California Today: ‘It Was Biblical’: Ash and Flame Upend Life in Southern California

Today's top stories from California.

January 9, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California and the region, selected for you by Times editors. Today's Top Story Philip Cheung for The New York Times 'It Was Biblical': Ash and Flame Upend Life in Southern California Wind-whipped wildfire blew through communities of every socioeconomic status and stripe, merging, psychically if not physically, into a kind of mega-catastrophe. Read more More California News What We Know About the Wildfires Raging in Southern California The huge, fast-moving fires are stretching the region's firefighting resources and have become the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles. Who's in Charge of the Firefighting Effort? Many agencies in the Los Angeles region are coordinating to battle multiple fires. San Francisco Gets a New Mayor and an Emergency Plan for the Fentanyl Scourge Daniel Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, became the city's 46th mayor on Wednesday and laid out a path to restoring the battered city's luster. Where California Residents Can Find Updates and Shelter Here's where people affected by the wildfires can find the latest information on emergency resources. Safety Steps to Take as Fires Sweep Southern California State and local governments can alert you to risks and dangers in your surrounding areas. Being prepared is key. Mayor's Absence Is Considered a Sign L.A. Underestimated Fire Risks Some residents said Mayor Karen Bass should have canceled her trip to Ghana when weather warnings in Los Angeles grew increasingly dire. In the Palisades, an Evacuation Disaster Was Years in the Making Some Pacific Palisades residents said the community had long asked for more detailed fire preparation plans. When a fire raged through the community this week, gridlock ensued. Photos of Abuse Found in a Home's Walls Lead to Prison Time for Father and Son Old Polaroid images of child sex exploitation were found during the renovation of a California home where Theodore and James Smith had lived, the authorities said. Local Conditions Look up the heat index in your area using The Times's heat tracker. See active fires using The Times's wildfire tracker. Today's Recipe Christopher Testani for The New York Times Baked Oatmeal By Lidey Heuck 50 minutes Makes 6 servings Play a Game The Mini Crossword Solve this bite-sized puzzle in just a few minutes. Spelling Bee How many words can you make with 7 letters? Wordle Guess the 5-letter word with 6 chances. See all our games Sign up for Your Places: Extreme Weather. Get notified about extreme weather before it happens with custom alerts for places in the U.S. you choose. Get it in your inbox Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for California Today from The New York Times. To stop receiving California Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018