LeBron James evacuates as L.A.-area wildfire rages

FAN Editor
Mandatory evacuations as wildfire breaks out near L.A.’s Getty Center

California firefighters may catch a break from Mother Nature Monday before strong winds return. “This is the magic window where crews will really need to get fires back under control,” says CBS News weather producer David Parkinson.

Gusts of 60-70 mph could hit Northern California Tuesday and Wednesday, and Southern California could see gusts as high as 75 mph Tuesday night into Thursday with single digit humidity, he says.

PG&E announced Sunday it’s monitoring a third consecutive severe wind event expected to impact 32 counties across Northern and Central California Tuesday and Wednesday that could mean more preventive blackouts, CBS Sacramento reports. More than a million PG&E customers were in the dark early Monday.

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Hurricane-force winds created blowtorch-like conditions in Northern California as the Kincade Fire continued to rage Sunday. As of 6:30 p.m. PT, the fire had burned more than 54,000 acres and was only 5% contained.at single digit humidity during that time and extreme fire conditions

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide state of emergency Sunday, allowing “every resource available” to fight the wildfire.

Approximately 180,000 people were under evacuation orders, the Sonoma County Sheriff tweeted. “This is the largest evacuation that any of us at the Sheriff’s Office can remember. Take care of each other,” the office urged.

Cal Fire said Sunday night that two firefighters had been injured fighting the Kincade Fire.

In Southern California, the Tick Fire in Santa Clarita had burned over 4,600 acres and was 70% contained as of Sunday night. At its height, nearly 50,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. They have since been allowed back home as Santa Ana winds started to subside.

Northern California fire
A firefighter walks through a burned property after the Kincade fire tore through Healdsburg, California, on Sunday, October 27, 2019. Getty

Follow below for live updates:

LeBron James and family among fire evacuees

Los Angeles Lakers and longtime NBA superstar LeBron James tweeted early Monday that he and his family have been driven from their home by one of California’s wildfires:

Getty Fire forms in Los Angeles

A brush fire near the Getty Center in Los Angeles formed at around 1:30 a.m. local time. Authorities have evacuated nearby areas as firefighters battle the blaze. The fire broke out on the southbound side of the 405 freeway, CBS Los Angeles reports. It quickly spread to more than 70 acres, officials said.

Kincade Fire grows to more than 54,000 acres burned and containment goes down

The Kincade Fire grew to more than 54,000 acres on Sunday but the containment had gone down to 5%, Cal Fire said at a press conference at 6:30 p.m. PT. The evacuation orders are still in place.

Two firefighters were injured Sunday fighting the blaze, Jonathan Cox of Cal Fire said during a press conference. One suffered minor burn injuries, but another suffered significant burn injuries and had to be airlifted to the UC Davis Medical Center.

The fire has destroyed 94 structures and damaged 17 structures, and officials say 80,000 structures are threatened.

The National Weather Service said there were “clearly challenging conditions on the firelines” on Sunday. The wind is expected to shift Monday, and there will be a 24-hour wind of favorable conditions. But there will be another wind event Tuesday night and there is no rain expected for the rest of the month.

One person was arrested Sunday for possible looting in the fire zone, authorities said.

California residents seek safe place at evacuation centers

Evacuation centers open for California state residents

As firefighters battle the blaze on the front lines, there is an emerging housing crisis in Marin County as thousands of people struggle to try to find a place to ride out this firestorm, CBS News’ Jonathan Vigliotti reported. At a Red Cross shelter that was set up Sunday morning, there was a long line of people of about 100 people waiting to get in. CBS News has been told that already 200 people have settled in.

There are a lot of people with last-minute things they were able to grab before being evacuated, including cats and dogs and possibly a python and lizard inside.

More than 2 million people are without power — a lot of them coming to shelters so they can get cellphone service.

Then there are those that are part of a mandatory evacuation, those who have no chance to stay at home, many of them seeking a safe place. CBS News has learned there’s at least one more power outage scheduled for Sunday and as a result, more shelters will be opening.

Light of day giving a look at the damage on the ground

The light of day gave a look at the damage on the ground in Alexander Valley, CBS News’ Janet Shamlian reported from Windsor, California. The fire is still smoldering hours later, with hot spots popping up long after firefighters were forced to move to the next emergency.

“Not over yet by a long shot,” police told CBS News. “Unfortunately, we are looking at these winds to continue throughout Sunday.”

Conditions are expected to be very bad Sunday night.

Surge in wind and extreme fire in California

PG&E monitoring 3rd consecutive wind event

Pacific Gas & Electric said Sunday that it’s monitoring a third consecutive wind event that could affect 32 counties across Northern and Central California. PG&E began cutting power for more than 2 million homes and businesses Saturday, including 1.3 million in the Bay Area.

The new, potentially widespread, strong and dry wind event is forecast for Tuesday morning through midday Wednesday for Northern California, according to PG&E. The weather system is forecast to impact Kern County late Tuesday through Thursday morning.

Due to the predicted extreme weather conditions, PG&E said it’s considering proactively turning off power for safety.

Portions of counties that may be impacted include, but are not limited to:

  • Alameda
  • Alpine
  • Amador
  • Butte
  • Calaveras
  • Colusa
  • Contra Costa
  • El Dorado
  • Glenn
  • Humboldt
  • Kern
  • Lake
  • Marin
  • Mariposa
  • Mendocino
  • Napa
  • Nevada
  • Placer
  • Plumas
  • San Mateo
  • Santa Clara
  • Santa Cruz
  • Shasta
  • Sierra
  • Solano
  • Sonoma
  • Stanislaus
  • Tehama
  • Trinity
  • Tuolumne
  • Yolo
  • Yuba

Evacuations lifted in Crockett, California

Evacuation orders were lifted shortly after 12 p.m. PT in Crockett, located less than 30 miles from San Francisco. The fires erupted along Interstate 80, sending billowing smoke and flames toward the freeway, forcing the California Highway Patrol to shut it down.

The fire started Sunday morning across the Carquinez Strait near the Carquinez Bridge toll plaza in Vallejo, CBS San Francisco reported. The Carquinez Bridge and adjacent portions of I-80 were closed to traffic, as was the Cummings Skyway.

The area of Clearpointe Drive and Del Sur Street in Vallejo was evacuated by safety personnel, according to the CHP, as a brush fire that started shortly after 9 a.m. PT spread across the Carquinez Strait to Crockett, where officials issued evacuation order for the town.

Soda Rock Winery at a “complete loss”

The fire devastated the Soda Rock Winery in the Heraldsburg’s Alexander Valley overnight, leaving many of the structures in smoldering ruins by daybreak.

The winery is a “complete loss” after a roof collapse, Cal Fire told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The historic winery was founded in 1869 and was completely restored by Ken and Diane Wilson in 2000.

Kincade Fire jumps containment lines on Highway 128

A wall of fire rapidly approaching Windsor around 9:30 a.m. PT, triggering a frantic call from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department for residents — who had ignored a mandatory evacuation order Saturday — to flee immediately, CBS San Francisco reported.

“Heavy smoke, debris and strong wind reported near Brooks and Arata in Windsor,” the department urged in an online alert. “If you are in Windsor you need to get out now.”

Cal Fire said the blaze had jumped containment lines on Highway 128. The fire had only been 11% contained when the winds kicked up.

“There were containment lines that were overtaken by the fire,” Cal Fire spokesman Brian Vitorelo said early Sunday. “The fire continues to increase.”

Sonoma County deputies also said the fire had advanced into southwest edge of Geyserville near Chalk Hill Road. The strong winds had toppled trees onto Chalk Hill Road, making any escape difficult for residents who had ignored an earlier evacuation order.

Kincade Fire at 10% containment and burned more than 30,000 acres

The Kincade Fire was only 10% contained as of 8 a.m. PT on Sunday, having burned 30,000 acres.

More than 3,000 fire personnel were fighting the fire from 68 crews were battling the fire. It has destroyed 79 structures and damaged 14.

Nearly 180,000 people were under evacuation orders Sunday.

Tick Fire at 65% containment

Santa Ana winds increase fire risk in Southern California

The Tick Fire in Los Angeles County was at 65% containment as of 8 a.m. PT. The fire had burned more than 4,000 acres, destroying 22 structures and damaging 27 structures.

Three firefighters were injured.

At its height, nearly 50,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, CBS Los Angeles reported. They have since been allowed back home as Santa Ana winds started to subside.

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