latimes--2020-09-09--Northern California fires spread rapidly, forcing mass evacuations and burning through small town

California ’ s already record-setting fire season worsened considerably Wednesday as more than two dozen fires forced thousands of residents from their homes amid growing alarm about a new monster blaze that rapidly consumed more than 250,000 acres around Oroville and burned an unknown number of structures .
The horde of 28 major wildfires has prompted more than 64,000 people to evacuate statewide , said Daniel Berlant , a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
Some 20,000 residents in Plumas , Butte and Yuba counties have been forced to flee from the North Complex fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topography , high winds and dry fuels aligned to produce unprecedented fire behavior , ” officials said Wednesday morning .
Overnight , the complex — which includes the Bear fire — spread at a rate of about 2,000 acres an hour , according to federal firefighters handling the incident .
By Wednesday morning , it had consumed an additional 80,000 acres — bringing its total size to more than 254,000 acres , stunning fire officials with its speed and ferocity and extending its potential threat all the way to the towns of Paradise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2018 Camp fire .
Photos showed devastation in the tiny Butte County hamlet of Berry Creek , where many homes and other structures were destroyed by flames .
Officials said they don ’ t know the extent of the destruction in the town , which is north of the Oroville Dam .
Some witnesses said many buildings were lost .
Both towns are now under evacuation warnings , while evacuation orders have been issued for other areas around Lake Oroville .
Jay Kurth , incident commander for the U.S. Forest Service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning to “ figure out where the fire footprint really is ” because of the extreme overnight activity .
Kurth added that weather conditions had improved with daybreak , including a softening of the winds , but he said the situation remained volatile .
“ Overall , the combination of hot , very dry and windy weather is a culmination of very critical conditions for the state , ” Brent Wachter , a predictive services meteorologist with the Forest Service , said in a video statement Wednesday .
Nearby , 3,000 residents were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Yuba County on Wednesday as the Willow fire grew to 1,000 acres , according to Cal Fire .
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. also worked Wednesday to restore service to numerous communities whose power had been shut off in hopes of avoiding new fires potentially being sparked by downed power lines .
As of just after 11 a.m. , power had been restored to 30,000 customers , the utility said .
In light of the unprecedented fire conditions , the Forest Service announced that all national forests in California would be temporarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The agency had already closed eight of the state ’ s national forests Monday but moved to shut the remaining 10 — Eldorado , Klamath , Lassen , Mendocino , Modoc , Six Rivers , Plumas , Shasta-Trinity , Tahoe and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit — “ to protect the public and our firefighters , ” Regional Forester Randy Moore said .
“ We will keep [ closures ] in place until conditions improve and we are confident that national forest visitors can recreate safely , ” he added in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and visitors to take these closures and evacuations seriously for their own safety and to allow our firefighters to focus on the mission of safely suppressing these fires.
” With the potential for more strong winds in the forecast and red flag warnings in place for much of the state through Wednesday evening , fire officials warned that the challenging conditions present a risk not only of swelling existing fires — some of which already rank among the largest in California ’ s history — but also of giving a foothold to new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firefighters had a significant battle on their hands as winds whipped a number of fires , allowing significant growth and extreme fire behavior , not only for a number of new fires , but also in some of the major fires that have been burning , ” Berlant said .
The Dolan fire burning in Monterey County , for instance , has doubled in size this week — a frenetic growth rate one official attributed to the combination of strong winds , punishing temperatures and steep , rugged terrain .
That fire had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 20 % contained as of Wednesday morning .
“ For wildland firefighters , we ’ ve been in an all-hands-on-deck situation for weeks now , ” said Jacob Welsh , public information officer for Pacific Northwest Team 2 , pointing to the number of significant fires burning up and down the West Coast .
He added : “ I ’ ve never seen anything like this in 20 years.
” Forecasters said winds remained relatively calm in the vicinity of the Bobcat fire , burning in the San Gabriel Mountains above Monrovia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sierra foothills .
“ We didn ’ t have much wind overnight , ” Mike Wofford , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard , said of the Bobcat fire .
As of Wednesday morning , Wofford said , winds were “ generally under 15 mph , ” though “ we could get some gusts , 20 to 30 mph , later this morning around the fire area.
” “ We ’ re getting some stronger winds now , but they ’ re mostly on the ridges higher up above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said about 7:30 a.m .
Though extreme winds have howled in some parts of the state , Wofford said , “ the [ Bobcat ] fire area was always a little bit questionable given its location — it wasn ’ t in an area that typically gets these strong winds.
” “ We ’ re just fortunate it wasn ’ t in one of those areas , ” he said .
Officials on Tuesday expanded the evacuation warning area for the Bobcat fire — warning residents of Monrovia , Arcadia , Sierra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Pasadena that they should be prepared to leave quickly should the need arise .
That blaze has charred more than 11,400 acres and is still 0 % contained .
Regarding the Creek fire , “ generally speaking … most locations weren ’ t that windy the other day , ” said Colin McKellar , a weather service meteorologist in Hanford .
“ We ’ re getting kind of lucky in that sense , ” he said Wednesday .
“ The winds aren ’ t going to be that big of an issue.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ winds could weaken throughout the day .
“ We ’ re encouraged that the wind activity appears to be dying down … and the rest of the week looks a little more favorable from a wind perspective and a weather perspective , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom said during a briefing Wednesday .
Still , the rash of new fires has been devastating .
The Creek fire alone has burned more than 163,000 acres and destroyed an estimated 360 structures as of Wednesday morning .
An additional 5,296 structures are threatened .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering the Fresno County communities of Tollhouse , Burrough Valley and Cold Springs Rancheria .
The bulk of the firefighting efforts Wednesday were on the Creek fire ’ s southern flank , closest to foothill towns such as Prather , Auberry and Clovis in the flatland , where winds were light and ash rained down throughout the day .
The forest that surrounds them is filled with up to 2,000 tons of burnable timber per acre , most of it dead and dry from a bark beetle infestation that exploded in the Sierra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2012 .
Crews are focusing on areas south of the fire , “ clearing roads in any communities not evacuated and making sure people can get out if they ’ re evacuated , ” fire spokesman Chris Vestel said .
Relatively scant growth was reported on two other Southern California wildfires .
The El Dorado fire , near Yucaipa , was 11,479 acres and 19 % contained as of Wednesday , while the Valley fire , southeast of Alpine in San Diego County near the Mexican border , was 17,565 acres and 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Wednesday , more than 14,000 firefighters were contending with 28 major wildfires , according to Cal Fire , and the agency had increased staffing in preparation for critical fire weather in several areas .
So far this year , 7,657 fires statewide have scorched more than 2.5 million combined acres , Berlant said .
That ’ s an increase of more than 2,000 % over the number of acres burned by this time last year .
“ This year has already been a very destructive fire season , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Berlant said .
Fire activity has been particularly prolific since Aug. 15 , which marked the start of a “ lightning siege ” that unleashed thousands of lightning strikes statewide .
Eight people have died during the weeks-long firestorm , and more than 3,400 structures have been destroyed .
“ This is a challenging year , ” Newsom said this week .
“ It ’ s historic in terms of magnitude , scope and consequence , and it also has required … a deep reservoir of resource.
” The numerous fires also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s air quality .
The National Weather Service said Wednesday morning there was an “ unprecedented amount of smoke in the atmosphere as a record number of acres burn across California and the West , ” obscuring the marine layer up and down the West Coast .
Satellite imagery posted by the agency showed a blanket of smoke over much of California and extending far out over the Pacific Ocean .
Air quality officials have issued a wildfire smoke advisory for much of Southern California through Wednesday evening , warning that “ meteorological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portions of Los Angeles , San Bernardino , Riverside and Orange Counties.
” According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District , the worst concentrations of smoke , which contains tiny , lung-damaging pollution particles known as PM2.5 , are expected in communities closest to the Bobcat and El Dorado fires — the latter of which is burning near Yucaipa .
The smoke that ’ s blanketing California ’ s entire Central Valley and Sierra foothills is also hurting firefighters ’ ability to defend against the oncoming flames .
The high-pressure system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also , with few exceptions , keeping smoke from the state ’ s myriad fires closer to the ground , creating a gray shroud that makes it unsafe for pilots to fly and survey where the fires have been and where they are going , officials said .
“ One of the things we ’ ve seen statewide is with all the smoke , we can ’ t get a good assessment , ” said Vestel , the Creek fire spokesman .
Burning in extremely dry and steep terrain , flames carry the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football-field distances in seconds and miles in minutes — making situational awareness for the crews that battle them paramount .
“ It ’ s hard to see that same vantage point from the ground , ” Vestel said .
“ We get to make some tactical decisions and the … chiefs can then order resources and figure out what exactly it is , where our values at risk are , if there ’ s any critical infrastructure , anything that needs extra protection .
It ’ s just a lot easier to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , really comprehensive view of the incident .
”

Luke Money, Anita Chabria, Tony Barboza, Joseph Serna

California’s already record-setting fire season worsened considerably Wednesday as more than two dozen fires forced thousands of residents from their homes amid growing alarm about a new monster blaze that rapidly consumed more than 250,000 acres around Oroville and killed at least three people.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea announced the deaths Wednesday evening. He did not provide details about where the victims died but said the bodies were found in areas where the Bear fire, part of the massive North Complex, had swept through.
For the record: A previous version of this story misspelled the last name of Creek fire response spokesman Chris Vestal as Vestel.
The remains of two people were found at one location; the third body was found elsewhere.
Honea said his agency and others had desperately tried over the last 24 hours to alert residents in mountain communities that the fire was headed in their direction and that they needed to evacuate.
In announcing the deaths, Honea said he was reminded of how, two years earlier, he had to disclose the toll of the Camp fire, which killed 85 people and is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history.
“We cannot underestimate what they can do to the community and what they can do to the people we love,” he said.
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Twenty-eight major wildfires burning statewide have prompted more than 64,000 people to evacuate, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Some 20,000 residents in Plumas, Butte and Yuba counties have been forced to flee from the North Complex fires, which exploded in size as “topography, high winds and dry fuels aligned to produce unprecedented fire behavior,” officials said Wednesday morning.
Overnight, the complex — which includes the Bear fire — spread at a rate of about 2,000 acres an hour, according to federal firefighters handling the incident.
By Wednesday morning, it had consumed an additional 80,000 acres — bringing its total size to more than 254,000 acres, stunning fire officials with its speed and ferocity and extending its potential threat all the way to the towns of Paradise and Concow, which were devastated in the 2018 Camp fire.
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Photos showed devastation in the tiny Butte County hamlet of Berry Creek, where many homes and other structures were destroyed by flames. Officials said they don’t know the extent of the destruction in the town, which is north of the Oroville Dam. Some witnesses said many buildings were lost.
Both towns are now under evacuation warnings, while evacuation orders have been issued for other areas around Lake Oroville.
Jay Kurth, incident commander for the U.S. Forest Service, said the agency was still working Wednesday morning to “figure out where the fire footprint really is” because of the extreme overnight activity.
Kurth added that weather conditions had improved with daybreak, including a softening of the winds, but he said the situation remained volatile.
“Overall, the combination of hot, very dry and windy weather is a culmination of very critical conditions for the state,” Brent Wachter, a predictive services meteorologist with the Forest Service, said in a video statement Wednesday.
Nearby, 3,000 residents were evacuated from the community of Loma Rica in Yuba County on Wednesday as the Willow fire grew to 1,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. also worked Wednesday to restore service to numerous communities whose power had been shut off in hopes of avoiding new fires potentially being sparked by downed power lines. As of just after 11 a.m., power had been restored to 30,000 customers, the utility said.
In light of the unprecedented fire conditions, the Forest Service announced that all national forests in California would be temporarily closed starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The agency had already closed eight of the state’s national forests Monday but moved to shut the remaining 10 — Eldorado, Klamath, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Six Rivers, Plumas, Shasta-Trinity, Tahoe and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit — “to protect the public and our firefighters,” Regional Forester Randy Moore said.
“We will keep [closures] in place until conditions improve and we are confident that national forest visitors can recreate safely,” he added in a statement. “I ask all Californians and visitors to take these closures and evacuations seriously for their own safety and to allow our firefighters to focus on the mission of safely suppressing these fires.”
With the potential for more strong winds in the forecast and red flag warnings in place for much of the state through Wednesday evening, fire officials warned that the challenging conditions present a risk not only of swelling existing fires — some of which already rank among the largest in California’s history — but also of giving a foothold to new ones.
“Yesterday and overnight, firefighters had a significant battle on their hands as winds whipped a number of fires, allowing significant growth and extreme fire behavior, not only for a number of new fires, but also in some of the major fires that have been burning,” Berlant said.
The Dolan fire burning in Monterey County, for instance, has doubled in size this week — a frenetic growth rate one official attributed to the combination of strong winds, punishing temperatures and steep, rugged terrain.
Flames burn behind the Bidwell Bar Bridge at Lake Oroville. (Noah Berger / Associated Press )
That fire had burned through more than 93,000 acres and was 20% contained as of Wednesday morning.
“For wildland firefighters, we’ve been in an all-hands-on-deck situation for weeks now,” said Jacob Welsh, public information officer for Pacific Northwest Team 2, pointing to the number of significant fires burning up and down the West Coast.
He added: “I’ve never seen anything like this in 20 years.”
Forecasters said winds remained relatively calm in the vicinity of the Bobcat fire, burning in the San Gabriel Mountains above Monrovia, and near the Creek fire in the Sierra foothills.
California Firefighters hurt after being forced to deploy cocoon shelter in Dolan fire are ‘doing well’ Fourteen firefighters defending a ranger station in Los Padres National Forest had to deploy a shelter. Three of them were hospitalized.
“We didn’t have much wind overnight,” Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, said of the Bobcat fire.
As of Wednesday morning, Wofford said, winds were “generally under 15 mph,” though “we could get some gusts, 20 to 30 mph, later this morning around the fire area.”
The smoldering remains of a structure are seen along Auberry Road in Fresno County, where the Creek fire burned through. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
“We’re getting some stronger winds now, but they’re mostly on the ridges higher up above where the fire is currently,” he said about 7:30 a.m.
Though extreme winds have howled in some parts of the state, Wofford said, “the [Bobcat] fire area was always a little bit questionable given its location — it wasn’t in an area that typically gets these strong winds.”
“We’re just fortunate it wasn’t in one of those areas,” he said.
Officials on Tuesday expanded the evacuation warning area for the Bobcat fire — warning residents of Monrovia, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Bradbury, Altadena, Duarte and Pasadena that they should be prepared to leave quickly should the need arise.
That blaze has charred more than 11,400 acres and is still 0% contained.
Regarding the Creek fire, “generally speaking … most locations weren’t that windy the other day,” said Colin McKellar, a weather service meteorologist in Hanford.
“We’re getting kind of lucky in that sense,” he said Wednesday. “The winds aren’t going to be that big of an issue.”
Forecasters also said it appeared that winds could weaken throughout the day.
Cars cross the Golden Gate Bridge under an eerie midday sky in San Francisco. (Harold Postic / AFP/Getty Images)
“We’re encouraged that the wind activity appears to be dying down … and the rest of the week looks a little more favorable from a wind perspective and a weather perspective,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a briefing Wednesday.
Still, the rash of new fires has been devastating.
The Creek fire alone has burned more than 163,000 acres and destroyed an estimated 360 structures as of Wednesday morning. An additional 5,296 structures are threatened.
On Tuesday, officials issued new evacuation orders covering the Fresno County communities of Tollhouse, Burrough Valley and Cold Springs Rancheria.
The bulk of the firefighting efforts Wednesday were on the Creek fire’s southern flank, closest to foothill towns such as Prather, Auberry and Clovis in the flatland, where winds were light and ash rained down throughout the day.
The forest that surrounds them is filled with up to 2,000 tons of burnable timber per acre, most of it dead and dry from a bark beetle infestation that exploded in the Sierra Nevada during the drought that began in 2012.
Crews are focusing on areas south of the fire, “clearing roads in any communities not evacuated and making sure people can get out if they’re evacuated,” fire spokesman Chris Vestal said.
Relatively scant growth was reported on two other Southern California wildfires.
The El Dorado fire, near Yucaipa, was 11,479 acres and 19% contained as of Wednesday, while the Valley fire, southeast of Alpine in San Diego County near the Mexican border, was 17,565 acres and 11% contained, according to Cal Fire.
An orange glow is seen over a darkened Howard Street in San Francisco. (Philip Pacheco / Getty Images)
As of Wednesday, more than 14,000 firefighters were contending with 28 major wildfires, according to Cal Fire, and the agency had increased staffing in preparation for critical fire weather in several areas.
So far this year, 7,657 fires statewide have scorched more than 2.5 million combined acres, Berlant said. That’s an increase of more than 2,000% over the number of acres burned by this time last year.
“This year has already been a very destructive fire season, and it is nowhere close to being over,” Berlant said.
Fire activity has been particularly prolific since Aug. 15, which marked the start of a “lightning siege” that unleashed thousands of lightning strikes statewide.
Eight people have died during the weeks-long firestorm, and more than 3,400 structures have been destroyed.
“This is a challenging year,” Newsom said this week. “It’s historic in terms of magnitude, scope and consequence, and it also has required … a deep reservoir of resource.”
The numerous fires also have wreaked havoc on the region’s air quality.
California Deep orange skies, ‘snowing’ ash as fire smoke swamps Bay Area From San Francisco to Yosemite, social media was filled with images of ominous red and orange skies as smoke from a variety of fires blocked the sun.
The National Weather Service said Wednesday morning there was an “unprecedented amount of smoke in the atmosphere as a record number of acres burn across California and the West,” obscuring the marine layer up and down the West Coast.
Satellite imagery posted by the agency showed a blanket of smoke over much of California and extending far out over the Pacific Ocean.
Air quality officials have issued a wildfire smoke advisory for much of Southern California through Wednesday evening, warning that “meteorological conditions will bring smoke and ash into portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange Counties.”
The Transamerica Pyramid and Salesforce Tower are partially obscured by an orange smoky haze late Wednesday in San Francisco. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press )
According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the worst concentrations of smoke, which contains tiny, lung-damaging pollution particles known as PM2.5, are expected in communities closest to the Bobcat and El Dorado fires — the latter of which is burning near Yucaipa.
The smoke that’s blanketing California’s entire Central Valley and Sierra foothills is also hurting firefighters’ ability to defend against the oncoming flames.
The high-pressure system that’s brought record-breaking heat is also, with few exceptions, keeping smoke from the state’s myriad fires closer to the ground, creating a gray shroud that makes it unsafe for pilots to fly and survey where the fires have been and where they are going, officials said.
“One of the things we’ve seen statewide is with all the smoke, we can’t get a good assessment,” said Vestal, the Creek fire spokesman.
Burning in extremely dry and steep terrain, flames carry the potential to spread their red-hot embers across football-field distances in seconds and miles in minutes — making situational awareness for the crews that battle them paramount.
“It’s hard to see that same vantage point from the ground,” Vestal said. “We get to make some tactical decisions and the … chiefs can then order resources and figure out what exactly it is, where our values at risk are, if there’s any critical infrastructure, anything that needs extra protection. It’s just a lot easier to see it from above and get that full, really comprehensive view of the incident.”


latimes--2020-09-09--New evacuation warnings issued as Bobcat fire continues chewing through San Gabriel Mountains

Fears of a significant spread of the Bobcat fire dissipated overnight as Santa Ana winds failed to materialize , but residents of nearby foothill communities remain on high alert and several evacuation warnings are still in place .
With winds calm overnight and remaining so through the day Wednesday , the blaze turned back toward the mountains and away from the foothill communities of Monrovia , Sierra Madre and Duarte , all of which had been placed under evacuation warnings .
Similar evacuation warnings have been issued for Arcadia , Bradbury , Altadena and Pasadena , and although conditions appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that winds could shift at a moment ’ s notice , sending flames barreling in an unexpected direction .
“ With these Santa Ana winds , you never know when they ’ re going to turn , ” said Linda Attalla , a representative of the Arcadia Fire Department .
“ Just be ready , and know if it gets down to it , you ’ re going to have a fireman beating on your door telling you to get moving.
” The blaze , which ignited Sunday above Azusa in the Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acres and was 0 % contained as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday , Attalla said .
The cause of the fire remains under investigation .
Officials warned that residents should have evacuation plans in place , organize their emergency evacuation supplies and have essential personal belongings easily accessible .
Vehicles should be fully fueled , facing out in driveways and ready to leave .
The fire is one of several burning across the state , including at least six in Southern California , said Christine McMorrow , a spokeswoman for the California Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statewide fires have burned more than 2 million acres in what has been called the most destructive wildfire season on record in terms of acreage .
“ We do still have a red flag warning through this evening , ” McMorrow said Wednesday .
“ The winds are still a concern.
” Evacuations have been ordered for residents and Angeles National Forest visitors from Big Santa Anita Canyon , Mt .
Wilson , San Gabriel Canyon and Monrovia Canyon , and national forests in the region remain closed .
Maria Taylor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said smoke and ash were contributing to unhealthy air quality .
She said the department is fully staffed , with all reserve engines ready should the fire escalate .
“ We are actively monitoring the situation , ” she said .
“ The main message that we have is get a plan , and plan ahead.
” Residents with large animals such as horses or cattle are being urged to begin moving those animals .
Limited accommodations are available at the Fairplex fairground in Pomona for livestock and other large animals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary evacuation point at Santa Anita racetrack .
At least three residents have accessed the facility , which is being used as a rest site for residents to gather and assess their needs and for the relief agency to present lodging options , said Red Cross Los Angeles communications officer Marium Mohiuddin .
More evacuees are expected , she said .
“ We are asking people to come there so we can help them get to more comfortable places , ” Mohiuddin said , noting that the Red Cross is working with nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Wildfires go fast , so just make sure you ’ re ready , ” she said .
Smoke advisories related to the Bobcat and El Dorado fires have been extended for most of Los Angeles County and parts of Orange , Riverside and San Bernardino counties , the South Coast Air Quality Management District said Tuesday night on Twitter .
Forecasts call for continued warm and dry weather , as well as gusty wind conditions , according to the National Weather Service , although “ diminishing winds are possible ” by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Angeles National Forest firefighters Jessy Alvarez, left, and Gabriel Ayers get weather readings as the Bobcat fire burns along Highway 39.
Although the Bobcat fire nearly doubled in size Wednesday, the blaze moved northeast and away from the cities and towns in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains that only a day earlier had been poised to evacuate.
By Wednesday evening, one of those communities, Arcadia, had lifted a voluntary evacuation warning, although fire officials warned that capricious Santa Ana winds could at any moment pick up and drive the flames in an unexpected direction.
The Bobcat Fire, which ignited Sunday above Azusa in the Angeles National Forest, has burned 19,796 acres and was 0% contained as of 7 p.m. Wednesday, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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.
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Winds remained calm overnight and through the day Wednesday. Although fire crews had feared Santa Ana gusts whipping the blaze toward the foothill cities, the winds that did blow Wednesday pushed the flames east, away from homes and structures, officials wrote in an evening update.
Although wind conditions appeared to have steadied Wednesday, officials warned that residents should have evacuation plans in place, organize their emergency evacuation supplies and have essential personal belongings easily accessible. Vehicles should be fully fueled, facing out in driveways and ready to leave.
Ash falls on a parked car as the Bobcat fire burns in the distance Wednesday morning. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
“With these Santa Ana winds, you never know when they’re going to turn,” said Linda Attalla, a representative of the Arcadia Fire Department. “Just be ready, and know if it gets down to it, you’re going to have a fireman beating on your door telling you to get moving.”
The fire is one of dozens burning across the state, including at least six in Southern California, said Christine McMorrow, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Combined, the statewide fires have burned more than 2 million acres in what has been called the most destructive wildfire season on record in terms of acreage.
“We do still have a red flag warning through this evening,” McMorrow said Wednesday. “The winds are still a concern.”
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Evacuations have been ordered for residents and Angeles National Forest visitors from Big Santa Anita Canyon, Mt. Wilson, San Gabriel Canyon and Monrovia Canyon, and national forests in the region remain closed.
Maria Taylor, another representative of the Arcadia Fire Department, said smoke and ash were contributing to unhealthy air quality. She said the department is fully staffed, with all reserve engines ready should the fire escalate.
“We are actively monitoring the situation,” she said. “The main message that we have is get a plan, and plan ahead.”
Residents with large animals such as horses or cattle are being urged to begin moving those animals. Limited accommodations are available at the Fairplex fairground in Pomona for livestock and other large animals.
The Red Cross has set up a temporary evacuation point at Santa Anita racetrack. At least three residents have accessed the facility, which is being used as a rest site for residents to gather and assess their needs and for the relief agency to present lodging options, said Red Cross Los Angeles communications officer Marium Mohiuddin. More evacuees are expected, she said.
“We are asking people to come there so we can help them get to more comfortable places,” Mohiuddin said, noting that the Red Cross is working with nearby hotels and shelters to arrange potential accommodations.
“Wildfires go fast, so just make sure you’re ready,” she said.
Smoke advisories related to the Bobcat and El Dorado fires have been extended for most of Los Angeles County and parts of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said Tuesday night on Twitter.
Forecasts call for continued warm and dry weather, as well as gusty wind conditions, according to the National Weather Service, although “diminishing winds are possible” by Thursday, which may bring some relief.


latimes--2020-09-09--Deep orange skies, 'snowing' ash as fire smoke swamps Bay Area

The skies around the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California took on a surreal glow Wednesday as smoke from a variety of fires shrouded the region .
From San Francisco to Yosemite , social media was filled with images of ominous red and orange skies and smoky air .
It was so dark outside , many residents had interior lights flipped on even as midday approached .
The National Weather Service explained the conditions this way : “ As the winds weaken aloft , gravity will take over as the primary vertical transport of the smoke .
Suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and could lead to darker skies and worsening air quality today.
” The skies were so dark that one utility worker in Mountain View had his truck headlights turned on as he worked on a fire hydrant Wednesday morning .
“ The real problem is the ash falling from the sky , ” said Fabian Rios , who was wearing a surgical mask as he worked on the hydrant .
“ I am just getting covered.
” UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said the fire smoke was blocking the sun to a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoke plumes from numerous large wildfires , some of which have been generating nocturnal pyrocumulunimbus clouds ( “ fire thunderstorms ” ) , are almost completely blocking out the sun across some portions of Northern California this morning , ” he wrote on Twitter .
Air quality was unhealthy for large swaths of the Central Valley and the northern coast of California on Wednesday , according to AirNow.gov .
Officials warned residents to stay indoors when they smelled the odor of smoke .
In the Bay Area , air quality conditions remained moderate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reddish skies — the smoke still remained mostly higher up in the atmosphere .
But officials warned it could settle down to the ground level .
“ If the smell of smoke is present or visible , it is important that Bay Area residents protect their health by avoiding exposure .
If possible , stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside , ” the Bay Area AQMD said in a statement .
The agency tweeted an explanation for Wednesday ’ s orange- and red-hued skies , saying they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the air .
Strong winds over the past few days transported ash from fires in northern California and the Sierra Nevada into the region .
These smoke particles scatter blue light & only allow yellow-orange-red light to reach the surface , causing skies to look orange .
If smoke becomes too thick in a certain area , most of the light will be scattered & absorbed before reaching the surface , which may cause dark skies.
” The National Weather Service office for the Bay Area said there was an “ unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a record number of acres burn across California & the West .
From space , you can ’ t even see @ KarlTheFog & the marine layer as the smoke extends well out over the Pacific.
” Snapshots of a darkened , orange Bay Area proliferated on social media : San Francisco ’ s landmark TransAmerica Pyramid pointing into a sinister orange haze ; streetlights turned on in front of the iconic Ferry Building on the city ’ s waterfront ; a dark orange mist obliterating from view the Golden Gate Bridge ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun gave up on 2020… ” said one person ’ s tweet of a video in Tiburon .
“ The sun has been up for about an hour now .
We should have a sky filled with bright sunshine .
It ’ s so dark out , ” tweeted Drew Tuma , a meteorologist for KGO-TV .
The Bay Area is in the midst of its longest stretch of “ Spare the Air ” days — with its 23rd consecutive day on Wednesday — in which regional air quality officials forecast unhealthy air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been issuing Spare the Air alerts since 1991 .
The previous longest consecutive stretch of such days was a 14-day period in 2018 as the Camp fire tore through the town of Paradise , becoming the deadliest and most destructive fire in modern California history , killing 85 and destroying more than 18,000 structures .
The Spare the Air alerts are forecast to continue at least through Friday .
As dangerous fire weather conditions continued Wednesday , red flag warnings were expected to remain in effect through Wednesday afternoon for large swaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Humidity values will fall back into the single digits and teens this afternoon .
These conditions will continue to impact current wildfires , and extreme caution should be taken to prevent starting additional fires , ” the National Weather Service said .
Many Bay Area residents have kept “ go bags ” with documents , pictures and other valuable items close at hand in case they have to evacuate .
A number have purchased generators in expectation that Pacific Gas & Electric will shut off power when the winds pick up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d stocked up on fans and air-purifying machines .

At 9:47 a.m. Wednesday, the Golden Gate bridge is shrouded in orange haze.
The skies around the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California took on a surreal glow Wednesday as smoke from a variety of fires shrouded the region.
From San Francisco to Yosemite, social media was filled with images of ominous red and orange skies and smoky air. It was so dark outside, many residents had interior lights flipped on even as midday approached.
The National Weather Service explained the conditions this way: “As the winds weaken aloft, gravity will take over as the primary vertical transport of the smoke. Suspended smoke will descend closer to the surface and could lead to darker skies and worsening air quality today.”
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The skies were so dark that one utility worker in Mountain View had his truck headlights turned on as he worked on a fire hydrant Wednesday morning.
“The real problem is the ash falling from the sky,” said Fabian Rios, who was wearing a surgical mask as he worked on the hydrant. “I am just getting covered.”
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said the fire smoke was blocking the sun to a significant degree.
“Extremely dense & tall smoke plumes from numerous large wildfires, some of which have been generating nocturnal pyrocumulunimbus clouds (“fire thunderstorms”), are almost completely blocking out the sun across some portions of Northern California this morning,” he wrote on Twitter.
Bay Area sky turns bright orange, some areas see 'snowing' ash https://t.co/SHo2ZulCV9 pic.twitter.com/fs3IOKVR46 — SFGATE (@SFGate) September 9, 2020
Air quality was unhealthy for large swaths of the Central Valley and the northern coast of California on Wednesday, according to AirNow.gov.
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Officials warned residents to stay indoors when they smelled the odor of smoke.
In the Bay Area, air quality conditions remained moderate, as — despite the dim, reddish skies — the smoke still remained mostly higher up in the atmosphere. But officials warned it could settle down to the ground level.
“If the smell of smoke is present or visible, it is important that Bay Area residents protect their health by avoiding exposure. If possible, stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside,” the Bay Area AQMD said in a statement.
Why is the sky orange today? Hear the latest air quality update from Air District meteorologist Jarrett Claiborne! https://t.co/xWnwgP7eYR — Bay Area Air Quality (@AirDistrict) September 9, 2020
The agency tweeted an explanation for Wednesday’s orange- and red-hued skies, saying they’re “a result of wildfire smoke in the air. Strong winds over the past few days transported ash from fires in northern California and the Sierra Nevada into the region. These smoke particles scatter blue light & only allow yellow-orange-red light to reach the surface, causing skies to look orange. If smoke becomes too thick in a certain area, most of the light will be scattered & absorbed before reaching the surface, which may cause dark skies.”
The view from "Mount Vision" near Point Reyes per @NVSeismoLab's https://t.co/wrLjrnA6Mg.
Notice the other regional cams around the North Bay show a similar view. #cawx pic.twitter.com/6RUnFAZvpX — NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) September 9, 2020
The National Weather Service office for the Bay Area said there was an “unprecedented amount of smoke in the atmosphere as a record number of acres burn across California & the West. From space, you can’t even see @KarlTheFog & the marine layer as the smoke extends well out over the Pacific.”
Snapshots of a darkened, orange Bay Area proliferated on social media: San Francisco’s landmark TransAmerica Pyramid pointing into a sinister orange haze; streetlights turned on in front of the iconic Ferry Building on the city’s waterfront; a dark orange mist obliterating from view the Golden Gate Bridge’s towers.
“The day the sun gave up on 2020…” said one person’s tweet of a video in Tiburon.
As the winds weaken aloft, gravity will take over as the primary vertical transport of the smoke.
Suspended smoke will descend closer to the surface and could lead to darker skies and worsening air quality today. This is beyond the scope of our models so we rely on your reports! — NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) September 9, 2020
“The sun has been up for about an hour now. We should have a sky filled with bright sunshine. It’s so dark out,” tweeted Drew Tuma, a meteorologist for KGO-TV.
The Bay Area is in the midst of its longest stretch of “Spare the Air” days — with its 23rd consecutive day on Wednesday — in which regional air quality officials forecast unhealthy air quality conditions.
The Bay Area AQMD has been issuing Spare the Air alerts since 1991. The previous longest consecutive stretch of such days was a 14-day period in 2018 as the Camp fire tore through the town of Paradise, becoming the deadliest and most destructive fire in modern California history, killing 85 and destroying more than 18,000 structures.
The Spare the Air alerts are forecast to continue at least through Friday.
As dangerous fire weather conditions continued Wednesday, red flag warnings were expected to remain in effect through Wednesday afternoon for large swaths of the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada.
“Humidity values will fall back into the single digits and teens this afternoon. These conditions will continue to impact current wildfires, and extreme caution should be taken to prevent starting additional fires,” the National Weather Service said.
Many Bay Area residents have kept “go bags” with documents, pictures and other valuable items close at hand in case they have to evacuate. A number have purchased generators in expectation that Pacific Gas & Electric will shut off power when the winds pick up, and some residents said they’d stocked up on fans and air-purifying machines.
Staff writer Maura Dolan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-09-09--10 photos that give you a look at SoFi Stadium

What does a $ 5-billion stadium look like ?
Fans of the Rams and Chargers are going to have to @ @ @ @ @ Kroenke , owner of the Rams and project developer , participated in an official opening @ @ @ @ @ this week with Chargers owner Dean Spanos and Inglewood Mayor James Butts to a limited @ @ @ @ @ media .
The Rams have the honor of breaking in the field with the first @ @ @ @ @ Cowboys .
The Chargers will take the field at SoFi Stadium for the first game @ @ @ @ @ City Chiefs .
The man behind the plan Ready , but still waiting for fans

What does a $5-billion stadium look like?
Fans of the Rams and Chargers are going to have to wait and see.
Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rams and project developer, participated in an official opening of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood this week with Chargers owner Dean Spanos and Inglewood Mayor James Butts to a limited number of members of the media.
The Rams have the honor of breaking in the field with the first game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. The Chargers will take the field at SoFi Stadium for the first game Sept. 20 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Largest stadium in the NFL
SoFi Stadium is an indoor-outdoor stadium and seats about 70,000, expandable to 100,000. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
The man behind the plan
Rams owner Stan Kroenke, left, overlooks the new stadium with Kevin Demoff, COO and executive vice president of football operations with the Rams, and Kroenke business partner Alan B. Bornstein after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
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Ready for game day
A view of SoFi Stadium from the stands. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Photo op
Rams owner Stan Kroenke with his son, Josh Kroenke, left, during the official opening of SoFi Stadium.
(Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
120-yard-long video board
Rams played a scrimmage on Aug. 22 at SoFi Stadium, where a 120-yard video board hangs above the field. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Practice, practice, practice
Rams quarterback Jared Goff looks to pass during scrimmage at SoFi Stadium on Aug. 22. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
300-acre sports and entertainment site
A view of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Ready, but still waiting for fans
SoFi Stadium is at Hollywood Park, a nearly 300-acre sports and entertainment site in Inglewood developed by Stan Kroenke. Fans aren’t allowed into the stadium yet because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
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Parting shot
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-09-09--Firefighters hurt after being forced to deploy cocoon shelter in Dolan fire are 'doing well'

Three firefighters who were injured while battling the Dolan fire burning in Monterey County were recovering Wednesday morning as crews continue working to rein in the blaze that has doubled in size this week , officials said .
In all , 14 firefighters were defending the Nacimiento Station in Los Padres National Forest on Tuesday morning when they had to deploy a shelter , which is used as a last resort and acts as a cocoon to protect them from the heat .
Three of the firefighters were taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for assessment and treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inhalation , officials said .
The ranger station itself was destroyed .
All three were “ recovering and reported to be doing well ” as of Wednesday morning , said Jacob Welsh , public information officer for Pacific Northwest Team 2 , an incident management team assigned to the Dolan fire .
“ Everything is looking positive with that , and we ’ re grateful , ” he said .
One of the firefighters was originally reported to be in critical condition , but Welsh said that person ’ s condition is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of roughly two dozen major blazes chewing through California ’ s landscape .
The fire ignited Aug. 18 north of Limekiln State Park and exploded this week .
“ We saw it double in size a couple nights ago , ” Welsh said Wednesday .
The fire had burned through more than 93,000 acres and was 20 % contained as of Wednesday morning .
Along with strong winds and punishing temperatures in the fire area over recent days , Welsh said crews are also contending with steep , rugged terrain that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to access .
Firefighters are also stretched thin as they battle numerous blazes up and down the West Coast .
“ For wildland firefighters , we ’ ve been in an all-hands-on-deck situation for weeks now , ” Welsh said .
He added : “ I ’ ve never seen anything like this in 20 years .
”

Three firefighters who were injured while battling the Dolan fire burning in Monterey County were recovering Wednesday morning as crews continue working to rein in the blaze that has doubled in size this week, officials said.
In all, 14 firefighters were defending the Nacimiento Station in Los Padres National Forest on Tuesday morning when they had to deploy a shelter, which is used as a last resort and acts as a cocoon to protect them from the heat.
Three of the firefighters were taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for assessment and treatment of injuries that included burns and smoke inhalation, officials said.
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The ranger station itself was destroyed.
All three were “recovering and reported to be doing well” as of Wednesday morning, said Jacob Welsh, public information officer for Pacific Northwest Team 2, an incident management team assigned to the Dolan fire.
“Everything is looking positive with that, and we’re grateful,” he said.
One of the firefighters was originally reported to be in critical condition, but Welsh said that person’s condition is now listed as stable.
The Dolan fire is one of roughly two dozen major blazes chewing through California’s landscape.
The fire ignited Aug. 18 north of Limekiln State Park and exploded this week.
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“We saw it double in size a couple nights ago,” Welsh said Wednesday.
The fire had burned through more than 93,000 acres and was 20% contained as of Wednesday morning.
California Fate of California condors unknown after sanctuary burns A California wildfire has destroyed a sanctuary for the endangered California condor. The fate of several birds, including a chick, remains unknown.
Along with strong winds and punishing temperatures in the fire area over recent days, Welsh said crews are also contending with steep, rugged terrain that makes some areas “nearly impossible” to access.
Firefighters are also stretched thin as they battle numerous blazes up and down the West Coast.
“For wildland firefighters, we’ve been in an all-hands-on-deck situation for weeks now,” Welsh said.
He added: “I’ve never seen anything like this in 20 years.”


latimes--2020-09-09--L.A. County walks back Halloween ban, says trick-or-treating 'not recommended'

Less than a day after issuing new health guidelines that banned trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities , Los Angeles County public health officials walked back the decision Wednesday .
Citing an inability to maintain safe social distancing and the potential for gatherings beyond household members , county officials initially nixed trick-or-treating along with other Halloween traditions , including haunted houses and parades .
But Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Wednesday that the guidelines have been “ slightly revised.
” Ferrer said the change distinguishes between activities originally prohibited under the health officer order from activities that are “ not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s just not safe to celebrate in the ways we usually do , ” Ferrer said .
“ We are recommending that trick-or-treating not happen this year.
” The Department of Public Health previously said that because some of the traditional ways in which Halloween is celebrated do not allow contact with nonhousehold members to be minimized , it is important to identify safer alternatives .
“ Trunk-or-treat ” events involving car-to-car candy dispersal , which are sometimes held by churches or schools , also are not recommended under the revised order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some residents , and even a few celebrities took umbrage with the rules .
( Warning : Link includes profanity . )
“ I do not agree with the new measures in place , ” said Joanna Cortez , an Elysian Valley resident with two nieces and a baby on the way .
“ Trick-or-treating is an outdoor activity , ” she said , noting that wrapped and packaged candy can easily be sanitized before being consumed .
“ We can have measures in place like social distancing and leaving out candy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out candy.
” But other community members weren ’ t so sure .
James Lamb said that in previous years , he ’ s had hundreds of trick-or-treaters at his Burbank home on Halloween , but in light of the pandemic , it doesn ’ t seem like a good idea this year .
“ I don ’ t think there is any good alternative at this point , short of buying your own kids candy and just staying home , unfortunately , ” said Lamb , the father of an immunocompromised child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors when children are trick-or-treating .
But L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said that “ even a pandemic can ’ t cancel Halloween.
” “ In fact , it ’ s the only day of the year we were expected to wear masks before this crisis started , ” said Hahn , whose Fourth District includes many of the beach cities .
“ Be safe , practice physical distancing and get creative about how you celebrate with your kids this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representatives from the candy industry also added their voice in opposition to the earlier ban on trick-or-treating .
“ There will be regional differences across the country in the way that people are going to celebrate the Halloween season throughout the month of October , ” said Carly Schildhaus of the National Confectioners Assn .
“ We ’ re pleased that the Public Health Department in L.A. County is reassessing their earlier decision that really lacked creativity when it comes to trick-or-treating and Halloween.
” Other Halloween events , including large gatherings or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or outside , will not be permitted under the new health order .
The latest guidelines also prevent carnivals , festivals and haunted house attractions , and instead encourage online parties , car parades that comply with vehicle parade protocols and Halloween movie nights at drive-in theaters that meet health and safety standards .
Annual Halloween events such as Knott ’ s Scary Farm and the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland have already been canceled because of the pandemic .
The county won ’ t strip away all Halloween celebrations .
Halloween meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at outdoor museums and dressing up homes and yards with decorations are still allowed — provided they comply with countywide COVID-19 protocols .
The announcement follows a scorching hot Labor Day weekend , in which public health officials urged residents to stay home to avoid holiday-related outbreaks such as those tied to Memorial Day and the Fourth of July .
As of Wednesday , COVID-19 has claimed more than 13,900 lives in California , with over 746,000 confirmed cases .

Daniel Nazaryan of Tujunga collects candy at the Montrose Trick-or-Treat Spooktacular in October 2017.
Less than a day after issuing new health guidelines that banned trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities, Los Angeles County public health officials walked back the decision Wednesday.
Citing an inability to maintain safe social distancing and the potential for gatherings beyond household members, county officials initially nixed trick-or-treating along with other Halloween traditions, including haunted houses and parades.
But Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Wednesday that the guidelines have been “slightly revised.”
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Ferrer said the change distinguishes between activities originally prohibited under the health officer order from activities that are “not recommended.”
“This year, it’s just not safe to celebrate in the ways we usually do,” Ferrer said. “We are recommending that trick-or-treating not happen this year.”
The Department of Public Health previously said that because some of the traditional ways in which Halloween is celebrated do not allow contact with nonhousehold members to be minimized, it is important to identify safer alternatives.
“Trunk-or-treat” events involving car-to-car candy dispersal, which are sometimes held by churches or schools, also are not recommended under the revised order.
The news was not well-received by some residents, and even a few celebrities took umbrage with the rules. (Warning: Link includes profanity.)
“I do not agree with the new measures in place,” said Joanna Cortez, an Elysian Valley resident with two nieces and a baby on the way.
Advertisement
“Trick-or-treating is an outdoor activity,” she said, noting that wrapped and packaged candy can easily be sanitized before being consumed. “We can have measures in place like social distancing and leaving out candy in a bowl for children versus actually handing out candy.”
But other community members weren’t so sure. James Lamb said that in previous years, he’s had hundreds of trick-or-treaters at his Burbank home on Halloween, but in light of the pandemic, it doesn’t seem like a good idea this year.
“I don’t think there is any good alternative at this point, short of buying your own kids candy and just staying home, unfortunately,” said Lamb, the father of an immunocompromised child.
Health officials insist it can be difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors when children are trick-or-treating.
But L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said that “even a pandemic can’t cancel Halloween.”
“In fact, it’s the only day of the year we were expected to wear masks before this crisis started,” said Hahn, whose Fourth District includes many of the beach cities. “Be safe, practice physical distancing and get creative about how you celebrate with your kids this year,” she said in a statement.
Representatives from the candy industry also added their voice in opposition to the earlier ban on trick-or-treating.
“There will be regional differences across the country in the way that people are going to celebrate the Halloween season throughout the month of October,” said Carly Schildhaus of the National Confectioners Assn.
“We’re pleased that the Public Health Department in L.A. County is reassessing their earlier decision that really lacked creativity when it comes to trick-or-treating and Halloween.”
Other Halloween events, including large gatherings or parties with nonhousehold members — either indoors or outside, will not be permitted under the new health order.
The latest guidelines also prevent carnivals, festivals and haunted house attractions, and instead encourage online parties, car parades that comply with vehicle parade protocols and Halloween movie nights at drive-in theaters that meet health and safety standards.
Annual Halloween events such as Knott’s Scary Farm and the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland have already been canceled because of the pandemic.
The county won’t strip away all Halloween celebrations. Halloween meals at outdoor restaurants, Halloween-themed art installations at outdoor museums and dressing up homes and yards with decorations are still allowed — provided they comply with countywide COVID-19 protocols.
The announcement follows a scorching hot Labor Day weekend, in which public health officials urged residents to stay home to avoid holiday-related outbreaks such as those tied to Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
As of Wednesday, COVID-19 has claimed more than 13,900 lives in California, with over 746,000 confirmed cases.
Times staff writer Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-09-09--Mystery surrounds fatal shooting of 7 people at Riverside County marijuana grow house

Authorities investigating the shooting deaths of seven people at a marijuana growing facility in a remote corner of Riverside County say they think the crime may have been carried out by multiple assailants .
Few details are known about the mass killing , and detectives are still in the early stages of figuring out what happened .
“ This is not going to be an easy investigation , ” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Tuesday .
Here is what we know from Times reporting : Where did the killings occur ?
The dead were found on a property in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ east of Los Angeles .
When sheriff ’ s deputies arrived Monday , it became clear the property was an “ obvious large-scale illegal marijuana processing center , ” Bianco said .
There were hundreds of plants , a makeshift greenhouse , a lab for using butane to extract valuable THC from pot plants and more than 1,000 pounds of processed marijuana with a street value in the millions , the sheriff said .
He said the sprawling operation had been overseen by sophisticated criminals .
“ This was not that they just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ This was a very large operation , a very organized-crime type of an operation.
” What do we know about the victims ?
Deputies , who were called to the house on reports of an assault shortly after midnight Monday , found six people dead from gunshots .
A seventh victim — a woman — was alive but died shortly afterward at a hospital .
Authorities did not identify any of the victims Tuesday .
Mark Jones , 69 , who lives nearby , told the Press-Enterprise that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Soon after , he said firetrucks and emergency vehicles arrived .
What did the compound look like ?
Trash littered the grounds Tuesday .
Women ’ s clothing and soda bottles were strewn across the trailer ’ s front porch .
A pickup was parked out front , its doors flung open to show clothing draped on the seats and an envelope on the floor marked `` $ 8,300.
” Behind the trailer was a greenhouse , its cover torn open .
Grow plugs , used to sprout marijuana seedlings , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folding chairs had been arrayed in a row ; a seventh was nearby , empty pizza boxes and water bottles stacked atop it .
Taped to the home ’ s front door was a handwritten note that read in English , “ Welcome to our home , please take your shoe off before enter the house , ” and a similar message beneath it in Lao , the primary language spoken in Laos .
All of the witnesses interviewed at the scene were Laotian , Bianco said .

Food containers litter the property where seven people were shot to death over Labor Day weekend at an illegal marijuana grow house in the unincorporated area of Aguanga in Riverside County.
Authorities investigating the shooting deaths of seven people at a marijuana growing facility in a remote corner of Riverside County say they think the crime may have been carried out by multiple assailants.
Few details are known about the mass killing, and detectives are still in the early stages of figuring out what happened.
“This is not going to be an easy investigation,” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Tuesday.
Here is what we know from Times reporting:
Where did the killings occur?
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The dead were found on a property in Aguanga, a remote hamlet 100 miles east of Los Angeles.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived Monday, it became clear the property was an “obvious large-scale illegal marijuana processing center,” Bianco said. There were hundreds of plants, a makeshift greenhouse, a lab for using butane to extract valuable THC from pot plants and more than 1,000 pounds of processed marijuana with a street value in the millions, the sheriff said.
He said the sprawling operation had been overseen by sophisticated criminals.
“This was not that they just happened to be growing marijuana,” he said. “This was a very large operation, a very organized-crime type of an operation.”
What do we know about the victims?
Deputies, who were called to the house on reports of an assault shortly after midnight Monday, found six people dead from gunshots. A seventh victim — a woman — was alive but died shortly afterward at a hospital.
Authorities did not identify any of the victims Tuesday.
Mark Jones, 69, who lives nearby, told the Press-Enterprise that he heard “three separate volleys of gunshots.”
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Soon after, he said firetrucks and emergency vehicles arrived.
What did the compound look like?
Trash littered the grounds Tuesday. Women’s clothing and soda bottles were strewn across the trailer’s front porch. A pickup was parked out front, its doors flung open to show clothing draped on the seats and an envelope on the floor marked “$8,300.”
Behind the trailer was a greenhouse, its cover torn open. Grow plugs, used to sprout marijuana seedlings, were scattered on the ground. Six metal folding chairs had been arrayed in a row; a seventh was nearby, empty pizza boxes and water bottles stacked atop it.
Taped to the home’s front door was a handwritten note that read in English, “Welcome to our home, please take your shoe off before enter the house,” and a similar message beneath it in Lao, the primary language spoken in Laos.
All of the witnesses interviewed at the scene were Laotian, Bianco said.


latimes--2020-09-09--Daring escapes, wrenching devastation as 'the fire is blowing up everywhere'

In the Sierra Nevada , helicopters evacuated more than a hundred people trapped by flames .
In the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains , thousands of residents worried that Santa Ana winds could push the growing Bobcat fire into their communities .
And in Sacramento , Gov .
Gavin Newsom warned the populace that state resources would be severely taxed by dozens of wildfires now raging across the state .
California ’ s record-breaking wildfires continued to rage Tuesday even as authorities conceded they would likely get much worse as downslope winds from Shasta to San Diego prompted red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as more than 2 million acres have been burned since July and as Californians recover from a withering weekend of record heat .
Since the Creek fire broke out Friday night in the Sierra foothills , it has raced through pine forest and thick underbrush to become one of the largest wildfires in the state this year , with no containment .
Starting at 3 a.m. Tuesday , the National Air Guard and Naval Air Station Lemoore sent two helicopters — a Blackhawk and Chinook — to evacuate 142 campers and hikers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get all of them out .
Coordinating with the Fresno County sheriff , crews were planning to rescue 62 more people throughout the day .
The fire ripped through timber made more flammable by the bark beetle infestation , cutting across Highway 168 , the main road between Shaver and Huntington lakes .
With that route closed , fire crews were divided as they fought to save the cabin communities along the lakes .
“ The fire is blowing up everywhere , ” said Christopher Donnelly , chief of the Huntington Lake Volunteer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
The erratic , increasing winds and steep terrain pushed the fire into multiple fronts and forced firefighters into a triage situation in deciding which of the many small mountain hamlets they could protect .
“ Crews have been working a 96-hour shift , ” said Nathan Magsig , Fresno County supervisor for the foothill district .
Magsig spoke onsite at Shaver Lake , where evacuations had taken place .
In Southern California , Santa Ana winds were expected to build up throughout the night , potentially pushing three major fires toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning in the San Gabriel Mountains above Monrovia ; the El Dorado fire , near Yucaipa ; and the Valley fire , southeast of Alpine in San Diego County near the Mexican border .
Firefighters in San Diego worked to build fuel breaks on the west front before the winds were expected to kick up around 8 p.m. “ We have a sleeping giant that is in the backcountry , ” said Tony Mecham of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
“ And while we have focused tremendous effort on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tonight the winds are gon na blow .
And this fire has the potential to burn.
” San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob warned residents to be ready to evacuate and sought to reassure those who might be reluctant to go to a shelter because of fears about the coronavirus , saying that emergency officials were taking steps to protect people ’ s health .
“ We have a plan , which includes hotel rooms , congregate shelters , when needed , ” she said .
“ So please know that precautions will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s health and safety at the evacuation centers and hotels , or wherever they may be placed safely.
” In Los Angeles County , fire officials feared the wind could push the Bobcat fire into foothill enclaves such as Cloverfield Canyon in Monrovia .
The last time fire threatened the canyon , in 2009 , Cliff Armstrong , 60 , stayed behind , watering his house with a garden hose .
“ I don ’ t think I ’ ll risk it this time , ” he said .
Neighbors were packing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of friends .
One told Armstrong he removed all the cushions around the patio , and floor mats — anything that was combustible .
“ Oh , right , right , ” Armstrong replied .
“ Well , wait a minute .
I have garage full of toilet paper and paper towels because of the COVID thing , man.
” Forest Service officials announced the closure of eight national forests — Angeles , San Bernardino , Los Padres , Cleveland , Stanislaus , Sierra , Sequoia and Inyo — at 5 p.m. Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions .
“ Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior ... and we simply do not have enough resources to fully fight and contain every fire , ” said Randy Moore , regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service .
Fire activity has been particularly prolific since Aug. 15 , which marked the start of a “ lightning siege ” that unleashed thousands of lightning strikes statewide .
Since just that date , firefighters have battled more than 900 blazes that have burned 1.8 million acres , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ firestorm , and roughly 3,400 structures have been destroyed .
“ This is a challenging year , ” Newsom said .
“ It ’ s historic in terms of magnitude , scope and consequence , and it also has required ... a deep reservoir of resource.
” On Tuesday , nearly 14,000 firefighters were contending with 25 major wildfires , according to Cal Fire , and the agency had increased staffing in preparation for critical fire weather in several areas .
The most dangerous at that point was the Creek fire in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 150,000 acres .
Fire crews at Huntington Lake had been extinguishing small spot fires and had hoped to have three bulldozers cutting breaks along the north shore of the lake , said Donnelly , the volunteer fire chief .
But as the fire pushed closer to Shaver Lake , and with Highway 168 impassable , the crews were left with only one dozer for the job .
Strike teams at Huntington Lake were redirected to Shaver Lake , as well as the western front , a rugged region known as Jose Basin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the communities of Tollhouse and Prather and farther toward Auberry .
“ The Forest Service has worked heroically to remove dead trees from the bark beetle , ” said Donnelly .
“ But there are millions of trees , and they haven ’ t done anything to clear forest above these cabins .
With so many surface fuels , it is almost impossible to stop a fire running through them.
” By Tuesday afternoon , the fire front was threatening to surround Shaver Lake .
Fire ecologists are certain to study this fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were commercially logged under a U.S. Forest Service program meant to revive the timber industry in depressed mountain towns and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire .
“ We had pleaded with the Forest Service not to approve those logging operations in the Sierra National Forest because they would not prevent fires and would likely make future fires burn hotter and faster , ” said Chad Hanson , a research ecologist with the John Muir Project .
“ The agency ignored us , so we filed lawsuits in 2014 and 2015 to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Forest Service .
“ On Saturday , the speed of the Creek fire as it burned through the areas that had been logged under the guise of fuel reduction was the fastest I ’ ve seen in two decades of studying wildfire behavior , ” he said , with one exception : “ the Camp fire in 2018 , which spread at a similar speed through several thousand acres that had been heavily logged in previous years , devastating the community of Paradise.
” Times staff writers Joe Mozingo and Louis Sahagun @ @ @ @ @

Joseph Serna, Ruben Vives, Luke Money, Thomas Curwen

Wildfires of historic magnitude have led to daring escapes and wrenching devastation.
In the Sierra Nevada, helicopters evacuated more than a hundred people trapped by flames. In the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, thousands of residents worried that Santa Ana winds could push the growing Bobcat fire into their communities. And in Sacramento, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned the populace that state resources would be severely taxed by dozens of wildfires now raging across the state.
California’s record-breaking wildfires continued to rage Tuesday even as authorities conceded they would likely get much worse as downslope winds from Shasta to San Diego prompted red flag warnings. The dire predictions come as more than 2 million acres have been burned since July and as Californians recover from a withering weekend of record heat.
Since the Creek fire broke out Friday night in the Sierra foothills, it has raced through pine forest and thick underbrush to become one of the largest wildfires in the state this year, with no containment.
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Starting at 3 a.m. Tuesday, the National Air Guard and Naval Air Station Lemoore sent two helicopters — a Blackhawk and Chinook — to evacuate 142 campers and hikers from Edison Lake, making eight trips to get all of them out. Coordinating with the Fresno County sheriff, crews were planning to rescue 62 more people throughout the day.
The fire ripped through timber made more flammable by the bark beetle infestation, cutting across Highway 168, the main road between Shaver and Huntington lakes. With that route closed, fire crews were divided as they fought to save the cabin communities along the lakes.
“The fire is blowing up everywhere,” said Christopher Donnelly, chief of the Huntington Lake Volunteer Fire Department, speaking on the phone Monday.
1 / 42 Lance Georgeson of Mammoth Lakes paddleboards on Tenaya Lake on Sept. 13 in Yosemite National Park. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 42 Thick smoke from multiple forest fires shrouds iconic El Capitan, right, and the walls of Yosemite Valley. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 42 Benjamin Lewis takes a photo for a group of San Diego firefighters in Yosemite. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 42 A deer grazes in Cook’s Meadow as thick smoke shrouds the iconic landmarks of Yosemite Valley. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 42 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) 6 / 42 Thick smoke shrouds Tenaya Lake on Sept. 13 in Yosemite National Park. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 42 A Cal Fire truck passes a burned-out vehicle on Stringtown Road on Friday in Oroville, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 42 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) 9 / 42 Melted goggles lie on the ground next to the burned-out truck on Stringtown Road. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 42 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) 11 / 42 Scorched cars in Brush Creek, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 42 A firefighter battles the Creek fire as it threatens homes in Madera County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 13 / 42 Flames from the Bear fire in Oroville, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 42 A horse in a field in Butte County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 42 Frank Martinez, left, and Rick Wolfe with their nine dogs in Oroville, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 42 A fox pauses amid burned brush in Butte County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 42 A statue is singed in Butte County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 42 Lake Oroville in Butte County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 42 Firefighters work to save a home in Butte County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 20 / 42 A burned truck in Butte County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 42 A firefighter battles the Creek fire in Madera County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 22 / 42 A plume rises from the Bear fire as it burns along Lake Oroville in Butte County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 23 / 42 A table stands outside the destroyed Cressman’s General Store in Fresno County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) 24 / 42 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) 25 / 42 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) 26 / 42 Members of the Laguna Hotshots Crew walk down Huntington Lake Road to battle the Creek fire on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 42 A member of the Laguna Hotshots Crew is silhouetted against a background of flames. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 42 The Creek fire burns along Huntington Lake Road on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 42 A vehicle streaks along California 168 as the Creek fire creeps closer to Shaver Lake, Calif., on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 42 A member of the Laguna Hotshots Crew battles the Creek fire on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 42 A firefighter conducts a back-burn operation along California 168 as the Creek fire approaches the Shaver Lake Marina. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 42 Firefighter Ricardo Gomez sets a back burn amid the Creek fire near Shaver Lake Marina on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 42 A firefighter works on the back-burn operation near Shaver Lake Marina. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 42 A duck swims in Shaver Lake as the Creek fire approaches on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 42 Firefighter Ricardo Gomez battles the Creek fire with a back burn. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 42 The sky glows orange around Shaver Lake on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 42 A firefighter conducts a back-burn operation amid the Creek fire near Shaver Lake on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 42 Flames leap into the sky as fire engulfs trees near Shaver Lake. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 42 The Creek fire approaches the Shaver Lake Marina on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 42 Firefighter Ricardo Gomez sets a back burn amid the Creek fire near Shaver Lake Marina on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 42 A man stands on a dock at the Shaver Lake Marina as the Creek fire approaches on Sept. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 42 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)
The erratic, increasing winds and steep terrain pushed the fire into multiple fronts and forced firefighters into a triage situation in deciding which of the many small mountain hamlets they could protect.
“Crews have been working a 96-hour shift,” said Nathan Magsig, Fresno County supervisor for the foothill district. Magsig spoke onsite at Shaver Lake, where evacuations had taken place.
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In Southern California, Santa Ana winds were expected to build up throughout the night, potentially pushing three major fires toward populated areas: the Bobcat fire, burning in the San Gabriel Mountains above Monrovia; the El Dorado fire, near Yucaipa; and the Valley fire, southeast of Alpine in San Diego County near the Mexican border.
Firefighters in San Diego worked to build fuel breaks on the west front before the winds were expected to kick up around 8 p.m.
“We have a sleeping giant that is in the backcountry,” said Tony Mecham of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “And while we have focused tremendous effort on the west side of the fire, tonight the winds are gonna blow. And this fire has the potential to burn.”
San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob warned residents to be ready to evacuate and sought to reassure those who might be reluctant to go to a shelter because of fears about the coronavirus, saying that emergency officials were taking steps to protect people’s health.
“We have a plan, which includes hotel rooms, congregate shelters, when needed,” she said. “So please know that precautions will be taken to protect a person’s health and safety at the evacuation centers and hotels, or wherever they may be placed safely.”
In Los Angeles County, fire officials feared the wind could push the Bobcat fire into foothill enclaves such as Cloverfield Canyon in Monrovia.
The last time fire threatened the canyon, in 2009, Cliff Armstrong, 60, stayed behind, watering his house with a garden hose.
“I don’t think I’ll risk it this time,” he said.
Neighbors were packing up cars and moving vehicles to the homes of friends. One told Armstrong he removed all the cushions around the patio, and floor mats — anything that was combustible.
“Oh, right, right,” Armstrong replied. “Well, wait a minute. I have garage full of toilet paper and paper towels because of the COVID thing, man.”
Forest Service officials announced the closure of eight national forests — Angeles, San Bernardino, Los Padres, Cleveland, Stanislaus, Sierra, Sequoia and Inyo — at 5 p.m. Monday because of the extreme heat and dangerous conditions.
“Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior ... and we simply do not have enough resources to fully fight and contain every fire,” said Randy Moore, regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service.
Fire activity has been particularly prolific since Aug. 15, which marked the start of a “lightning siege” that unleashed thousands of lightning strikes statewide.
Since just that date, firefighters have battled more than 900 blazes that have burned 1.8 million acres, Gov. Gavin Newsom said. Eight people have died during the weeks-long firestorm, and roughly 3,400 structures have been destroyed.
“This is a challenging year,” Newsom said. “It’s historic in terms of magnitude, scope and consequence, and it also has required ... a deep reservoir of resource.”
On Tuesday, nearly 14,000 firefighters were contending with 25 major wildfires, according to Cal Fire, and the agency had increased staffing in preparation for critical fire weather in several areas.
The most dangerous at that point was the Creek fire in the Sierra, which had grown to more than 150,000 acres. Fire crews at Huntington Lake had been extinguishing small spot fires and had hoped to have three bulldozers cutting breaks along the north shore of the lake, said Donnelly, the volunteer fire chief. But as the fire pushed closer to Shaver Lake, and with Highway 168 impassable, the crews were left with only one dozer for the job.
Strike teams at Huntington Lake were redirected to Shaver Lake, as well as the western front, a rugged region known as Jose Basin that could channel the fire closer to the communities of Tollhouse and Prather and farther toward Auberry.
“The Forest Service has worked heroically to remove dead trees from the bark beetle,” said Donnelly. “But there are millions of trees, and they haven’t done anything to clear forest above these cabins. With so many surface fuels, it is almost impossible to stop a fire running through them.”
By Tuesday afternoon, the fire front was threatening to surround Shaver Lake. Fire ecologists are certain to study this fire because it is burning through areas that were commercially logged under a U.S. Forest Service program meant to revive the timber industry in depressed mountain towns and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire.
“We had pleaded with the Forest Service not to approve those logging operations in the Sierra National Forest because they would not prevent fires and would likely make future fires burn hotter and faster,” said Chad Hanson, a research ecologist with the John Muir Project. “The agency ignored us, so we filed lawsuits in 2014 and 2015 to stop them, but federal judges deferred to the Forest Service.
“On Saturday, the speed of the Creek fire as it burned through the areas that had been logged under the guise of fuel reduction was the fastest I’ve seen in two decades of studying wildfire behavior,” he said, with one exception: “the Camp fire in 2018, which spread at a similar speed through several thousand acres that had been heavily logged in previous years, devastating the community of Paradise.”
Times staff writers Joe Mozingo and Louis Sahagun contributed to this report.