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| California wildfires: 100,000 evacuated in the south as power returns to north – as it happened | |
| (about 1 year later) | |
| We’re ending our live coverage for the day. Here’s a recap of what happened and where things stand: | |
| Southern California Edison turned off electricity to about 20,000 people in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino and Kern counties but warned that thousands more could lose service as Santa Ana winds gained strength. | |
| The Saddleridge fire, which started in Sylmar, had consumed more than 7,500 acres by 5pm local time Friday, prompting California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, to declare a state of emergency. | |
| Officials said a middle-aged man died near where the fire was burning after he went into cardiac arrest, and that a firefighter suffered an eye injury. | |
| Authorities also ordered mandatory evacuations of about 100,000 people in the Granada Hills, Porter Ranch and Oakridge Estates neighborhoods. | |
| A juvenile prison located directly next to the massive Saddleridge fire took more than five hours to evacuate in the middle of the night, sparking some criticisms and concerns from advocates. | |
| A blaze also ripped through a mobile home park in Calimesa, a city about 65 miles (104km) east of Los Angeles, destroying dozens of residences. | |
| An 89-year-old woman, Lois Arvickson, died while on the phone with her son. | |
| Red flag fire warnings are expected to continue in southern California through Saturday. | |
| In northern California, PG&E started restoring power to some of the communities that were cut off on Wednesday and Thursday. | |
| PG&E suggested it was already seeing the wisdom of its decision borne out as gusts topping 77mph (122km/h) raked the San Francisco Bay Area amid a bout of dry, windy weather. | |
| Northern California fire officials say a man dependent on oxygen died roughly 12 minutes after PG&E shut down power to the area. | |
| California wildfire spreads as fears mount over further power shutoffs | |
| A juvenile prison located directly next to the massive Saddleridge fire took more than five hours to evacuate in the middle of the night, sparking some criticisms and concerns from advocates. | |
| Barry J Nidorf juvenile hall in Sylmar, which incarcerates teenagers, was so close to the fire that embers appeared to be hitting the facility, said Kerri Webb, a spokesperson. The first evacuations began at around 10:30pm on Thursday and were not finished until about 4am Friday, she said. A total of 278 juvenile prisoners and 56 staff members were evacuated to Los Padrinos juvenile hall about 40 miles south. | |
| “It takes very, very long to get that methodically done,” Webb said, saying “security” concerns dictate how they transport people. She said the youth in the facility are generally ages 15 to 19 and are “high risk” and “high need”, adding, “At the end of the day, they are kids. So they were scared. The fire was right there.” | |
| Kim McGill, an organizer with the Youth Justice Coalition, an organization that works with families of the incarcerated youth, told the Guardian that parents were were worried and struggling to get information as the fire spread. | |
| “There’s just not the same urgency when people are locked up. It seems county officials aren’t thinking about the safety of the people inside,” she said. “These families want to feel that they are just as important.” | |
| Urgent Update:Emergency Evacuation of Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar due to Saddleridge FireThank you to all the familiy members who have contacted usas to the safety of youth detained at Barry J. Nidorf… https://t.co/XB9ZqqYVVK | |
| Watching the news of the fire unfold, McGill said it felt like “people’s property and horses were given more concern” than the incarcerated youth. | |
| She said the facility’s response this year seemed improved from previous years, but that there was a broader problem in California of a lack of clear plans to evacuate imprisoned people in a timely manner and promptly notify loved ones. “It’s a lack of concern or even altogether forgetting of the hundreds of thousands of people detained in prisons and jails and juvenile halls.” | |
| In an email sent to families, the Youth Justice Coalition said: | |
| We continue to be concerned that County Probation Department, Sheriffs Department and State Prison officials have no or inadequate fire safety plans, evacuation resources and family notification measures in place, despite the fact that California is the region of the nation that experiences the most fires as well as the highest levels of respiratory illness. | |
| Webb said parents and guardians were notified of the transfer by around noon on Friday, adding that the facility followed its protocols and worked with fire officials: “It was done very cautiously with a lot of security, with safety in mind 100% of the time ... I know people think that’s slow, but that was fast.” | |
| Asked if there was a way the evacuations could have gone faster, she said if the staff couldn’t get the youth out in time, the worst case scenario would involve them sheltering in place with the fire department forming a shield around the facility. She said it did not appear that there was ultimately damage. | |
| Governor Gavin Newsom has just declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Riverside counties due to the fires. From his office: | |
| Newsom today issued an emergency proclamation for Los Angeles and Riverside counties due to the effects of several fires, including the Saddleridge, Eagle, Sandalwood, Reche, and Wolf fires, which have destroyed structures, threatened homes and critical infrastructure, and caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. | |
| Earlier today, Newsom announced that the state has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Saddleridge Fire. | |
| The El Sereno fire, which ignited earlier today in LA, has doubled in size in about an hour-long period – from 20 acres to 40 acres: | |
| Update #BrushFire; INC#0929; 5:20PM; 2839 N Eastern Av; https://t.co/vN5oa8dFdG; #ElSereno; The size of the fire is updated to 40 acres and crews have fully surrounded the fire with handlines. Air Ops is continuing to make water ... https://t.co/0yaM0mD8VA | |
| The fire department says crews have “fully surrounded” it and that authorities are continuing to do water drops. No injuries or damaged structures have been reported. It’s a good reminder of how precarious the situation remains: | |
| The #ElSereno #BrushFire is an example of a fire that spreads quickly despite light winds. It's bone dry and for every 10% of slope the fire spread doubles in speed uphill. #NBCLA pic.twitter.com/xVuebg0u2O | |
| Video from earlier this afternoon: | |
| #BREAKING UPDATE: An El Sereno brush fire burning on Soto Hill in the 2800 block of North Eastern Ave. has grown to 20 acres. pic.twitter.com/1FynSxa48q | |
| In southern California, some residents are now returning to their homes to assess the destruction and damage. Some dramatic scenes from journalists on the ground: | |
| Serineh Manokian says she just threw her 21st birthday party last week at her home, which was destroyed in the Saddleridge Fire. She and her family came to the U.S. as refugees from Iran, when she was around 2 years old. This was a dream house for them. pic.twitter.com/RQxTxtauDV | |
| Incredible @WallySkalij photos of a father and a son trying to save their house from the Saddleridge fire in Porter Ranch. https://t.co/vIN7qbA7KL pic.twitter.com/vQCywaZS7D | |
| A resident tries to fight flames with a garden hose in Porter Ranch, California, as the fast-moving Saddleridge wildfire fueled by dry Pacific winds engulfed houses, roads and wooded areas near Los Angeles. More photos: https://t.co/XHH0kgVEiR 📷 Gene Blevins pic.twitter.com/yTxX0DW4gt | |
| UPDATE: Four out of five evacuation centers are now full. The only center with availability at the moment: Lanark Recreation Center. https://t.co/Ih0gzBxZNh | |
| PG&E’s decision to shut off the power on nearly 2m customers across three dozen California counties could cost the region more than $2bn, according to some financial experts. My colleague Mario Koran reports: | |
| But the precautionary outage created its own dilemmas, closing schools, shutting down traffic lights and leaving hospitals to rely on generators. Economic impact will probably be felt across business sectors, including restaurants, transportation and grocery stores. | |
| Insurance for stores like supermarkets doesn’t typically cover planned power outages, only outages caused by natural disasters like earthquakes, Ronald Fong, CEO of the California Grocers Association, told the AP. The stores will have to eat those costs. | |
| Portions of wine country north of San Francisco, torched by wildfires in 2017, stayed dark for most of the day Wednesday and Thursday. The county’s economic development board is preparing to study the local costs of the shutdown and will send out a survey to area businesses once power is restored. | |
| “There’s not a lot of precedent for how to calculate the impact,” said Lauren Cartwright, a board spokesperson. | |
| Read the full story here: | |
| California power outages could cost region more than $2bn, some experts say | |
| Lois Arvickson, 89, died in the Sandalwood fire in Riverside County, according to the LA Times: | Lois Arvickson, 89, died in the Sandalwood fire in Riverside County, according to the LA Times: |
| 89-year-old Lois Arvickson died in the Sandalwood fire in Riverside County. She was on the phone with her son when the flames reached the mobile park where she lived https://t.co/okZrXeea82 pic.twitter.com/hFOwdpjwY5 | 89-year-old Lois Arvickson died in the Sandalwood fire in Riverside County. She was on the phone with her son when the flames reached the mobile park where she lived https://t.co/okZrXeea82 pic.twitter.com/hFOwdpjwY5 |
| Arvickson was reportedly on the phone with her son when the flames arrived at the mobile park where she lived. That fire was started by burning trash and swept through a mobile park home, causing significant damage. | Arvickson was reportedly on the phone with her son when the flames arrived at the mobile park where she lived. That fire was started by burning trash and swept through a mobile park home, causing significant damage. |
| Officials said earlier today that remains were found inside one of the mobile homes, and that there were two people still missing who lived at the park, according to the Times. Fire authorities also said they were working with arson investigators and a homicide unit to determine if criminal charges were warranted in the death. | Officials said earlier today that remains were found inside one of the mobile homes, and that there were two people still missing who lived at the park, according to the Times. Fire authorities also said they were working with arson investigators and a homicide unit to determine if criminal charges were warranted in the death. |
| The fire destroyed more than 70 homes and buildings. | The fire destroyed more than 70 homes and buildings. |
| There are now reports of another brush fire in southern California in El Sereno, about 25 miles southeast of the Sylmar fire: | There are now reports of another brush fire in southern California in El Sereno, about 25 miles southeast of the Sylmar fire: |
| El Sereno brush fire has grown to 20 acres and is threatening an unknown number of homes. Updated story coming https://t.co/pDfCiQx18Y | El Sereno brush fire has grown to 20 acres and is threatening an unknown number of homes. Updated story coming https://t.co/pDfCiQx18Y |
| This new fire has grown to about 20 acres | This new fire has grown to about 20 acres |
| BREAKING: Brush fire burning in L.A.'s El Sereno area has grown to 20 acres and is threatening homes. This is about 25 miles southeast of the #SaddleridgeFire https://t.co/Xdy74jmzGl | BREAKING: Brush fire burning in L.A.'s El Sereno area has grown to 20 acres and is threatening homes. This is about 25 miles southeast of the #SaddleridgeFire https://t.co/Xdy74jmzGl |
| Responders are working to stop the fire from hitting threatened homes with water-dropping helicopters. This fire began around 11:30am local time. From the LA fire department: | Responders are working to stop the fire from hitting threatened homes with water-dropping helicopters. This fire began around 11:30am local time. From the LA fire department: |
| Update #BrushFire; INC#0929; 2:00PM; 2839 N Eastern Av; https://t.co/vN5oa8dFdG; #ElSereno; This is a terrain driven fire (no heavy winds) that moved into heavy brush and now estimated at 20 acres. Firefighters continue to work ... https://t.co/VN126GqO8A | Update #BrushFire; INC#0929; 2:00PM; 2839 N Eastern Av; https://t.co/vN5oa8dFdG; #ElSereno; This is a terrain driven fire (no heavy winds) that moved into heavy brush and now estimated at 20 acres. Firefighters continue to work ... https://t.co/VN126GqO8A |
| Northern California fire officials say a man dependent on oxygen died roughly 12 minutes after PG&E shut down power to the area, the AP reports. | Northern California fire officials say a man dependent on oxygen died roughly 12 minutes after PG&E shut down power to the area, the AP reports. |
| El Dorado county’s fire chief, Lloyd Ogan, said fire personnel responded to a call in Pollock Pines that came in after 3:30am Wednesday. He said crews arrived to find an unresponsive man in his 60s and were unable to revive him. | El Dorado county’s fire chief, Lloyd Ogan, said fire personnel responded to a call in Pollock Pines that came in after 3:30am Wednesday. He said crews arrived to find an unresponsive man in his 60s and were unable to revive him. |
| Ogan said the man’s oxygen equipment required power, but could not say whether the shutdown was related to his death. A PG&E spokesperson told the AP the utility has not been able to confirm the accuracy of the report. I’ve also asked for comment and will update if I hear back. | Ogan said the man’s oxygen equipment required power, but could not say whether the shutdown was related to his death. A PG&E spokesperson told the AP the utility has not been able to confirm the accuracy of the report. I’ve also asked for comment and will update if I hear back. |
| Here’s an earlier piece from my colleague Vivian Ho about possible impacts on medically vulnerable people: | Here’s an earlier piece from my colleague Vivian Ho about possible impacts on medically vulnerable people: |
| California power shutoff: how PG&E's actions hit the medically vulnerable the hardest | California power shutoff: how PG&E's actions hit the medically vulnerable the hardest |
| In southern California, officials at a press briefing just said the Sylmar fire had spread to 7,500 acres and was 13% contained. Roughly 25 homes have suffered severe impacts and damage. There are still 100,000 people under evacuation orders. | In southern California, officials at a press briefing just said the Sylmar fire had spread to 7,500 acres and was 13% contained. Roughly 25 homes have suffered severe impacts and damage. There are still 100,000 people under evacuation orders. |
| Ok @LAFD says total burn is at 7,500 acres and 13% containment. Home damage is still around 25 homes w "severe impact" in the northwest Valley | Ok @LAFD says total burn is at 7,500 acres and 13% containment. Home damage is still around 25 homes w "severe impact" in the northwest Valley |
| An LA fire department official said that while it appeared there was a “lull in activity” people should not be “fooled”: | An LA fire department official said that while it appeared there was a “lull in activity” people should not be “fooled”: |
| There’s a lot of potential for growth in this fire. It’s going to be a number of days. | There’s a lot of potential for growth in this fire. It’s going to be a number of days. |
| Some scenes on the ground: | Some scenes on the ground: |
| With winds randomly picking up, flare-ups like this one keep crews stationed outside homes for hours pic.twitter.com/qVMvXl1OeI | With winds randomly picking up, flare-ups like this one keep crews stationed outside homes for hours pic.twitter.com/qVMvXl1OeI |
| .@LACOFD firefighters monitoring a #SaddleridgeFire flare-up in a little valley by some homes in Porter Ranch pic.twitter.com/T7BDZFgDBz | .@LACOFD firefighters monitoring a #SaddleridgeFire flare-up in a little valley by some homes in Porter Ranch pic.twitter.com/T7BDZFgDBz |