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After Palisades fire failures, L.A. promises to beef up staffing during high-risk fire weather

Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 1d

However, questions remain about why the Los Angeles Fire Department didn't station crews at the Lachman fire scar when forecasters issued urgent warnings about historically dangerous fire weather. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Challenges faced during the Palisades fire included an ineffective process for recalling off-duty firefighters, and top fire officials with little experience handling a major incident.

www.latimes.com

A burned Bible and ChatGPT messages: Chilling details of the case against man charged with starting Palisades Fire

Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 1d

This week, Pac Palisades residents finally have an answer. The ATF detailed its conclusion the Palisades Fire was a "holdover" fire from the earlier New Year's Day Lachman Fire. And prosecutors announced they'd arrested a man suspected of igniting it. www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...

Investigators allege Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht lit a fire early New Year’s Day that was extinguished but smoldering and rekindled days later.

Exclusive footage: Deadly Palisades Fire may have grown from this Jan. 1 blaze

Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 1d

Then, @mgafni.bsky.social acquired surveillance video showing the similar origins of both wildfires. Other major fires (Oakland, Lahaina) erupted from earlier fires. @ryangabrielson.bsky.social urged us to again ask: Could the Palisades Fire have been another?
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...

Video obtained by the Chronicle shows the January wildfire in Los Angeles may have grown from earlier blaze.

Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 1d

Another Pacific Palisades resident, Don Griffin, took photos of both fire origins from his backyard. He said that he too was struck by the coincidence. Neighbors had complained about fireworks in the past and wondered if NYE blasts were to blame.

Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 1d

Pac Palisades resident Ari Sallus was among early 911 callers to report that NYE fire. He walked the burn scar on Jan. 2 and said he was surprised to see no firefighters there. Six days later, he and his family lost their home in the Palisades Fire.

Was an L.A. fire started by the rekindling of a blaze from New Year’s Day?

Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 1d

In a Jan. 11 story, we reported on this possibility. We interviewed fire behavior experts and residents. LAFD said they didn't use heat detection devices to ensure it was out, though experts told us embers can smolder underground for a long time.
www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...

Firefighters stopped a 9-acre fire from burning into Pacific Palisades before dawn on New...

www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/ar...

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Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 1d

In January while reporting on the Palisades Fire, @mgafni.bsky.social and I heard from fire survivors about a coincidence. The Palisades Fire started in the same spot as a fire that burned less than a week earlier on New Year's Day. They wondered if the two fires might be connected 🧵

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Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 2d

These Napa wineries lost millions in a wildfire. Can they find someone to blame — and pay for it?

These wineries just lost their second grape crop in five years to a wildfire in Napa Valley. This time, they hope to sue for damages.

A burned Bible and ChatGPT messages: Chilling details of the case against man charged with starting Palisades Fire

Reposted by Julie Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · 3d

Investigators allege Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht lit a fire early New Year’s Day that was extinguished but smoldering and rekindled days later.

Investigators allege Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht lit a fire early New Year’s Day that was extinguished but smoldering and rekindled days later.

A burned bible and ChatGPT messages: Chilling details of the case against man charged with starting Palisades Fire

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Reposted by Julie Johnson

Matthias Gafni @mgafni.bsky.social · 3d

Chilling details of what led up to suspected Palisades Fire arsonist lighting hillside on fire.

With @jjreport.bsky.social

www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...

Investigators allege Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht lit a fire early New Year’s Day that was extinguished but smoldering and rekindled days later.

‘All the trees are dead’: An ancient California forest has been wiped out

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Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 3d

Yes! www.sfchronicle.com/climate/arti...

Old growth forests across the West are at risk of disappearing within 50 years. The Teakettle Experimental Forest is a tragic example in California.

‘All the trees are dead’: An ancient California forest has been wiped out

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Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 5d

A California wildfire wiped out this little-known ancient forest of massive trees just before major fire-prevention work was set to begin.

“I am sad because this old-growth forest is no more. I am angry because this outcome was a choice.”

www.sfchronicle.com/climate/arti...

Old growth forests across the West are at risk of disappearing within 50 years. The Teakettle Experimental Forest is a tragic example in California.

Taking These 50 Objects Out of Orbit Would Cut Danger From Space Junk in Half

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Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 5d

FASCINATING

WIRED @wired.com · 5d

Old rocket parts and decommissioned satellites are whizzing around in low Earth orbit, where they risk colliding with the ever-growing constellations of modern satellites being launched. www.wired.com/story/taking...

Old rocket parts and decommissioned satellites are whizzing around in low Earth orbit, where they risk colliding with the ever-growing constellations of modern satellites being launched.

www.wired.com

Reposted by Julie Johnson

Cyrus Farivar @cfarivar.bsky.social · 5d

California sees return of ‘gold fever’ amid record-high gold prices www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

California sees return of ‘gold fever’ amid record-high gold prices

Gold prices doubled in the last two years and are now at record highs. And prospectors are once again rushing to California’s waterways to see what they yield.

‘All the trees are dead’: An ancient California forest has been wiped out

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Reposted by Julie Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · 6d

Old growth forests across the West are at risk of disappearing within 50 years. The Teakettle Experimental Forest is a tragic example in California.

Old growth forests across the West are at risk of disappearing within 50 years. The Teakettle Experimental Forest is a tragic example in California.

Bay Area restaurants call this cooking style a ‘secret ingredient.’ Neighbors say it’s a health risk

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Reposted by Julie Johnson

Reality Winner @reazlepuff.bsky.social · 8d

What the fuck do you mean I got a longer prison sentence than Diddy

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 8d

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison in case involving sex workers, violence and ‘freak-offs’.

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Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 11d

The other side of "wood-fired" menu delights @elenakadvany.bsky.social
www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaur...

A classic cooking tool is also a community flashpoint at restaurants across the Bay Area.

California’s EV carpool era is coming to an end. Will it unleash traffic chaos?

Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 12d

Comedian Larry David ushered hybrids and EVs into the carpool lane? Who knew! @rswansf.bsky.social

www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

The era of driving Priuses or Teslas in carpool lanes ending this week is no joke for drivers who counted on the coveted perk. But, oddly, the idea for this program came from comedian Larry David.

www.sfchronicle.com/climate/arti...

Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 16d

Controversial Bay Area recycling startup ‘highly likely’ to leave California

A Sonoma County company developing a new way of recycling plastic expects to shift its operations out of California, for now, after community concerns about pollution.

Bay Area TV news icon Belva Davis dies at 92

Reposted by Julie Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · 17d

Belva Davis died Wednesday at the age of 92. Davis, who worked as a journalist in the Bay Area for nearly 50 years, was the first African-American woman to become a TV reporter on the West Coast.

Davis was the first African-American woman to become a TV reporter on the West Coast.

California wants to ban most plants near fire-prone homes. Pushback is underway

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Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 22d

California is about to ban plants within 5 feet of homes in fire-prone areas of the state. Some residents and local officials are pushing back

www.sfchronicle.com/california-w...

A California agency is nearing an end-of-the-year deadline to pass stricter landscaping rules, dubbed “zone zero.”

Remote policies helped women work. In-office mandates and child care costs are driving them back out.

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Reposted by Julie Johnson

David King @cityplanning.bsky.social · 28d

The gender issues associated with working from home are substantial and should be part of any policy discussion. (Gift link)

Low flexibility and high child care costs are pushing mothers with young kids back out after they joined the workforce in record numbers during the pandemic.

www.startribune.com

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Julie Johnson @jjreport.bsky.social · 29d

Lawmakers call this the biggest effort in decades to reduce electricity price hikes. Will it work?

San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · 29d

California ratepayers would keep paying into the state’s wildfire fund, which helps utilities pay for fire damage (including prospectively the Eaton Fire), under a new legislative deal.

California wants to stop utility bankruptcy and contain bills. Can it do both?

California ratepayers would keep paying into the state’s wildfire fund, which helps utilities pay for fire damage (including prospectively the Eaton Fire), under a new legislative deal.