With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
WATCH: Gov. Newsom Speaks As 'Historic' Wildfire Season Rages Across California
Gov. Gavin Newsom is holding a press briefing to discuss the state's response as 25 major wildfires burn across California, including the Bobcat and El Dorado fires in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.You can read highlights below or watch the full press conference video above.
California Governor Gavin Newsom began his Tuesday press briefing with a startling statistic.
So far in 2020, there have been 7,606 wildfires in the state and roughly 2.3 million acres burned, compared to just under 5,000 fires and 118,000 acres burned in 2019.
Support for LAist comes from
That speaks to the "historic" nature of this year's fire activity, Newsom said, calling it "the largest fire season we've had in terms of total acreage impacted" — and noting that we're still in the early months of the state's typical fire season.
Eight people have been killed in fires this year and more than 3,400 structures have been destroyed, he added.
Newsom mentioned the El Dorado Fire, which broke out in the Yucaipa on Saturday and has burned more than 10,500 acres. Fire officials say that blaze was sparked by a firework from a gender reveal party.
"It's a reminder that the vast majority of fires that we experience on an annual basis come from individuals making bad decisions or by simple neglect and accident," Newsom said.
The governor also took a moment to note the links between our "almost normalized" extreme fire seasons, record-breaking heat waves and the reality of climate change on display throughout the Golden State. He also had a message for those who don't share that view.
"I quite literally have no patience for climate change deniers... You may not believe it intellectually, but your own eyes, your own experiences, tell a different story — particularly out here in the West Coast of the United States, and particularly here in the state of California."
LATEST CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS
Support for LAist comes from
There were 2,767 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, with a seven-day average of 4,302 new cases per day. That's with about 110,000 tests conducted per day over the past week, Newsom said.
The 14-day COVID-19 positivity rate in California is down to 4.3%, while the 7-day positivity rate is at 3.8%.
Hospitalizations and ICU admissions for COVID-19 are each down 24% and 21%, respectively, over the past two weeks.
Five counties across the state, including Orange County, have been assigned new status in the state's tiered system of recovery, downgraded from the purple tier (the most severe) to the red tier (the second-most severe). Los Angeles remains in the purple tier, signifying widespread transmission of the coronavirus.
Newsom said some progress has been made in recent weeks, but noted one major "point of caution": We're just coming off a three-day holiday weekend, and those "have not been advantageous" for slowing the spread of COVID-19. The state recorded spikes of infections following the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holiday weekends.
FIRE RESOURCES
- Every Day Is Fire Season. Here's How Angelenos Can Prepare Right Now
- How To Find Out About Fire Evacuations In Your Area
- How To Keep Yourself Safe From Wildfire Smoke
- The Air Is Brown — Should I Wear A Mask?
- This Is Why Fire Officials Don't Want You To Stay And Defend Your Home
- What Does 'Containment' Of A Fire Mean, Exactly?
- What Does A 'Red Flag Warning' Mean, Exactly?
- What To Do — And Not Do — When You Get Home After A Wildfire
- How To Avoid Getting Towed During LA's Red Flag Parking Restrictions
- If You Want To Help Fire Victims, Resist The Urge To Volunteer
YOUR QUESTIONS OR IDEAS
Support for LAist comes from
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
Best of LAist