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Sunday Links: Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Explosion Declared Terror Attack

A red flag, wildfire warning is in effect for some North Bay residents through Monday evening; SFUSD canceled its plans to lay off support staff for the 2025-26 school year; and a suspected car bomb explosion at a Palm Springs fertility clinic was declared a terrorist attack.

PG&E Has Announced Power Shutoffs in Five Bay Area Counties for Monday And Tuesday, Citing Fire Risk

PG&E has announced that they might shutoff power to five Bay Area counties on Monday and Tuesday to reduce fire risk, in response to weather conditions forecasted to be both extremely hot and very windy, according to their website.

Retrial Begins for Man Accused of Intentionally Setting 2021 Hopkins Fire In Mendocino County

You may recall Mendocino County’s 2021 Hopkins Fire, which destroyed more than 250 acres and nearly 30 homes, and now a 23-year-old man is on trial for the second time for allegedly starting it, after his first trial was declared a mistrial.

Now the Bay Area Has Its Own Fire, as Point Fire in Contra Costa County Grows to Nearly 500 Acres

There were evacuations Friday in Bay Point and Concord, as the Point Fire in Contra Costa County grew to more than 470 acres, but was 40% contained as of Saturday.

Strict New Wildfire Law Might Ban Plants and Bushes Within Five Feet of Homes in Wildfire-Prone Areas

California fire officials are considering implementing a sweeping ban on bushes, brush, or any combustible materials within five feet of homes in areas considered high risk for wildfires.

Monday Morning Headlines: Two SF Giants Just Got Named to This Year’s MLB All-Star Team

We have some new details on the Channing Tatum movie that’s been shooting near Golden Gate Park; a couple dozen East Bay parks that were closed for the heat wave have reopened; and the SF Giants just got a pitcher and outfielder named to the NL All-Star team for next week’s game.

Hawaiian Couple Visiting Bay Area Lost Everything In Wildfires, Including Dogs Trapped In House

A couple featured on KTVU Wednesday frantically trying to get back to their home in Lahaina did make it home, only to find the place in charred ruins, and that their two dogs and a cat perished inside the house.

Hawaii Wildfires Have Killed at Least 36, Burned More Than 1,000 Acres, Forcing Mass Evacuations

Apocalyptic scenes from Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii, as the islands have suddenly been consumed in flames as hurricane-force winds spread brush fires, and people were driven to jump into the ocean to escape the overwhelming smoke and flames.

Air Quality Advisory Issued for Bay Area Wednesday Afternoon as Oregon Wildfire Smoke Approaches

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District warned that smoke from an Oregon wildfire is set to drift into the Bay Area Wednesday afternoon and evening, and residents could see hazy skies and smell soot.

Pika Fire Continues to Ravage Yosemite, Reaches 650 Acres with Zero Containment

The Pika Fire broke out on June 29 after a lightning strike and has accelerated amid the past week's heat wave, complicating firefighting efforts.

Wildfire Season Already? Four Fires This Weekend In Bay Area and Beyond Spur Concerns

This weekend's Snell Fire in Napa County is now 100% contained after burning 103 acres, but despite this year’s rainy winter, a weekend of several NorCal fires has officials warning that precautions are still very much necessary.

103-Acre Snell Fire in Napa Now 80% Contained, Cal Fire Confirms [Updated]

The vegetation fire is just southeast of Middletown in Napa County, but forward progress has been stopped and there are no reported injuries or damage.

Colorado Fire Is Now 85% Contained, All Road Closures and Evacuation Orders Lifted

Since starting over a week ago, the rare January wildfire near Big Sur is currently at least 85% contained — up from 75% yesterday — as of Saturday morning; many recruited fire engines and crews have now also returned to their respective home stations.

Colorado Fire Grows to 700 Acres, Containment at 35% and One Structure Damaged

After starting Friday night, the Colorado Fire in Monterey County swelled Saturday from around 150 acres to 700 acres in size, damaging at least one structure; all previously placed evacuation orders are still in effect.

After Jumping Control Burn Lines, Estrada Fire Burns 83 Acres in Santa Cruz

On Friday, a prescribed burn on private property managed to escape control lines and began spreading at an alarming rate in southeastern Santa Cruz County, prompting 270 residents to be evacuated; it's now burned at least 83 acres and is 25% contained.

Dixie and Caldor Fires Each Reach 60% Containment

Saturday morning, a milestone in fighting two of Northern California's most pressing wildfires — the Dixie Fire and Caldor Fire — was achieved: successfully containing at least 60% of each blaze.

A Possible Way To Help Bay Area Forests Recover After Wildfires? Introduce Mushrooms

Forest fires play a crucial role in natural life cycles — it's just that human activity is exacerbating that rhythm. In order to give Mother Nature a leg up after the flames cease, Santa Cruz researchers are using oyster mushrooms to help break down the ash from previous wildfires.

PG&E Slapped with Felony Criminal Charges Over 2019 Kincade Fire

The Sonoma County district attorney has charged PG&E with 33 criminal counts — including five felonies — in light of findings that their transmission lines did cause the Kincade Fire.

Fire Breaks Out in Oakland Hills, Destroys Two Homes In Vicinity of 1991 Fire

A fire broke out Tuesday morning in the Oakland hills, on the final day of an extended Red Flag Warning amid record-dry conditions, and it engulfed two homes and spread to nearby vegetation.

Berkeley Officials Say Hills Residents Should Consider Leaving ‘Until Fire Danger Subsides’; PG&E Shutoffs To Affect 143,000-Plus Bay Area Customers

City of Berkeley officials announced Friday that residents living in the region's hills should evacuate before Sunday's extreme fire conditions — and PG&E's fire-safety shutoffs are now expected to leave some 143,000 Bay Area customers in the dark.

[Updates] Glass Fire Burns Over 2,500 Acres; New Fires Move Into Sonoma

Napa County Sheriff's deputies frantically hurried to warn rural wine country residents early Sunday morning to evacuate as the "rapidly spreading" Glass Fire continued burning through dry hillsides north of St. Helena and east of Calistoga.

Newsom Enacts New Fire Shelter Strategies to Avoid COVID-19 Outbreaks

We’re now feeling the full fury of coronavirus and wildfire crises happening at the same time, and the state is scrambling to make sure COVID outbreaks don’t hit thousands of shelter evacuees.

Burning Man Group Lends Shipping Container Dorms To House Fire Victims In Santa Rosa

The group Burners Without Borders, along with the Burning Man camp called Camp Epic, are launching something in Santa Rosa called Oasis Village, on land that's being offered by a local businessman. The

SFFD Swiftly Contains Smoky Wildfire At Lands End

Fire spotted from baker beach @sffdpio pic.twitter.com/amF7IDMntZ— Rheal (@Madebyrheal) October 25, 2017 Firefighters quickly managed a wildfire in San Francisco Tuesday night, even though they faced numerous obstacles on the

Remembering The Rippeys, Married 75 Years, Who Perished Together Sunday In The Atlas Fire

Most of us in the Bay Area were still unaware that wildfires were burning in Napa County Sunday night when Charles Rippey, age 100, and Sara Rippey, age 98, died together when their