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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 27 OcTOber 2020
60,000 in Southern California to evacuate after blaze grows

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER 6,400 square miles (16,600
and OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ square kilometers) and de-
Associated Press stroyed about 9,200 homes,
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A businesses and other build-
fast-moving wildfire forced ings. There have been 31
evacuation orders for deaths. The electricity shut-
60,000 people in South- downs marked the fifth
ern California on Monday time this year that Pacific
as powerful winds across Gas & Electric, the nation's
the state prompted power largest utility, has cut power
to be cut to hundreds of to customers to reduce the
thousands to prevent utility risk of downed or fouled
equipment from sparking power lines or other equip-
new blazes. ment that could ignite blaz-
The smoky fire exploded in es amid bone-dry weather
size to over 3 square miles conditions and gusty winds.
(7.8 square kilometers) The utility shut off power to
within a few hours of break- about 355,000 customers
ing out shortly after dawn in 34 Northern California
in Orange County, south counties but said that im-
of Los Angeles. Strong proved weather conditions
gusts pushed flames along allow it to prevent cutting
brushy ridges in Silverado electricity in two other cen-
Canyon and near houses A man leaves his home during a mandatory fire evacuate as smoke from the Silverado Fire fills the tral California counties.
in the city of Irvine, home to air, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Irvine, Calif. "This event is by far the larg-
about 280,000 people. Associated Press est we've experienced this
Kelsey Brewer and her three cause of the fire wasn't im- mph (143 kph) late Sunday to prevail through Tues- year, the most extreme
roommates decided to mediately known. and sustained winds of 76 day. A second round of weather," said Aaron John-
leave their townhouse be- About 355,000 power cus- mph (122 kph). Some Sierra strong gusts is predicted to son, the utility's vice presi-
fore the evacuation order tomers — estimated at Nevada peaks registered sweep through the same dent of wildfire safety and
came in. The question was about 1 million people gusts well over 100 mph areas Monday night, the public engagement. "We're
where to go in the pan- — were in the dark in the (161 mph). National Weather Service trying to find ways to make
demic. They decided on northern part of the state The "shut-offs probably did warned. Officials extend- the events less difficult."
the home of her girlfriend's as officials issued warn- prevent dangerous fires last ed a red flag extreme fire The conditions could equal
mother, who has ample ings for what could be the night. It's almost impossible danger warning through those during devastating
space and lives alone. strongest winds in Califor- to imagine that winds of this 5 p.m. Tuesday for the re- fires in California's wine
"We literally talked about it nia this year. Firefighting magnitude would not have gion's eastern and northern country in 2017 and last
this morning," Brewer said, crews that had been at sparked major conflagra- mountainous areas. year's Kincade Fire that
adding that she feels lucky the ready overnight quickly tions in years past," Daniel Scientists have said climate devastated Sonoma Coun-
to have a safe place to go. contained small blazes that Swain, a climate scientist change has made Califor- ty north of San Francisco
"We can only imagine how broke out Sunday in North- with UCLA and the Nation- nia much drier, meaning last October, the National
screwed everyone else ern California's Sonoma al Center for Atmospheric trees and other plants are Weather Service said. Fire
feels. There's nowhere you and Shasta counties. The Research, said on Twitter. more flammable. October officials said PG&E transmis-
can go to feel safe." causes were under investi- Winds had calmed slightly and November are tradi- sion lines sparked that fire,
Water-dropping helicop- gation. North of San Fran- by Monday, but still topped tionally the worst months for which destroyed hundreds
ters were grounded be- cisco, a Mount St. Helena 60 mph (97 kph) and the fires, but already this year of homes and caused
cause the strong winds weather station recorded strong winds and dry con- 8,600 wildfires in the state nearly 100,000 people to
made it unsafe to fly. The a hurricane-force gust of 89 ditions were expected have scorched a record flee.q

More time sought to indict in governor kidnapping case

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) plotted the kidnapping ecutors to seek an indict-
— Federal prosecutors of Gov. Gretchen Whit- ment by the first week of
asked a judge Monday mer, a Democrat, before November.
to give them an extra 40 the election. Six men are "The facts upon which the
days until mid-December charged in federal court. grand jury must base its de-
to seek a grand jury indict- Eight more believed to be termination are unusual for
ment against six men in an members or associates of a their sheer volume in this
alleged scheme to kidnap group called the Wolverine case," Kessler said in seek-
Michigan's governor, say- Watchmen are charged in ing an extension. "The evi-
ing they're sorting through state court with providing dence includes hundreds
evidence, including explo- material support for terror- of hours of undercover au-
sive-device components. ist acts. Defense attorneys dio recordings that have
The recently recovered have said the alleged plot yet to be catalogued and
components and firearms was much talk, no action. transcribed, and as of the
must be analyzed to de- The six in federal court time of this motion, over
termine whether additional In an Oct. 8, 2020 file photo provided by the Michigan Office of were arrested Oct. 7 and 13,000 pages of encrypted
charges will be pursued, the Governor, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the charged under a criminal text messages."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils state during a speech in Lansing, Mich. complaint. A judge sub- Kessler said defense law-
Kessler said in a court filing. Associated Press sequently said there was yers expressed no objec-
Authorities allege mem- bers of two anti-govern- ment paramilitary groups enough evidence for pros- tion to an extension.q