Newsletter: Essential California: Blue Cut fire burns out of control

Good morning. It is Thursday, Aug. 18. Here’s what is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Fuel for the fire

Heat. wind. And a spark. That’s all it took for the Blue Cut fire to ignite Tuesday. The region’s rugged terrain and infrastructure — electrical lines, rail lines, high-pressure gas lines, a fiber-optic network — have made fighting this fire an incredibly difficult task. “You could throw the world’s firefighting resources at it and it’s just going to keep going,” said Capt. Howard Deets of the Mill Creek hotshot crew. Los Angeles Times

Standing their ground

Officials ordered 80,000 people to evacuate their homes as the Blue Cut fire tore through 30,000 acres. But many refused to go. “People that evacuate late in a fire when the fire is reaching them are the most vulnerable to being killed,” said Scott Stephens, a professor of fire science at UC Berkeley. “Most people underestimate the fury that comes.” Los Angeles Times

Money troubles

L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson is a powerful politician with authority over the city’s $8.8-billion budget, but in his personal life, he’s struggled with making payments on two properties. Since 2011, he and his wife have received five default notices. In a statement, Wesson said problems stem from a $759,999 home he purchased in the Mid-City area at the height of the market. Los Angeles Times

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L.A. AT LARGE

Lower wages: Sources say American Apparel is considering whether to move its manufacturing out of downtown Los Angeles and into a state with lower wages, like Tennessee, North Carolina or South Carolina. California’s minimum wage will climb to $15 an hour by 2020. Los Angeles Times

School calendar: Three members of the LAUSD Board of Education think the academic year shouldn’t begin until after Labor Day. A resolution from George McKenna, Scott Schmerelson and Richard Vladovic suggests the district could save money on air conditioning by moving back the start of the school year. However, critics say the August start allows students to finish their fall exams before heading out on winter break. Los Angeles Times

Time and money: L.A.’s roads are costing drivers nearly $3,000 a year, according to a new report. Angelenos are paying in fuel, repairs and time. “The report drives home a point that is becoming more and more evident in L.A.: a lot of our roads are bad.” LAist

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Running for reelection: Is leading San Diego Republican Congressman Darrell Issa vulnerable? Some Democrats think so, and they blame Donald Trump. Wall Street Journal

Campaign funds: Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg hosted a fundraiser for state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris’ senatorial campaign. Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) was billed as a special guest at the event. Harris is running against fellow Democrat, Rep. Loretta Sanchez. Los Angeles Times

Tax support: A new poll from the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley finds California voters support increasing taxes on tobacco and extending an income tax on the wealthy. Sacramento Bee

CRIME AND COURTS

Eyewitness account: A witness says he saw an 18-year-old man run from an LAPD officer Tuesday before he was shot. The witness says he heard three gunshots, saw the young man fall to the ground and then observed the cop kicking a handgun away from the teen. Kenny Watkins was the 16th person to be shot by on-duty LAPD officers this year. Los Angeles Times

Man beaten: A 65-year-old man was beaten with his own cane after scolding a drug dealer in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, police said. The man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. SFGate

Reality TV: Cellphones and body cameras are giving the public a view of policing that previously could only be seen by watching something like “Cops.” “Everybody forgets that cops, the police officers, are required to do social services, deal with mental health issues, deal with family squabbles. None of these things have a lot to do with law enforcement,” said creator John Langley. 89.3 KPCC

FIRE WATCH

Landmark gone: The Blue Cut fire in San Bernardino County destroyed a roadside landmark: Summit Inn. The diner, which opened along Historic Route 66 in 1952, was frequented by Pierce Brosnan, Clint Eastwood and Elvis Presley. Los Angeles Times

Listen to Smokey Bear: People are the leading cause of wildfires in California. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Looking back: Director Nate Parker’s acquittal on a rape charge 15 years ago is getting renewed scrutiny in anticipation of his film “The Birth of a Nation.” Parker wrote a Facebook message Tuesday responding to news that the woman involved in the case committed suicide in 2012. “I see now that I may not have shown enough empathy even as I fought to clear my name,” he wrote. Los Angeles Times

Wine history: UC Davis librarians are asking the public to help them sort through the archives of Maynard Amerine, who is credited with helping get California wines on the map. “He traveled around the state, he traveled to Europe, drinking wine, learning about wine and then relayed that to California growers to bring that level of production up to the standard that he was drinking in Europe,” said Amy Azzarito, online strategist at the University of California, Davis, library. NPR

What could have been: Back in the 1960s, San Francisco officials were brainstorming what to do about the city’s traffic congestion. Enter a double-decker Golden Gate Bridge. SFGate

Car show: The annual Monterey Car Week is underway. This year, preservation is in and restoration is out. “Now people flock around the car that’s just been pulled out of the barn and has all that original character,” said Porsche builder and restorer Rod Emory, of Emory Motorsports. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will start the day with fog as temperatures reach 81 degrees. Riverside will be mostly sunny with a high of 99. Los Angeles will have fog and a high of 83 degrees. Sacramento will be sunny and 96. There will be low clouds and a high of 70 in San Francisco.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Linda Pickler:

“When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was ride in the back of a neighbor’s pickup truck from Reseda to Zuma Beach. The closer we got to the ocean, the cooler the air became. It was great to have the wind blow through my hair, and the very best part of the trip was to lie on my back all the way through Malibu Canyon. I loved watching the telephone lines converge and diverge in a dance all their own. A left turn at Pacific Coast Highway would take us to Malibu Beach, a right to Zuma. I always liked Zuma best because the water from the drinking fountains tasted good.”

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.