In CA: Another heat wave on the way as hundreds of California wildfires continue to burn
Ancient redwoods survive, another heat wave is on the way and scores of parks temporarily close. Plus: Counties stuck in limbo after overcoming a coronavirus surge. And the governor is expected to outline new rules later this week.
I'm Cheri Carlson, a reporter with the Ventura County Star, writing from a still toasty Agoura Hills with Tuesday's news to know.
But first, some good news on the hundreds of wildfires burning in Northern California. Containment figures began to climb as weather conditions improved early this week. One fire chief called it the "best day yet" although firefighters still faced a marathon to suppress the more than 650 blazes.
In California brings you top Golden State stories and commentary from across the USA TODAY Network and beyond. Get it free, straight to your inbox.
Giants standing tall, flames surround condor nest, forecast calls for more heat
Many feared the worst when flames tore through Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County last week. The park is home to ancient redwoods, some 300 feet tall and as old as 2,000 years. But reports from inside the park showed the giants survived.
In fact, scientists said it is the sort of feat expected for the redwoods, some of which likely had made it through far worse flames.
“These trees are amazing,” Mark Finney, a research forester with the U.S. Forest Service told the San Jose Mercury News. “Redwoods are an ancient lineage. There are fossils of them from tens of millions of years ago. It’s not the same kind of creature as our other trees. They have lived through a lot.”
The area remained closed to the public Tuesday, one of dozens of state parks and beaches temporarily shut down by the wildfires. In the Greater Bay Area, fires, smoke and red-flag warnings had shuttered nearly 200 parks and preserves.
While weather conditions had improved, officials say the forecast calls for rising temperatures into the weekend.
In Big Sur, conservationists watched through condor cams last week as flames swept through a preserve. The Ventana Wildlife Society has worked for decades to bring back endangered California condors. They don't know yet whether a chick survived as the Dolan Fire burned toward its nest causing one of the cameras to fail.
Here are six online maps Californians can use to track where the fires are burning.
Agencies assisting wildfire victims are seeking donations from food to people's time. Here are some ways people can help.
A re-opening limbo, COVID testing woes and campaigning in a pandemic
As counties slow the spread of the coronavirus and drop off a state monitoring list, they have found themselves in limbo waiting for guidelines to tell them how and when they can begin reopening. State officials say a framework will be released later this week.
As companies and universities come up with strategies to widely test employees and students, experts warn that confusion over results likely is inevitable.
Campaigning in a pandemic has forced some candidates to rethink how to get their message out. Instead of handshakes and knocking on doors, one Palm Springs hopeful has embraced drive-through parties and virtual meet-and-greets.
What else we're talking about
Fatal helicopter crash: A company that operated the helicopter in the Calabasas crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others has filed a cross-complaint against two air traffic controllers. Island Express is facing a series of lawsuits from the family of Bryant and other victims.
Police protests: Groups of protesters marched in Los Angeles Monday night in response to recent police shootings of two Black men. Jacob Blake, 29, was shot in the back multiple times Sunday by officers with the Kenosha Police Department in Wisconsin. Anthony McClain, 32, was fatally shot Aug. 15 during a traffic stop in Pasadena.
Pollution lawsuit: Three conservation groups have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in federal court calling for the agency to make sure Ventura County has a realistic plan to reduce air pollution. The groups say the county's backup plan for reducing harmful pollutants is too weak.
Before signing off, a little food news
It may be hot outside in California, but Starbucks plans to usher in fall anyway. Yup. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are making an early appearance this year.
Need a little convincing? The Seattle-based company says people can call the Starbucks hotline – at 1-833-GET-FALL – for a limited time “to hear a variety of prompts that will transport them to their favorite season."
That's it for me.
In California is a roundup of news from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Also contributing: San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giant redwoods survive California wildfire; forecast calls for more heat
