California

-Updates: Find more information on the River Fire at the Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit Twitter page. -Nevada County Evacuations: Get info from the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services. -Placer County Evacuations: Find info from the Placer County Sheriff's Office. A California wildfire that broke out 55 miles northeast of Sacramento in the Sierra foothills Wednesday burned dozens of homes in a matter of hours. The River Fire sparked at 2 p.m. near Milk Ranch Road and and Bear River Campground Road about three miles southwest of the town of Colfax in Placer County. Amid bone-dry conditions and high winds, the blaze swelled to 1,400 acres by 7:30 p.m., Cal Fire said in a Wednesday night briefing. Flames jumped the Bear River and pushed into Nevada County, Cal Fire said. The fire was moving toward Highway 174. The Nevada County office of Emergency Services said on Twitter flames engulfed Bear River Campground in Placer County threatening areas east … [Read more...] about New California wildfire near Colfax burns dozens of homes in hours

5 A day after the Dixie Fire swept through Greenville, the Gold Rush town in Plumas County was a hazy moonscape. Fire had engulfed the Sierra Lodge Hotel, the pizzeria, a bakery, and the Way Station that had recently opened as a bar and restaurant. Most of the old structures were gone. By Thursday morning Dixie Fire had charred 322,502 acres, razed 45 buildings and damaged another five, staking its claim as the sixth-largest blaze in California history. The fire erupted overnight, as gusty winds buffeted flames over the control lines in Round Valley, according to a Cal Fire report Thursday morning. Crews were struggling to get the upper hand, saying shortly before 8:30 a.m. that they had the wildfire about 35% contained. Firefighters battled the flames from the air but were unable to shield Greenville, a historic community with about 2,100 residents, whose economy is sustained by the logging, cattle ranching and Christmas tree … [Read more...] about California wildfires: Dixie Fire now 6th largest blaze in state history

Bone-dry weather and fierce winds brought dire wildfire conditions to Northern California on Wednesday, exploding existing blazes and starting new ones. The extreme wildfire risk is forecast to continue Thursday with a red flag warning from the National Weather Service in effect through 9 p.m. There are six significant wildfires burning thousands of acres each hour across the state. - Antelope Fire This blaze is burning within the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County and threatening the communities of Bray and Tennant. - Dixie Fire 322,502 acres, 35% contained, started July 11 This is the largest wildfire in California so far this year. On Wednesday, it raced through the historic mining town of Greenville. It's burning in Butte, Plumas and Tehama counties. - River Fire This fire burned dozens of homes in a matter of hours near the town of Colfax. - River Complex This group of fires within the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County … [Read more...] about Map shows where six largest California wildfires are burning right now

A historic gubernatorial recall election. Huge decisions on housing, wildfires, and criminal justice being made in Sacramento. Once-a-decade redrawing of the Golden State’s political maps, and major changes for candidates and voters in the 2022 election cycle. This is an important time to keep a close eye on politics and government news, which is why The Times has launched the California Politics newsletter. Beginning Aug. 13, our new Friday dispatch will offer a detailed look at each week’s developments as well as broader themes from the state Capitol, the campaign trail and beyond. We’ll offer more than a cursory list of events and actions. The goal is to also provide dimension and context on the events and the elected officials of the nation’s most populous state. Advertisement We’re setting out on a new course. After wrapping California’s political news in with our Essential Politics coverage of Washington and the nation, we’re spotlighting our state’s politics … [Read more...] about A new newsletter chronicling California politics

2 Northern California’s massive Dixie Fire tore through Greenville in Placer County Wednesday, torching historic buildings and reducing much of the town’s main street to rubble. Juxtaposed images captured before and after the blaze showed the fire’s devastating effects on the town of about 2,100 people. Greenville residents were ordered to evacuate Monday. The town, parts of which are over 100 years old, has a history stretching back to the Gold Rush. Flames ripped through the Greenville Cy Hall Memorial Museum — named for a longtime Greenville businessman and fire chief — which had been a rallying point for people in town who had been working to revive the two-story wooden warehouse and hold public events there. The town’s Dollar General, a newer addition to Greenville that stood out from its historic core, escaped serious damage. The Dixie Fire also ravaged Rich Bar, an historic Gold Rush-era ghost town . Dominic Fracassa and Danielle … [Read more...] about California wildfires: Devastating images show historic Greenville before and after the Dixie Fire