point.
The complex fires burning now date back to a freak mid-August siege of dry lightning across Northern California, sparking four of the 10 largest fires on record in California.
Both the August and North Complex fires were ignited in that storm, continued burning in the back country, then exploded with this week’s heatwave and high winds.
Two others — the SCU Lightning Complex in the hills east of San Jose and the LNU Lightning Complex in the North Bay and wine country — are still burning but almost entirely contained. They account for the third and fourth largest since California began keeping records in 1932.
The Dolan fire, which ignited Aug. 18 north of Limekiln State Park in Monterey County, has also seen extreme growth this week, tripling in size to 110,000 acres.
A second salvo of new fire ignitions worsened the dire situation, with the Bobcat fire in the San Gabriel Mountains, the Valley Fire southeast San Diego County, the El Dorado fire near Yucaipa, the Creek fire roaring out of the Sierra National Forest.
At the Creek fire, lighter winds cleared the air long enough beginning Wednesday afternoon to finally give aircraft an opportunity to line the forest with retardant, as crews on the fire’s southern portion worked to harden the defenses around areas such as Meadow Lakes and Tollhouse.
“We’re really trying to start gaining containment on this fire,” said Chris Vestal, a spokesman for the Creek fire response. “A lot of what we want to do is make sure everything that is standing stays standing.”
Above Monrovia, the Bobcat fire was updated to a “Type 1” incident Thursday by forest service officials, reflecting a need for more personnel and equipment.
Evacuees Frank Martinez, left, and friend Rick Wolfe sit in Martinez’s Dodge van with their nine dogs in the aftermath of the Bear fire in Oroville. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
“Potential size and potential complexity” were both factors in the reclassification, according to Forest Service representative Micah Bell.
“I’ve actually seen Type 1 teams handle fires that were barely 2,000 acres, but it was the complexity of managing it that requires a bigger team,” Bell said.
Though the fire has swelled significantly — nearly doubling in size Wednesday — much of the growth was in its northeastern portion, Bell said, away from threatened foothill communities.
Six areas remain under an evacuation warning: Duarte, Bradbury, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and Altadena.
The hope is that weather conditions will “improve across the state today, with most areas experiencing seasonal temperatures and dry conditions,” according to Cal Fire.
Boats are shrouded in smoke and ash at Loafer Point on Lake Oroville in the aftermath of the Bear fire on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Oroville. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
“Northern California should expect average temperatures through the weekend, with a possible cooling trend next week,” officials wrote Thursday. “In Southern California, temperatures will be at or slightly above normal.”
Chabria reported from Oroville, St. John from Chico, Money and Mozingo from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Joseph Serna, Hayley Smith, Tony Barboza and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-09-09--Photos: Crews eke out small containment as smoke from Bobcat fire smothers L.A.

Fears of significant spread of the Bobcat fire dissipated overnight as Santa Ana winds failed to materialize , but residents @ @ @ @ @ on high alert , and several evacuation warnings are still in place .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ wind overnight , ” said Mike Wofford , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service @ @ @ @ @ early Wednesday , Wofford said winds were generally under 15 mph , but added , @ @ @ @ @ gusts — 20 to 30 mph — later this morning .
”

At least 29 structures have been destroyed by the Bobcat fire burning in northeastern Los Angeles County, and the number could rise as high as 85, officials said.
The U.S. Forest Service, one of the agencies managing the blaze, said Tuesday the voracious fire has expanded to more than 112,000 acres and is 38% contained.
“It’s a very dynamic incident,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said in a virtual community meeting Monday evening. “This is Day 16 of the Bobcat incident. I am humbled for the people who have lost homes or property.”
Blue Ridge Hot Shots crew members from Arizona join forces with California firefighters on a backfire operation North of Mt. Wilson on Angeles Crest Highway as the Bobcat fire continues to burn. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Blue Ridge Hot Shots crew members from Arizona join forces with California firefighters on a backfire operation North of Mt. Wilson on Angeles Crest Highway. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters continue to battle the Bobcat Fire North of Mt. Wilson along Angeles Crest Highway. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A large plume from the Bobcat fire burning in the Angeles National Forest is seen from the Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Horses are spooked by the approaching Bobcat fire on 106th Street in Juniper Hills on Friday. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
A resident flees as the Bobcat fire approaches Cima Mesa Road in Juniper Hills. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire burns in the Angeles National Forest north of Azusa on Thursday, Sept. 17. (Kyle Grillot / AFP via Getty Images)
A Joshua tree burns as the Bobcat fire rages in Juniper Hills Friday, Sept. 18. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Iris, 4, and Castle Snider, 8, look on as flames from a controlled burn engulf the hillsides behind their backyard. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The L.A. County Fire Camp 9 hand crew rests on Big Pines Highway after working the north flank of the Bobcat fire near Mile High. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A smoky sunset as seen from Largo Vista Road in Crystalaire.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Roland Pagan surveys the remains of his home on Juniper Hills Drive in Littlerock. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A view of the fire from Big Pines Highway. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A Super Scooper dives behind a house to make a water drop in Juniper Hills. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Bear Divide hot shots wrap a U.S. Forestry Department information center in a blanket to protect it from the Bobcat fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A statue sits on a house that burned in Juniper Hills on Saturday, Sept. 19. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A burned statue of a baby angel in Juniper Hills on Saturday, Sept. 19. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Mike Gregoryan is frustrated as he is asked to leave his home on Cruthers Creek as the Bobcat fire nears structures in Juniper Hills. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire reaches Juniper Hills Road and Longview Road. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Near Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area, L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Kit Gruppie holds Rock, who was spooked by the fire and bit owner Bob Patterson. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
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Joshua Trees and vegetation are colored with flame retardant used to save nearby homes as the Bobcat fire continues to burn in the Angeles National Forest in the Juniper Hills Sunday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters stand lookout as the Bobcat fire burns in a canyon near Mt. Wilson Observatory. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter monitors a controlled burn as flames from the Bobcat fire approach homes in Monrovia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Deer look on as firefighters watch the progress of the Bobcat fire near homes in Monrovia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters look on from Sawpit Canyon as the Bobcat fire burns in the Angeles National Forest. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
LaVerne Engine 761 arrives to battle the Bobcat fire burning near homes in Monrovia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Mormon Lake, Ariz., hotshot team member Jessy Twin looks over charred hillsides after clearing brush near Chantry Flat Road near Santa Anita Dam. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A firefighting helicopter refills in a reservoir as crews battle the Bobcat fire in the Angeles National Forest. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A line of fire engines head to the flaming Santa Anita Canyon as the Bobcat fire burns near Arcadia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire rages above Rincon Fire Station on Highway 39 in the San Gabriel Mountains. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Claudia Alcaino walks her dogs along Highland Oaks Drive in Arcadia as crews continue to battle the Bobcat fire. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat Fire smolders in the mountains above Monrovia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Time)
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Bureau of Land Management firefighters plan an attack on the Bobcat fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Monrovia. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP-Getty Images )
A street camera is installed on a light post along North Azusa Avenue as smoke from the Bobcat fire fills the sky. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)