Headline: Ack! Distant fires leave California's capital city in a haze

No major wildfires are burning near Sacramento but for two weeks a dull haze and the faint smell of smoke from distant blazes has blanketed California's capital region.

It's forced summer campers to stay inside, obscured normally bright skylines and left ash on cars.

Experiencing smoky air from blowing winds is nothing new in many California cities, but Sacramento air quality experts say it's rare for the dirty air to linger for so long, a reality of ever-larger fires that take longer to extinguish.

The haze stretches to the Sierra Nevada mountain range and nearly every major population center in between has suffered air quality considered dangerous for children, the elderly and people with asthma.

Winds often blow smoky air around California during intense fires, but Sacramento air quality experts say it's rare for the dirty air to linger for so long, a reality of ever-larger fires that take longer to extinguish.

There are two major wildfires _ one called the Mendocino Complex Fire that is the largest in California history _ burning more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Sacramento and another huge fire near Yosemite National Park a little farther to the southeast. Firefighters made significant process against the Mendocino Complex for the first time Wednesday but said the blazes will likely continue through September.

Wednesday marked the Sacramento region's 13th straight "Spare the Air" day, when people are encouraged not to drive and add further pollutants to the air _ the longest stretch since at least 2001. A similar warning is effect in the San Francisco Bay Area, and air quality experts in California's Central Valley and areas southeast of Los Angeles are warning residents to limit outdoor exposure because of wildfires there.

A day earlier, dozens of summer campers sat inside watching a movie at a Sacramento YMCA.

"Normally that doesn't happen on a regular day at camp," said Jay Lowden, president of the YMCA for a nine-county region that serves more than 700 kids weekly at 13 summer camps. His counselors monitor the air quality on a daily basis, and Lowden said he may cancel a planned family camp this weekend in the foothills because of the smoke.

Lori Kobza, spokeswoman for the Sacramento Air Quality Management District, said it's hard to predict when things will improve because of the unpredictably of the fires and the winds.

Because the city is located in a valley, it's easier for smoky air to get trapped here when high pressure systems blow in, making Sacramento like a smoke-filled bowl that's had a lid placed tightly on top.

Sacramento, California - 8 August 2018

1. Various of kids playing indoors at YMCA Sacramento day camp (YMCA says parents signed waivers allowing kids to be on camera)

2. Various of playground equipment not being used

3. SOUNDITE (English) Jay Lowden, president of YMCA of Superior California

"The wildfires and the air quality and lack of good air quality has impacted our camps. We have to keep the kids inside more. A lot of the outdoor physical activities we've had to curtail and cut back on. And it's frustrating because the kids are spending more time inside. They get a little bit of cabin fever."

4. California State Capitol building in hazy air

5. Sacramento River and skyline in hazy air

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Kobza, spokeswoman, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District

"We're just most concerned right now with the wildfire smoke and the particulate matter. So we do encourage people to stay indoors and limit their outside activities."

7. Screen showing air quality index

8. Kobza on computer showing air quality map

9. Screen showing air quality map of Sacrament region

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Kobza, spokeswoman, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District

"Now the Mendocino Complex Fires right now are so huge are burning over 300,000 acres and they are contributing the majority of the smoke. Right now however we are still seeing impacts from the Carr Fire, which is burning up near Redding and the Ferguson Fire which is burning in the Yosemite Valley area."

11. Various of kids playing indoors at YMCA day camp

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Braylin Sligar, YMCA camp director

"So air quality wise, so it limits our outdoor time which is hard during summer because it's all about being outdoors and using the outdoors to have fun and to play. So we've had to incorporate a lot more indoor activities in developing our program to accommodate the weather."

13. Boys playing basketball in gym

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Nolasco, 11, YMCA day camper

"It's a very good idea to have a stay indoors because sometimes the pollution can make us sick and stuff."

15. Kids sitting in gym with camp counselor

Headline: Ack! Distant fires leave California's capital city in a haze

No major wildfires are burning near Sacramento but for two weeks a dull haze and the faint smell of smoke from distant blazes has blanketed California's capital region.

It's forced summer campers to stay inside, obscured normally bright skylines and left ash on cars.

Experiencing smoky air from blowing winds is nothing new in many California cities, but Sacramento air quality experts say it's rare for the dirty air to linger for so long, a reality of ever-larger fires that take longer to extinguish.

The haze stretches to the Sierra Nevada mountain range and nearly every major population center in between has suffered air quality considered dangerous for children, the elderly and people with asthma.

Winds often blow smoky air around California during intense fires, but Sacramento air quality experts say it's rare for the dirty air to linger for so long, a reality of ever-larger fires that take longer to extinguish.

There are two major wildfires _ one called the Mendocino Complex Fire that is the largest in California history _ burning more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Sacramento and another huge fire near Yosemite National Park a little farther to the southeast. Firefighters made significant process against the Mendocino Complex for the first time Wednesday but said the blazes will likely continue through September.

Wednesday marked the Sacramento region's 13th straight "Spare the Air" day, when people are encouraged not to drive and add further pollutants to the air _ the longest stretch since at least 2001. A similar warning is effect in the San Francisco Bay Area, and air quality experts in California's Central Valley and areas southeast of Los Angeles are warning residents to limit outdoor exposure because of wildfires there.

A day earlier, dozens of summer campers sat inside watching a movie at a Sacramento YMCA.

"Normally that doesn't happen on a regular day at camp," said Jay Lowden, president of the YMCA for a nine-county region that serves more than 700 kids weekly at 13 summer camps. His counselors monitor the air quality on a daily basis, and Lowden said he may cancel a planned family camp this weekend in the foothills because of the smoke.

Lori Kobza, spokeswoman for the Sacramento Air Quality Management District, said it's hard to predict when things will improve because of the unpredictably of the fires and the winds.

Because the city is located in a valley, it's easier for smoky air to get trapped here when high pressure systems blow in, making Sacramento like a smoke-filled bowl that's had a lid placed tightly on top.

Sacramento, California - 8 August 2018

1. Various of kids playing indoors at YMCA Sacramento day camp (YMCA says parents signed waivers allowing kids to be on camera)

2. Various of playground equipment not being used

3. SOUNDITE (English) Jay Lowden, president of YMCA of Superior California

"The wildfires and the air quality and lack of good air quality has impacted our camps. We have to keep the kids inside more. A lot of the outdoor physical activities we've had to curtail and cut back on. And it's frustrating because the kids are spending more time inside. They get a little bit of cabin fever."

4. California State Capitol building in hazy air

5. Sacramento River and skyline in hazy air

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Kobza, spokeswoman, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District

"We're just most concerned right now with the wildfire smoke and the particulate matter. So we do encourage people to stay indoors and limit their outside activities."

7. Screen showing air quality index

8. Kobza on computer showing air quality map

9. Screen showing air quality map of Sacrament region

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Kobza, spokeswoman, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District

"Now the Mendocino Complex Fires right now are so huge are burning over 300,000 acres and they are contributing the majority of the smoke. Right now however we are still seeing impacts from the Carr Fire, which is burning up near Redding and the Ferguson Fire which is burning in the Yosemite Valley area."

11. Various of kids playing indoors at YMCA day camp

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Braylin Sligar, YMCA camp director

"So air quality wise, so it limits our outdoor time which is hard during summer because it's all about being outdoors and using the outdoors to have fun and to play. So we've had to incorporate a lot more indoor activities in developing our program to accommodate the weather."

13. Boys playing basketball in gym

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Nolasco, 11, YMCA day camper

"It's a very good idea to have a stay indoors because sometimes the pollution can make us sick and stuff."

15. Kids sitting in gym with camp counselor

California Governor Jerry Brown says world leaders are "sound asleep" as the threat of nuclear annihilation and climate disruption loom, worsening wildfires and other natural disasters.

Brown spoke about the climate crisis, California's catastrophic wildfires, the 2020 presidential campaign and Democratic control of state politics during an interview with the Associated Press at the governor's mansion in Sacramento.

The Democrat helped his party become dominant in California politics during his eight years leading the nation's most populous state, and less than a month before leaving office, he is predicting it will be difficult for his successor to control Democrats' hunger for more spending and rules.

Democrats hold all statewide offices and expanded their supermajority in the Legislature last month, allowing them to approve tax hikes and virtually any law without Republican support.

In the interview, Brown, 80, called for more blunt discussions about the danger of wildfires to force officials and residents to act, pushed back against critics who say he's too friendly to oil companies, and chided world leaders for failing to tackle climate change with urgency.

He leaves office on January 7 after wrapping up a record four terms, first from 1975 to 1983 and again since 2011.

The governor's comments on Democratic priorities reflect the more frugal attitude he brought to Sacramento. He entered office with a US$27 billion deficit and leaves a nearly US$15 billion rainy day fund and a surplus.

Brown is leaving office on the heels of the deadliest US wildfire in a century. Flames tore through the town of Paradise last month, killing at least 86 people and destroying 14,000 homes. He's blamed climate change for more destructive blazes in recent years and warned things will worsen.

The governor called the need to limit building in areas at high risk for wildfires "obvious" but said it's "politically painful" to implement when people want to rebuild their homes and developers see opportunities.

People who choose to live in high-risk areas need to plan escape routes, build cellars and manage vegetation, he said. And the state must provide more information about the true danger of wildfires, he said.

Wildfires offer Brown an opportunity to call for swifter action against climate change, which is making California drier and more prone to flames. He's urged action beyond California, working with the UN, creating a global coalition to reduce climate emissions and holding meetings in China and Russia.

Sacramento, California - 18 December 2018  

1. California Governor Jerry Brown on stage at fundraiser for Sacramento Press Club

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Governor Jerry Brown, Democrat, California:

"Emissions are rising in China, are rising in Germany and probably will start rising again in America. So the world leadership class is sound asleep and the threat of nuclear annihilation and climate disruption on a permanent basis looms. And therefore it is time for new leaders to rise up and make the case and mobilize the people for what needs to be done. But what needs to be done is unprecedented, and therein lies the dilemma where we are today."

3. Brown talks during Q&A at fundraising lunch

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Governor Jerry Brown, Democrat, California:

"I think there are a lot of solutions that have to be pursued. They all cost money. They're all going to be difficult politically. They're probably slow to come. And on top of all that we still have to do everything we can to reduce carbon emissions because the threats are mounting. And you're going to see more fires. I believe in the next five to ten years, not in 2050 but in 2025 and 2030. California in some sense is burning up."

5. Brown on stage with journalists

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Governor Jerry Brown, Democrat, California:

"I think people really need to personally figure out how they can handle a fire that is unlikely but possible. And then of course from a government point of view, we need a proper zoning and the state should make the dangers very clear. I don't think that the governments lay out for people the stark warning: you may you may die in this particular environment."

7. Framed campaign poster from early Jerry Brown campaign

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Governor Jerry Brown, Democrat, California:

"And the Democrats are a big tent with many different points of view. Having said all that, I think there will be a tendency to pass too many laws and spend too much money. And I would say the governor is going to have to correct that but he won't be able to correct it all because in order to govern he's got to please some of these groups enough of the time still be viable as a political leader."

9. Brown in interview at governor's mansion

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Governor Jerry Brown, Democrat, California:

"Look it's not the skin colour. It's who's the right person with the right set of qualities to lead the nation. And that can be a man or woman, it can be someone of other background other than what we've seen for most of our history. But at the end of the day whoever the person is he has to be a unifying figure. We don't need any more divisiveness."

11. Audience applauds for Brown at fundraiser

California Gov. Jerry Brown says world leaders are "sound asleep" as the threat of nuclear annihilation and climate disruption loom, worsening wildfires and other natural disasters.

Brown spoke about the climate crisis, California's catastrophic wildfires, the 2020 presidential campaign and Democratic control of state politics during an interview with the Associated Press at the governor's mansion in Sacramento.

The Democrat  helped his party become dominant in California politics during his eight years leading the nation's most populous state, and less than a month before leaving office, he is predicting it will be difficult for his successor to control Democrats' hunger for more spending and rules.

Democrats hold all statewide offices and expanded their supermajority in the Legislature last month, allowing them to approve tax hikes and virtually any law without Republican support.

In the interview, Brown, 80, called for more blunt discussions about the danger of wildfires to force officials and residents to act, pushed back against critics who say he's too friendly to oil companies, and chided world leaders for failing to tackle climate change with urgency.

He leaves office Jan. 7 after wrapping up a record four terms, first from 1975 to 1983 and again since 2011.

The governor's comments on Democratic priorities reflect the more frugal attitude he brought to Sacramento. He entered office with a $27 billion deficit and leaves a nearly $15 billion rainy day fund and a surplus.

Brown is leaving office on the heels of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. Flames tore through the town of Paradise last month, killing at least 86 people and destroying 14,000 homes. He's blamed climate change for more destructive blazes in recent years and warned things will worsen.

The governor called the need to limit building in areas at high risk for wildfires "obvious" but said it's "politically painful" to implement when people want to rebuild their homes and developers see opportunities.

People who choose to live in high-risk areas need to plan escape routes, build cellars and manage vegetation, he said. And the state must provide more information about the true danger of wildfires, he said.

Wildfires offer Brown an opportunity to call for swifter action against climate change, which is making California drier and more prone to flames. He's urged action beyond California, working with the U.N., creating a global coalition to reduce climate emissions and holding meetings in China and Russia.

Sacramento, California - 18 December 2018  

1. Gov. Jerry Brown on stage at fundraiser for Sacramento Press Club

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Jerry Brown, (D) California:

"Emissions are rising in China, are rising in Germany and probably will start rising again in America. So the world leadership class is sound asleep and the threat of nuclear annihilation and climate disruption on a permanent basis looms. And therefore it is time for new leaders to rise up and make the case and mobilize the people for what needs to be done. But what needs to be done is unprecedented, and therein lies the dilemma where we are today."

3. Brown talks during Q&A at fundraising lunch

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Jerry Brown, (D) California:

"I think there are a lot of solutions that have to be pursued. They all cost money. They're all going to be difficult politically. They're probably slow to come. And on top of all that we still have to do everything we can to reduce carbon emissions because the threats are mounting. And you're going to see more fires. I believe in the next five to ten years, not in 2050 but in 2025 and 2030. California in some sense is burning up."

5. Brown on stage with journalists

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Jerry Brown, (D) California:

"I think people really need to personally figure out how they can handle a fire that is unlikely but possible. And then of course from a government point of view, we need a proper zoning and the state should make the dangers very clear. I don't think that the governments lay out for people the stark warning: you may you may die in this particular environment."

7. Framed campaign poster from early Jerry Brown campaign

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Jerry Brown, (D) California:

"And the Democrats are a big tent with many different points of view. Having said all that, I think there will be a tendency to pass too many laws and spend too much money. And I would say the governor is going to have to correct that but he won't be able to correct it all because in order to govern he's got to please some of these groups enough of the time still be viable as a political leader."

9. Brown in interview at governor's mansion

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Jerry Brown, (D) California:

"Look it's not the skin color. It's who's the right person with the right set of qualities to lead the nation. And that can be a man or woman, it can be someone of other background other than what we've seen for most of our history. But at the end of the day whoever the person is he has to be a unifying figure. We don't need any more divisiveness."

11. Audience applauds for Brown at fundraiser

Rumbling bulldozers have started scraping up the ash, charred wood and crumbled bricks left from thousands of homes and buildings destroyed by wildfires in California wine country.

The second phase of cleanup launched this week in a Santa Rosa neighborhood that saw some of the worst destruction last month.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors began the work this week in flattened, blackened blocks of Santa Rosa's Coffey Park neighborhood. It saw some of the worst destruction last month when fierce winds drove flames that killed at least 43 people and destroyed 8,900 houses and other buildings in four counties.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finished the first phase at most properties in hard-hit areas, with crews carting away hazardous waste.

Rick Brown, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, says that allowed crews with heavy equipment to move in to scrape up foundations and the top layer of ash, debris and soil. The soil will be tested for contaminants such as asbestos or other metals and chemicals.

Brown says they're in contact with property owners about the cleanup process.

"When we come out for the phase two portion and conduct that site assessment, that initial site assessment, we're going to look at that right of entry form and any notes the property owner made and we'll try to make those determinations then, whether or not we can save something they're wanting us to save, or remove something they want us to remove," Brown said.

Agencies also are sampling for air contamination and any hazardous water runoff into waterways.

Santa Rosa, California – November 8, 2017

1. Medium view of clean up crew in hazmat suits and worker walking into burn damaged property for inspection

2. Close view of worker sifting through debris

3. Medium view of homeowner standing on property destroyed by wildfire

4. Medium view of car destroyed by wildfire

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Larry Keyser, property owner:

"The police came and yelled at us, to get out…'right now you gotta get out'. So we basically got our shoes on and a sweatshirt and left, with literally the clothes we were sleeping in. And that was it."

6. Wide view of EPA official sifting through debris

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Larry Keyser, property owner:

"My wife had her mother's wedding ring. Trying to find it and they didn't have any luck, I don't think they had any luck with it. I had a coin collection from my childhood, and we had silver plates, silver coffee pots. So, they did their best."

8. Medium view of U.S. flag standing in burn debris, pan to wide view of Keyser standing in burned out property

9. Wide view of construction crews removing soil from burn damaged property

10. Close view of sign posted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the status of the property

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Rick Brown, Spokesman, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

"When we come out for the Phase Two portion and conduct that site assessment, that initial site assessment, we're going to look at that right of entry form and any notes the property owner made and we'll try to make those determinations then, whether or not we can save something they're wanting us to save, or remove something they want us to remove."

12. Medium view of construction crews digging up soil on burn damaged property

HEADLINE: Wildfires causing poor air quality in N. Calif.

---------------------------------------

CAPTION: Wildfires raging across California are being blamed for unhealthy air quality throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The heavy smoke and particulate pollution has prompted an air quality warning. (June 24)

----------------------------------------

[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]

NB. THIS IS A VOICEOVER TRANSCRIPT, NOT A FULL SHOT LIST.

(locator - Napa, CA)

RIGHT NOW THE SMOKY AROMA IN CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY ISN'T COMING FROM THE OAK AGED MERLOT.

Ripple Sharma, Tourist, says: "Normally there's a great view of the ocean but all you see are these dry hills and haze."

THE HAZE IS COMING FROM HUNDREDS OF SMALL WILDFIRES BURNING ALL OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Elaine St. Clair, Black Stallion Winery, says: "At night we could see an orange glow at the very top of the hill and there was smoke."

THAT SMOKE IS EVERYWHERE. AIR QUALITY OFFICIALS TO PUT OUT AN ADVISORY TO AVOID THE OUTDOORS IF POSSIBLE.

Kristine Roselius, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, says: "We do have some smoke effects here in the Bay Area. We have higher than usual levels of particulate matter. So we're advising people that are sensitive to the smoke to stay inside, keep their children inside and just use common sense."

(camp counselor tells kids: "We're gonna play indoor baseball with the rubber ball.")

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS ARE KEEPING CHILDREN INDOORS.

Eric Dreikosen, Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley, says: "It's much darker. You can absolutely smell the smoke in the air."

THE KIDS SHOULD BE ALLOWED BACK OUTSIDE WEDNESDAY AS OFF-SHORE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BLOW MUCH OF THE SMOKE AWAY. HAVEN DALEY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, NAPA, CALIFORNIA.

On October 7th 2019 Paris members of Extinction Rebellion blocked streets with mass sit-ins as riot police looked on.

In Berlin people blocked the Grosser Stern, a traffic circle in the middle of the German capital's Tiergarten park dominated by the landmark Victory Column, in a protest that started in the early hours.

Members of Extinction Rebellion also set up a camp outside Chancellor Angela Merkel's office ahead of what it called an "international rebellion" starting on October 7th.

Founded in Britain in 2018, the movement, also known as XR, now has chapters in some 50 countries.

***

A wildfire raged out of control along the northern edge of Los Angeles on October 11th, forcing thousands of people from their homes as firefighters battled flames from the air and on the ground.

Police Chief Michel Moore said mandatory evacuations encompassed about 100,000 people in over 20,000 homes.

Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said the fire had grown to more than 7 square miles (18 square kilometers) and at least 25 homes had been damaged.

A middle-aged man who was near where the fire was burning went into cardiac arrest and died, the chief said, but he did not have details.

The blaze erupted around 9 p.m. Thursday along the northern tier of the San Fernando Valley as powerful Santa Ana winds swept through Southern California. Smoke streamed across the city and out to sea.

Terrazas said there were sustained winds of 20-25 mph (32-40 kph) with gusts over 50 mph (80 kph) and relative humidity levels had fallen as low as 3%.

The fire erupted in Sylmar, the northernmost portion of the valley, and spread westward at a rate of 800 acres (324 hectares) an hour into Granada Hills and Porter Ranch, part of a so-called urban-wildland interface where subdivisions crowd against the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains. The cause wasn't immediately known.

Porter Ranch, an upper middle-class suburb that was the backdrop for the 1982 movie "E.T." is no stranger to evacuations. Four years ago, a blowout at an underground natural gas well operated by Southern California Gas Co. in the neighboring Aliso Canyon storage facility drove 8,000 families from their homes.

Helicopters made repeated water drops as crews in Los Angeles attacked flames in and around homes. Water- and retardant-dropping airplanes joined the battle after daybreak. About 1,000 firefighters were on the lines.

Fire danger is high throughout Southern California after the typically dry summer and early fall, and the notorious Santa Ana winds - linked to the spread of many wildfires - bring a dangerous mix of witheringly low humidity levels and powerful gusts.

***

A spokeswoman for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Southern California says the complex has not been damaged by a nearby wildfire that has grown to more than 970 acres (392 hectares).

The fire erupted before dawn as strong winds hit Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles.

Flames are pushing through sparsely developed hills between suburban tracts. Horses are being evacuated from small ranches.

The brush fire broke out just before dawn Wednesday near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in the Simi Valley area north of Los Angeles.

Red Cross spokesman Tom Horan says people are confused and scared as they arrived at a shelter set up in a community center in the city of Thousand Oaks, some wearing masks.

They registered with shelter staff amid the banging of cots being set up and food and water being carried inside.

Horan says the shelter can accommodate about 380 evacuees during the day and about 180 overnight. Pets must be kept outside in crates.

***

Strong winds fanned new Southern California wildfires on October 31th, burning homes and forcing residents to flee their homes in a repeat of the frightening scenario already faced by tens of thousands across the state.

The latest blazes erupted in the heavily populated inland region east of Los Angeles as strong, seasonal Santa Ana winds continued to blow with gusts of up to 60 mph (96 kph) predicted to last until the evening before they fade away.

A fast-moving fire spread into the northern neighborhoods of the city of San Bernardino, forcing the evacuation of 490 homes - approximately 1,300 people, the San Bernardino County Fire Department said.

Fire Chief Don Trapp said initial assessment showed that six homes and two outbuildings were destroyed or damaged in the 200-acre (80-hectare) fire.

As winds buffeted the state this week, utilities deliberately cut power to more than a million people to prevent high winds from damaging power lines and sparking wildfires.

Southern California Edison said its safety power cuts still affected about 215,000 people by October 30th and warned that outages were under consideration for about 800,000 people.

Pacific Gas & Electric, which has staged three sweeping blackouts this week, restored power to hundreds of thousands of people Wednesday and expected to have it back for the others sometime October 31th.

The days of windstorms are not unusual for the fall season, which has seen vicious gusts propel a series of deadly and destructive California wildfires in recent years.

***

On October 31th authorities in Ventura County ordered evacuations for about 7,500 people in an area that includes roughly 1,800 buildings as the blaze threatened the small, unincorporated rural community of Somis.

Hundreds of firefighters raced to attack the blaze, which initially was fanned by moderate winds and then was fueled by tinder-dry brush in canyons. Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said more than 400 firefighting personnel were on the job. The fire grew in only a few hours to around 7,400 acres - just over 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) - before midnight.

Ventura County Fire Assistant Chief John McNeil estimated that the fire could reach around 12,000 acres before running out of fuel. Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said a small drone that appeared to be "looking at photography of the fire" interfered with aerial firefighting efforts.

***

Tourists and Venetians have donned high boots and taken to raised walkways to slosh through the high water that has hit much of the lagoon city.

Venice's tide forecast office said the water level peaked at 1.27 metres (about 4 feet 3 inches) on Novembre 12th but warned that an even higher tide was forecast for after nightfall.

The high water invaded cafes and stores.

As a precaution, authorities closed nursery schools.

San Marco Square, more usually thronged with tourists, was largely deserted.

Many hotels keep disposable knee-high plastic boots handy for tourists.

Venetians' wardrobes often include over-the-knee rubber boots.

Bad weather has dogged Italy lately, with near-daily downpours drenching much of the country.

Meteorologists predicted more heavy rain coming in late Tuesday, especially in the northeast, which includes Venice, as well as in Sicily and elsewhere in the south.

***

A picture taken from the International Space Station shows smoke stretching from the edge of Eastern Australia over the Pacific Ocean.

About 60 fires were burning around New South Wales on the morning of November 13th, with 27 uncontained while being battled by more than 1,000 firefighters, the Rural Fire Service said.

A body was found late on November 13th in a scorched forest near the town of Kempsey in northeast New South Wales, police said.

He is suspected to be a 58-year-old man who lived in a nearby shed and had not been seen since Friday when ferocious wildfires across New South Wales killed three other people and destroyed at least 150 homes.

***

Students in Berlin, Germany marched in support of the global climate strike on November 29th, joining 3,000 protests across the world.

Seventeen-year-old protester, Robin Ebelt said "the generation before us messed it up" and that he wanted to live "for another 60 years."

Fridays for Future activist, Quang Paasch said protesters needed to continue to "take to the streets" to defend the Paris Climate Agreement.

The Fridays for Future protests were originally started by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg in 2018 who was outraged by the lack of government action on climate change.

The worldwide student climate marches come a few days before the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP 25, begins on December 2nd in Madrid.

***

World leaders were arriving on December 2nd for the start of a two-week international climate conference in Madrid that seeks to step up efforts to stop global warming.

The UN is warning that the efforts so far are insufficient to overcome the “point of no return” in climate change.

The summit, which moved to the Spanish capital after Chile had to pull out amid anti-government protests, aims to put the finishing touches to the rules governing the 2015 Paris accord.

That involves creating a functioning international emissions-trading system and compensating poor countries for losses they suffer from rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change.

***

Spain's Energy and Environment Minister Teresa Ribera visited an art installation in Madrid on December 4th, which simulates pollution levels of some of the world's biggest cities.

Ribera and the Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organisation, Maria Neira, walked around the "Pollution Pods" created by British artist Michael Pinsky on the sidelines of the COP25 climate change meeting.

Safe perfume blends and fog machines inside the geodesic domes imitate the air quality of some of the world's most polluted cities - London, Beijing, Sao Paulo, New Delhi - as well as one of the most pristine environments on earth, Tautra in Norway.

Ribera said experiencing the simulated environments was "impressive" and helps understand how pollution affects people's health.

***

Climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Madrid on December 6th to join thousands of other young people in a march to demand world leaders take real action against climate change.

Ahead of the march, Thunberg joined a sit-in protest at the conference venue in the Spanish capital.

Madrid is hosting a two-week, United Nations-sponsored talks aimed at streamlining the rules on global carbon markets and agreeing on how poor countries should be compensated for destruction largely caused by emissions from rich nations.

The talks come as scientific evidence mounts about disasters that could ensue from further global warming, including a study commissioned by 14 seafaring nations due to be published Friday that predicts that unchecked climate change could devastate fishery industries and coral reef tourism.

That could cause hundreds of billions of dollars in losses by 2050, says the report, adding that limiting global warming would lessen the economic impact for coastal countries, but that they also need to adapt to ocean changes.

The presence in Madrid of Thunberg was expected to shift the attention to demands for greater action by non-governmental organizations and a whole new generation of environment-minded activists.

Past appearances by the 16-year-old have won her plaudits from some leaders - and criticism from others who’ve taken offence at the angry tone of her speeches.

An advocate for carbon-free transportation, Thunberg travelled by train overnight from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, where she arrived earlier this week after sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from the United States by catamaran.

That became necessary after a sudden change of venue for the COP25 summit following a wave of anti-government protests that hit Chile, the original host.

***

Climate activist Greta Thunberg said on December 6th that calls for real action against climate change were still being ignored by political leaders, despite their continuous praise of the global environmental youth movement she helped create.

The Swedish teenager was in Madrid, where United Nations-sponsored talks on climate change are underway, to join fellow young climate activists, representatives of Latin America's indigenous peoples and thousands of other protesters.

Before marching, Thunberg said at a press conference that she hoped the COP25 summit would lead to "something concrete" and "increasing awareness among people in general".

Surrounded by three other activists from Spain and Uganda, she added: "The climate crisis is still being ignored by those in power."

The 16-year-old was followed by a swarm of cameras and reporters from the very first step she took out of an overnight train from Lisbon.

The advocate of carbon-free transportation arrived in the Portuguese capital earlier this week after sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from the United States by catamaran.

During the December 2-13 talks, nearly 200 countries are meant to streamline the rules on global carbon markets and agree on how poor countries should be compensated for destruction largely caused by emissions from rich nations.

"We are tired of the praises that you keep giving the activists," she said. "We want you to act."

***

Swedish teen Greta Thunberg joined fellow young climate activists, representatives of Latin America's indigenous peoples, and thousands of other protesters in a climate march on the streets of Madrid on December 6th.

Thunberg was in Madrid, where United Nations-sponsored talks on climate change are underway.

She said that calls for real action against climate change are still being “ignored" by political leaders despite their continuous praise of the global environmental youth movement she helped create.

Amid an overwhelming level of attention from cameras and other protesters she left the march shortly after it began, getting in a red car that she's been using to move around the city.

During the Dec. 2-13 talks, nearly 200 countries are meant to streamline the rules on global carbon markets and agree on how poor countries should be compensated for destruction largely caused by emissions from rich nations.

An official directly involved in the negotiations said that despite a few setbacks, the technical negotiations were progressing, although many issues were being left for ministerial-level meetings in the summit's second and final week.

The official, who asked to remain anonymous given the sensitivity of the discussions, added that a political declaration on greater “ambition" - a buzzword at the summit - was shaping to be “difficult to achieve.”

***

Sweish climate activist Greta Thunberg says she was "very surprised" to be named Time's “person of the year”, despite becoming the figurehead of a global youth movement pressing for faster action climate change.

Leaving a UN climate conference in Madrid, Thunberg told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she wanted to dedicate the award to all young activists.

"I should not be the one to be person of the year, it should be everyone in the Fridays for Future movement because what we have done, we have done together," she told the AP by phone interview.

She is now planning to head home to Sweden for some rest during the holidays.

Thunberg said she was hopeful that the message being pushed by her and other activists - that governments need to drastically increase their efforts to combat climate change - is finally getting through.

***

Marathon international climate talks ended on December 15th with negotiators postponing until next year a key decision on how to regulate global carbon markets.

After two weeks of negotiations in Madrid on tackling global warming, delegates from almost 200 nations passed declarations calling for greater ambition in cutting planet-heating greenhouse gases and in helping poor countries that are suffering the effects of climate change.

But despite holding the longest climate talks ever in 25 nearly annual editions they left one of the thorniest issues for the next summit in Glasgow, in a year's time.

Martin Kaiser of Greenpeace Germany said in the meantime he hoped the European Union's 'Green Deal,' which proposes a net-zero emmisions target by 2050, would be implemented to "set a precedence for other economic regions" of the world.

02:57:20

00:00:00

Climate protests, arrests, in NLands, France, Germany

4233588

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paris - 7 October 2019

1. Members of Extinction Rebellion with flags walking on bridge

2. Pan from riot police to demonstrators, UPSOUND (French) "We are Extinction Rebellion"

00:11:22

Firefighters battle southern California blaze

4234355

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Porter Ranch, California - 11 October 2019

3. Various of firefighters spraying water on flames near homes and helicopter dropping water near homes

00:23:22

New wildfire scorches area north of Los Angeles

4237459

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Simi Valley, California - 30 October 2019

4. Medium view of smoke blowing across roadway

5. Fire burning along hillside near buildings

6. Fire burning trees and brush

00:35:22

Wildfire east of Los Angeles destroys homes

4237659

ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Bernardino, California - 31 October 2019

7. Various night views of homes burning

8. Dayside views of smoldering remains of a house

00:47:22

Hundreds battle new Southern California wildfire

4237739

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Somis, California - 31 October 2019

9. Firefighters spraying fire on mountainside

10. Fire truck next to burning mountainside

11. Fire amid trees, grass

00:59:22

St Mark's Square in Venice flooded

4239474

Restrictions: Part must credit Gaetano Guzzardi; Part must not obscure logo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Central Venice, Italy - 12 November 2019

12. Wide of San Marco Square flooded

13. Tourists carrying luggage through flood waters

14. Tourist wading through flood waters

15. Various of tourists walking through flooded area

01:15:22

Smoke from Australia fires visible from Space

4239881

NASA

International Space Station - 13 November 2019

16. STILL: smoke from edge of Australia stretches over Pacific Ocean, red dots on picture indicate actively burning fires.

01:20:22

German climate activists rally at Brandenburg Gate

4242402

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Berlin - 29 November 2019

17. Various of protesters in front of Brandenburg Gate

01:31:22

Leaders arrive in Madrid as climate summit begins

4242653

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madrid - 2 December 2019

18. New European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arriving

01:37:21

Spanish art installation recreates air pollution

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madrid - 4 December 2019

19. Spanish Energy and Environment Minister Teresa Ribera (black coat) and Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, at the World Health Organization, Maria Neira (with a scarf) entering cell recreating the air pollution in Beijing

20. Ribera and Neira entering cell recreating the air pollution in New Delhi

21. Banner with COP25 logo and slogan (Spanish) "#TiempoDeActuar" ("Time to act")

01:50:03

Thunberg joins sit-in protest at COP25 summit

4243416

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madrid - 6 December 2019

22. Various of Thunberg joining sit-in protest against the lack of government action to tackle climate change

01:57:24

Thunberg calls for 'real action' on climate change

4243514

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madrid - 6 December 2019

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate activist

" The world leaders, the people in power, grasp the urgency of the climate crisis because right now it doesn't seem like they are."

02:10:07

Thousands join Thunberg in Madrid climate march

4243520

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madrid - 6 December 2019

++NIGHT SHOTS++

24. Various top shots of thousands of protesters marching in Madrid near Cibeles Fountain

02:18:07

Thungberg 'very surprised' about Time award

4244273

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Location unknown - 11 December 2019

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate activist

" I should not be the one to be person of the year, it should be everyone in the Fridays for Future movement because what we have done, we have done together."

02:31:16

Frustration as COP25 ends without carbon deal

4244864

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madrid - 15 December 2019

26. COP25 venue, sign

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Kaiser, Greenpeace Germany:

"US President (Donald) Trump and President (Jair) Bolsonaro from Brazil have undermined these negotiations here and if they are going to continue so next year, we need a different answer from strong economies like the European Union, together with China, together with India, to come up with a new narrative of hope for the young people out there."

188396

Greece - Wildfires

APTN

Pilion Mountain region nr Volos, Central Greece, Suburb of Patras, Peloponesus, southern Greece and Ageoianergiri, 150km (100 miles) south of Athens - 13-14 July 2000

July 13 NIGHT SHOTS - Pilion Mountain region nr Volos, Central Greece

1. Various of fires

July 14 Daytime - Suburb of Patras, Peloponnese peninsula, southern Greece

2. Man trying to beat out fires

July 14 Ageoianergiri, 150km (100 miles) south of Athens

3. Various of plane dropping water over fires

4. Various of fires on hill side

522379

US - Firefighters battle wildfires in California and Florida

AP TELEVISION

Various - 11 May 2007

Avalon, Catalina Island, California

1. Aerial shot of huge plumes of smoke rising from mountains

2. Various aerials of fire

Osceola National Forest, Columbia County, Florida

3. Various of forest fire

349148

Russia - Forest Fires Causing Smog That Is Enveloping Moscow

APTN

Moscow/Novaya - 5 Sept 2002

Novaya, 30 kilometres east of Moscow

1. Forest near the village of Novaya, 30 kilometres east of Moscow

2. Burnt trees with the haze in the background

3. Two firefighters

4. Close up fire

5. Firefighter

6. Pan smoke

Moscow

7. Haze in Moscow

8. Red star on the Kremlin

349380

Russia - Smog Blankets Moscow

APTN

Moscow - 8 Sept 2002

1. Kremlin in smog

2. Bridge over river in smog

3. Pedestrians walking along a bridge

4. Woman passing by and covering face with a handkerchief

1208

USA - Los Angeles Smog

APTV

Los Angeles - 2 December 1994

1. GV Los Angeles smog

2. Traffic in Los Angeles

350425

Mexico - Pollution

APTN

Mexico City - 19 September 2002

1. WS Mexico City skyline in heavy smog

2. HS traffic at Angel de la Independencia in Mexico City

3. Zoom out skyline in smog

4. VS traffic and smog

Most schools in San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland and Folsom will be closed Friday as a deadly wildfire in Northern California sends smoke into the Bay Area.

School districts announced the closures Thursday as the region experienced some of the worst air quality since the fire started a week ago about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of San Francisco.

An Environmental Protection Agency website says the air quality in Sacramento is "hazardous" Thursday and San Francisco's is "very unhealthy." Many people walking around the cities wore face masks.

Several Northern California universities had announced closures earlier Thursday.

The wildfire that started a week ago has killed dozens of people and charred nearly 220 square miles (570 square kilometers).

Smoke masks. Eye drops. No outdoor exercise. This is how Californians are trying to cope with wildfires choking the state, but experts say an increase in serious health problems may be almost inevitable for vulnerable residents as the disasters become more commonplace.

"It just feels very smoky and full of particulates. I'm definitely worried about my son who's breathing this stuff. We've got air filters at home and we're running them at full speed but I'm not sure it's enough to get rid of all the toxic particulates so I'm definitely worried about the health of my family and the city in general," San Francisco resident Daniel Horn said.

Research suggests children, the elderly and those with existing health problems are most at risk.

Short-term exposure to wildfire smoke can worsen existing asthma and lung disease, leading to emergency room treatment or hospitalization, studies have shown.

Increases in doctor visits or hospital treatment for respiratory infections, bronchitis and pneumonia in otherwise healthy people also have been found during and after wildfires.

Some studies also have found increases in ER visits for heart attacks and strokes in people with existing heart disease on heavy smoke days during previous California wildfires, echoing research on potential risks from urban air pollution.

For most healthy people, exposure to wildfire smoke is just an annoyance, causing burning eyes, scratchy throats or chest discomfort that all disappear when the smoke clears.

But doctors, scientists and public health officials are concerned that the changing face of wildfires will pose a much broader health hazard,

In an overview published earlier this year, Cascio wrote that the increasing frequency of large wildland fires, urban expansion into wooded areas and an aging population are all increasing the number of people at risk for health problems from fires.

Wood smoke contains some of the same toxic chemicals as urban air pollution, along with tiny particles of vapor and soot 30 times thinner than a human hair. These can infiltrate the bloodstream, potentially causing inflammation and blood vessel damage even in healthy people, research on urban air pollution has shown. Studies have linked heart attacks and cancer with long-term exposure to air pollution.

Whether exposure to wildfire smoke carries the same risks is uncertain, and determining harm from smog versus wildfire smoke can be tricky, especially with wind-swept California wildfires spreading thick smoke hundreds of miles away into smoggy big cities.

San Francisco - 15 November 2018

1.Two men sit in foreground, barely visible Golden Gate Bridge in background

2. Dogwalker wears masks while six dogs on leashes follow along the beach

3. View of Golden Gate Bridge from smoky Crissy Field

4. Woman wearing mask holds small dog with bridge in background

5. Walking shot of man with dog on Crissy Field beach

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chloe Allegret, San Francisco resident:

"It's pretty uncomfortable. It's definitely causing shortness of breath, pressure in the sinuses so we're taking it easy."

7. Food delivery workers loading up van while wearing masks

8. Postal worker delivers mail while wearing mask

9. UPS driver wears mask while making delivery

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Horn, San Francisco resident:

"It just feels very smoky and full of particulates. I'm definitely worried about my son who's breathing this stuff. We've got air filters at home and we're running them at full speed but I'm not sure it's enough to get rid of all the toxic particulates so I'm definitely worried about the health of my family and the city in general."

11. Man walks along city's Embarcadero wearing mask

12. Embarcadero cleaning crew rides by on bicycle while wearing mask

13. Two women sit on park bench wearing masks

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Kylie Garcia, San Francisco resident:

"It sucks for people who are allergic to this stuff. Even me, I'm walking out here and my god, now my throat is feeling raspy. I walk here everyday on my work lunch break. It's crazy. I can't believe it. It's really sad and hopefully they'll be able to stop it. We'll see how long it goes."

15. Fire boat floating on Bay in foreground, Bay Bridge in smog in background

Most schools in San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland and Folsom will be closed Friday as a deadly wildfire in Northern California sends smoke into the Bay Area.

School districts announced the closures Thursday as the region experienced some of the worst air quality since the fire started a week ago about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of San Francisco.

An Environmental Protection Agency website says the air quality in Sacramento is "hazardous" Thursday and San Francisco's is "very unhealthy." Many people walking around the cities wore face masks.

Several Northern California universities had announced closures earlier Thursday.

The wildfire that started a week ago has killed dozens of people and charred nearly 220 square miles (570 square kilometers).

Smoke masks. Eye drops. No outdoor exercise. This is how Californians are trying to cope with wildfires choking the state, but experts say an increase in serious health problems may be almost inevitable for vulnerable residents as the disasters become more commonplace.

"It just feels very smoky and full of particulates. I'm definitely worried about my son who's breathing this stuff. We've got air filters at home and we're running them at full speed but I'm not sure it's enough to get rid of all the toxic particulates so I'm definitely worried about the health of my family and the city in general," San Francisco resident Daniel Horn said.

Research suggests children, the elderly and those with existing health problems are most at risk.

Short-term exposure to wildfire smoke can worsen existing asthma and lung disease, leading to emergency room treatment or hospitalization, studies have shown.

Increases in doctor visits or hospital treatment for respiratory infections, bronchitis and pneumonia in otherwise healthy people also have been found during and after wildfires.

Some studies also have found increases in ER visits for heart attacks and strokes in people with existing heart disease on heavy smoke days during previous California wildfires, echoing research on potential risks from urban air pollution.

For most healthy people, exposure to wildfire smoke is just an annoyance, causing burning eyes, scratchy throats or chest discomfort that all disappear when the smoke clears.

But doctors, scientists and public health officials are concerned that the changing face of wildfires will pose a much broader health hazard,

In an overview published earlier this year, Cascio wrote that the increasing frequency of large wildland fires, urban expansion into wooded areas and an aging population are all increasing the number of people at risk for health problems from fires.

Wood smoke contains some of the same toxic chemicals as urban air pollution, along with tiny particles of vapor and soot 30 times thinner than a human hair. These can infiltrate the bloodstream, potentially causing inflammation and blood vessel damage even in healthy people, research on urban air pollution has shown. Studies have linked heart attacks and cancer with long-term exposure to air pollution.

Whether exposure to wildfire smoke carries the same risks is uncertain, and determining harm from smog versus wildfire smoke can be tricky, especially with wind-swept California wildfires spreading thick smoke hundreds of miles away into smoggy big cities.

San Francisco - 15 November 2018

1. Two men sit in foreground, barely visible Golden Gate Bridge in background

2. Dogwalker wears masks while six dogs on leashes follow along the beach

3. View of Golden Gate Bridge from smoky Crissy Field

4. Woman wearing mask holds small dog with bridge in background

5. Walking shot of man with dog on Crissy Field beach

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chloe Allegret, San Francisco resident:

"It's pretty uncomfortable. It's definitely causing shortness of breath, pressure in the sinuses so we're taking it easy."

7. Food delivery workers loading up van while wearing masks

8. Postal worker delivers mail while wearing mask

9. UPS driver wears mask while making delivery

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Horn, San Francisco resident:

"It just feels very smoky and full of particulates. I'm definitely worried about my son who's breathing this stuff. We've got air filters at home and we're running them at full speed but I'm not sure it's enough to get rid of all the toxic particulates so I'm definitely worried about the health of my family and the city in general."

11. Man walks along city's Embarcadero wearing mask

12. Embarcadero cleaning crew rides by on bicycle while wearing mask

13. Two women sit on park bench wearing masks

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Kylie Garcia, San Francisco resident:

"It sucks for people who are allergic to this stuff. Even me, I'm walking out here and my god, now my throat is feeling raspy. I walk here everyday on my work lunch break. It's crazy. I can't believe it. It's really sad and hopefully they'll be able to stop it. We'll see how long it goes."

15. Fire boat floating on Bay in foreground, Bay Bridge in smog in background

Most schools in San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland and Folsom will be closed Friday as a deadly wildfire in Northern California sends smoke into the Bay Area.

School districts announced the closures Thursday as the region experienced some of the worst air quality since the fire started a week ago about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of San Francisco.

An Environmental Protection Agency website says the air quality in Sacramento is "hazardous" Thursday and San Francisco's is "very unhealthy." Many people walking around the cities wore face masks.

Several Northern California universities had announced closures earlier Thursday.

The wildfire that started a week ago has killed dozens of people and charred nearly 220 square miles (570 square kilometers).

Smoke masks. Eye drops. No outdoor exercise. This is how Californians are trying to cope with wildfires choking the state, but experts say an increase in serious health problems may be almost inevitable for vulnerable residents as the disasters become more commonplace.

"It just feels very smoky and full of particulates. I'm definitely worried about my son who's breathing this stuff. We've got air filters at home and we're running them at full speed but I'm not sure it's enough to get rid of all the toxic particulates so I'm definitely worried about the health of my family and the city in general," San Francisco resident Daniel Horn said.

Research suggests children, the elderly and those with existing health problems are most at risk.

Short-term exposure to wildfire smoke can worsen existing asthma and lung disease, leading to emergency room treatment or hospitalization, studies have shown.

Increases in doctor visits or hospital treatment for respiratory infections, bronchitis and pneumonia in otherwise healthy people also have been found during and after wildfires.

Some studies also have found increases in ER visits for heart attacks and strokes in people with existing heart disease on heavy smoke days during previous California wildfires, echoing research on potential risks from urban air pollution.

For most healthy people, exposure to wildfire smoke is just an annoyance, causing burning eyes, scratchy throats or chest discomfort that all disappear when the smoke clears.

But doctors, scientists and public health officials are concerned that the changing face of wildfires will pose a much broader health hazard,

In an overview published earlier this year, Cascio wrote that the increasing frequency of large wildland fires, urban expansion into wooded areas and an aging population are all increasing the number of people at risk for health problems from fires.

Wood smoke contains some of the same toxic chemicals as urban air pollution, along with tiny particles of vapor and soot 30 times thinner than a human hair. These can infiltrate the bloodstream, potentially causing inflammation and blood vessel damage even in healthy people, research on urban air pollution has shown. Studies have linked heart attacks and cancer with long-term exposure to air pollution.

Whether exposure to wildfire smoke carries the same risks is uncertain, and determining harm from smog versus wildfire smoke can be tricky, especially with wind-swept California wildfires spreading thick smoke hundreds of miles away into smoggy big cities.

San Francisco - 15 November 2018

1.Two men sit in foreground, barely visible Golden Gate Bridge in background

2. Dogwalker wears masks while six dogs on leashes follow along the beach

3. View of Golden Gate Bridge from smoky Crissy Field

4. Woman wearing mask holds small dog with bridge in background

5. Walking shot of man with dog on Crissy Field beach

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chloe Allegret, San Francisco resident:

"It's pretty uncomfortable. It's definitely causing shortness of breath, pressure in the sinuses so we're taking it easy."

7. Food delivery workers loading up van while wearing masks

8. Postal worker delivers mail while wearing mask

9. UPS driver wears mask while making delivery

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Horn, San Francisco resident:

"It just feels very smoky and full of particulates. I'm definitely worried about my son who's breathing this stuff. We've got air filters at home and we're running them at full speed but I'm not sure it's enough to get rid of all the toxic particulates so I'm definitely worried about the health of my family and the city in general."

11. Man walks along city's Embarcadero wearing mask

12. Embarcadero cleaning crew rides by on bicycle while wearing mask

13. Two women sit on park bench wearing masks

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Kylie Garcia, San Francisco resident:

"It sucks for people who are allergic to this stuff. Even me, I'm walking out here and my god, now my throat is feeling raspy. I walk here everyday on my work lunch break. It's crazy. I can't believe it. It's really sad and hopefully they'll be able to stop it. We'll see how long it goes."

15. Fire boat floating on Bay in foreground, Bay Bridge in smog in background

SHOTLIST:

Lake City, Florida

1. Wide shot of trees on fire

2. Firefighter moving burnt branches, as surrounding area smoulders

3. Pan across bush area to firefighters hosing burnt area with water

4. Firefighter in foreground as bush burns

5. Bush burning

6. Helicopter carrying water flying

7. Firefighters lined up on side of road

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Richard Dolan, Baker County Fire Chief:

"As far as the stress levels for my fire department is concerned, it's high. They're getting exhausted. They're getting tired."

9. Various of smoke and the city streets

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Disbrow, evacuee:

"Everything I own is there, so I've got a lot to lose."

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, evacuee:

"We live 18 miles (29 kilometres) out on a farm. So we had to leave the animals."

12. Wide shot of firetrucks in midst of smoke-filled air

13. Smoke covering city

Miami, Florida

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dr. Tahir Ahmed, Pulmanologist, Mt. Sinai Hospital:

"The dust causes problems, you do get a lot of calls and patients with severe diseases end up in emergency rooms."

Lake City, Florida

15. Police cars on road obscured by smoke

16. Cars driving through thick smoke

17. Sign saying road 441 closed (due to accident)

18. Emergency services on road

19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Colonel Chris White, Florida Highway Patrol:

"We have had several traffic crashes, traffic accidents that have involved injuries."

20. Various of burned-out remains of a home

21. Burnt trees

Lake City, Florida

22. Plane dropping anti-fire material onto forest

23 View of city and smoke

Catalina Island, California

24. Wideshot of town of Avalon showing harbour

25. Avalon houses overlooking harbour

26. Medium shot of ferry arriving

27. Wideshot of ferry docking

28. Close-up of ferry

29. Wide shot of passengers disembarking

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bruce Wright, resident

"I haven't slept in a couple of days. I'm a little worried. I'm one of the highest buildings on the hill so if the fire got anybody it got me pretty good, so I'm a little worried."

31. Close up of sign (English): 'Thank you firefighters'.

32. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bruce Wright, resident:

"I've just, thank God they (firefighters) were here, an amazing group of people. I think they saved the city because when I left Thursday night the flames were rolling down the hillside as fast as could be. It was extremely scary."

33. Wide shot of residents leaving ferry returning to Avalon.

STORYLINE:

Wildfires were raging in Florida in the United States on Saturday, burning thousands of acres of forest and forcing people to leave their homes.

Firefighters have been battling two gigantic fires.

Officials said that the first wildfire, that raced through the Okefenokee Swamp in southeast Georgia and into northern Florida, has charred nearly 300 square miles since a lightning strike ignited it a week ago.

The other fire began more than three weeks ago after a tree fell on power lines.

That fire has burned nearly 124-thousand acres of swampland and forest in Georgia and windy conditions are fuelling blazes in every corner of the state.

The hundreds of firefighters battling the blaze in Northern Florida have battled the blaze for six days and the fire is still out of control.

Richard Dolan, Baker County Fire Chief said his fire department is very stressed and exhausted.

About 500 people were evacuated from their homes in Lake City Saturday.

"Everything I own is there so I've got a lot to lose." said Ken Disbrow one evacuee.

Firefighters say it seems like every time they extinguish one fire, another one pops up in its place.

Hampering the crews is thick smog, which is forming as smoke meets rising humidity levels, and is causing concerns over people's ability to breathe.

Officials said the smog is enveloping roads and making safe driving difficult, forcing officials to shut down parts of major interstates.

Officials are blaming smoke from wildfires for at least four highway accidents.

The largest accident appeared to be a five-car crash that occurred on the interchange between the two highways that is northwest of Lake City.

Haze from the fires had travelled more than 300 miles (482 kilometres) to the Miami area.

Officials said the fire has burned to within about six miles (almost 10 kilometres) north of Interstate 10, where heavy smoke blanketed the area and visibility on the highway was reduced to about a quarter of mile.

In north Florida, about 600 families were still unable to return home Saturday morning, said Jim Harrell, of the Florida Division of Forestry.

Meanwhile residents of an island off the southern California coast in the US have begun returning to their homes after firefighters and favourable weather halted a wildfire's advance onto the island's most populated area.

Nearly four thousand evacuated residents in Avalon on Catalina Island began heading back to inspect their homes and apartments and reopen businesses that largely cater to tourists.

Ferry's arrived from Long Beach with weary residents, some who had hardly slept in days, anxious to see that all is well.

Avalon resident Bruce Wright who returned by ferry to Catalina on Saturday said he hadn't "slept in a couple of days" and that he was worried about his home, which is on one of the highest buildings on the hill.

Wright described Thursday's evacuation as "extremely scary".

The cause of the fire, which erupted on Thursday afternoon in the 76-square-mile island's rugged interior, had not yet been determined.

Keyword-fire- wildfires

A dense smoke layer from dozens of raging wildfires is darkening the skies and fouling the air along much of the West Coast.

And it's expected to hover in the region at least through the weekend.

Dr. Afif El-Hasan is an American Lung Association spokesman who also an expert in pediatric asthma and lung at Kaiser Permanente in California. He says the wildfire pollution can leave people more susceptible to viruses, like the flu and COVID-19.

"These particles in the air, the pollution, it weakens the lungs' defenses, because it irritates the lungs," he said. "We have increased secretions in our lungs, in our upper airways. It can make it easier to get ill from a virus or other type of infection."

Eerie orange and red skies across California, Oregon and Washington had mainly turned gray thanks to stronger winds coming in from the Pacific Ocean that helped to disperse thick smoke that acted as a filter scattering blue light and only allowed yellow, orange and red light to reach the ground.

But as the wind scattered the smoke and a layer of air blocking it from reaching the ground started dissipating Thursday, smoke particles began mixing with ground-level air worsening air quality in much of California and parts of Oregon where wildfires are raging.

Satellite photos Thursday showed a towering band of smoke hovering along the Pacific coast.

Air quality warnings also were issued throughout the Pacific Northwest, and people in communities from southern Oregon to north of Seattle reported hazy skies and choking smoke.

Oroville, California – 9 September 2020

1.Orange haze over bridge

2. Orange haze over trees with car driving by

Berry Creek, California – 9 September 2020

3. Orange haze with fire in background, with burned items near foreground

++ZOOM CALL. VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"The wildfires have actually caused a significant problem, we've, especially in all parts of California, Oregon, Washington, have all been impacted."

Berry Creek, California – 9 September 2020

5. Orange haze with fire in background, with burned items near foreground

++ZOOM CALL. VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"These particles in the air, the pollution, it weakens the lungs' defenses, because it irritates the lungs. We have increased secretions in our lungs, in our upper airways. It can make it easier to get ill from a virus or other type of infection."

Shaver Lake, California _ 8 September 2020

7. Fire and trees

++ZOOM CALL. VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"So even healthy people are going to have possible problems from coughing, increased nasal secretions, problems breathing."

Shaver Lake, California -- 8 September 2020

9. Tree with smoke

10. Fire and trees

++ZOOM CALL. VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"This is also an increased risk to people who have chronic health problems. So if someone's an asthmatic, someone has other chronic lung disease and heart disease, the increased air pollution can be a problem for them as well."

Oroville, California – 9 September 2020

12. Moving shot of street and smoke

++ZOOM CALL. VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"Stay indoors as much as you can. I'm a big supporter of air filters, especially if someone has asthma or other chronic lung or heart disease. They should try to do everything they can to keep the air in their houses as clean as possible."

Berry Creek, California – 9 September 2020

14. Pan of orange air, burned area

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4287664

A dense smoke layer from dozens of raging wildfires is darkening the skies and fouling the air along much of the West Coast.

And it's expected to hover in the region at least through the weekend.

Dr. Afif El-Hasan is an American Lung Association spokesman who is also an expert in pediatric asthma and lung issues at Kaiser Permanente in California. He says the wildfire pollution can leave people more susceptible to viruses, like the flu and COVID-19.

"These particles in the air, the pollution, it weakens the lungs' defenses, because it irritates the lungs," he said. "We have increased secretions in our lungs, in our upper airways. It can make it easier to get ill from a virus or other type of infection."

Eerie orange and red skies across California, Oregon and Washington had mainly turned gray thanks to stronger winds coming in from the Pacific Ocean that helped to disperse thick smoke that acted as a filter scattering blue light and only allowed yellow, orange and red light to reach the ground.

But as the wind scattered the smoke and a layer of air blocking it from reaching the ground started dissipating Thursday, smoke particles began mixing with ground-level air worsening air quality in much of California and parts of Oregon where wildfires are raging.

Satellite photos Thursday showed a towering band of smoke hovering along the Pacific coast.

Air quality warnings also were issued throughout the Pacific Northwest, and people in communities from southern Oregon to north of Seattle reported hazy skies and choking smoke.

Oroville, California – 9 September 2020

1.Orange haze over bridge

2. Orange haze over trees with car driving by

++ZOOM CALL. VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

++PARTIALLY COVERED ++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"The wildfires have actually caused a significant problem, we've, especially in all parts of California, Oregon, Washington, have all been impacted."

Berry Creek, California – 9 September 2020

4. Orange haze with fire in background, with burned items near foreground

++ZOOM CALL. VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

++PARTIALLY COVERED ++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"These particles in the air, the pollution, it weakens the lungs' defenses, because it irritates our  lungs. We have increased secretions in our lungs, in our upper airways. It can make it easier to get ill from a virus or other type of infection."

Oroville, California – 9 September 2020

6. Fire along road

7. Moving shot of street and smoke

++ZOOM CALL. VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

++PARTIALLY COVERED ++

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"This is also an increased risk to people who have chronic health problems. So if someone's an asthmatic, someone has other chronic lung disease and heart disease, the increased air pollution can be a problem for them as well."

Shaver Lake, California _ 8 September 2020

10. Fire and trees

11. Tree with smoke

12. Fire

Berry Creek, California – 9 September 2020

13. Pan of orange air, burned area

T/I: 10:12:24

Three specially adapted US Hercules planes arrived in Jakarta on Saturday (18/10) to help firefighting efforts in Indonesia where about 40 forest blazes were reported late on Friday (17/10). US Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy and Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare Azwar Anas, who also heads the National Disaster Control Committee, were present to greet the aircraft. The planes, each capable of carrying 3,000 gallons (11,400 liters) of water to drop on fires, were the latest to join Indonesia's efforts to douse forest and ground fires which have covered much of Southeast Asia with a pall of smoke in the past months.

Satellite images taken by the government's Environmental Impact Agency (BAPEDAL) showed a total of 42 blazes across the country. There are fears that more fire spots have been hidden under the haze.

SHOWS:

INDONESIA 10+18/10 + FILE

JAKARTA 18/10

WIDE of two hercules planes on tarmac;

MS propeller and name of american group;

Nose of plane;

wide of plane taxiing;

US crew on standby;

SOT Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy: "the 150 airlift wing is a very experienced fire fighting unit it has literally flown 100s of missions fighting forest fires in three US states, california, arizona and wyoming with a land area approx as large as the land of indonesia that has the fire problem;

CA american firefighters;

SOT Aswar Anas, Indonesian coordinating official: "The present problems of fires, haze and smoke which occurs in many parts of our country is actually a new experience to us;

CA American listening;

SOT continues:

"We welcome and appreciate the US assistance in the forms of aerial firefighting aircraft";

US Ambassador and Indonesian coordinating official meeting firefighters;

VS plane interiors showing water storage units;

media watching;

hercules in air dropping load of water;

KALIMANTAN, AUGUST 1997

VS Burnt out areas in Kalimantan;

haze in Kalimantan - aerials:

fire shots in Kalimantan:

SUMATRA, 10 OCTOBER 1997

VS fire spots in Sumatra;

smoke;

2.47

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus016878

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lifted the curtain on his official portrait on Monday, revealing a photograph-like giant image of the onetime bodybuilder standing in front of the official California seal.

Schwarzenegger revealed the portrait at a ceremony in the state Capitol in which he made a rare appearance in Sacramento nearly four years after he left office.

The portrait, which will eventually hang on the third floor, was done by Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein, a realist who previously illustrated Andy Warhol and John F. Kennedy.

Schwarzenegger, a movie star before he ran for governor in the chaotic recall election of 2005, said he owes all his successes in life to California, which he called a mythical place "where nothing is impossible." As a boy growing up in Austria, he dreamed about the state, he said.

"I dreamt about California every day, and I knew that one day I would have to come here to this beautiful state if I wanted to make my dreams a reality," he said.

Schwarzenegger said that while he always dreamed big, he never envisioned his portrait hanging in the state Capitol, joking "I might have envisioned a sculpture on Muscle Beach."

Two of Schwarzenegger's five children attended the unveiling, Christopher, 16, and Patrick, 20, which also included political notables including at least three former speakers of the state Assembly, Willie Brown, Bob Hertzberg and Fabian Nunez.

It followed an event earlier Monday in which Schwarzenegger's University of Southern California-based institute hosted a climate symposium that also featured Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat.

The seminar, titled "Lessons from California," highlighted the state's aggressive efforts to tackle issues such as reducing carbon emissions.

"While the politicians in Washington can't get anything done because of being stuck in these ideological foxholes, we here in California have two governors from two different parties, together in the same room fighting for the same green energy future," Schwarzenegger said at the summit.

Organizers are using the state's policies to prompt further action ahead of United Nations climate-change conferences in Peru and Paris.

During his tenure, Schwarzenegger signed California's landmark 2006 global-warming law, called AB32, which paved the way for the state's cap-and-trade system for controlling greenhouse-gas emissions by the worst polluters.

Monday's gathering featured research experts, businesses executives from Apple Inc. and UPS Inc., as well as actor-activist Ed Begley Jr.

Schwarzenegger said that California leaders of all political stripes have chosen to address climate change because not doing so will cost much more in the long run in things such as state infrastructure at risk of failure because of flooding, increased heat- and pollution-related deaths, and a never-ending wildfire season that stretches state budgets.

As governor, Schwarzenegger had promised to bring fiscal accountability, but the state faced a huge budget deficit when he left office. Brown has been credited with passing a tax increase, cutting services and bringing the budget back in balance.

In one of his final acts in office, Schwarzenegger commuted the involuntary-manslaughter sentence of the son of Nunez, a former political ally.

Months after Schwarzenegger left office, embarrassing revelations emerged about an affair he had with his maid that resulted in a son born out of wedlock. The disclosure devastated his marriage to Maria Shriver, and the two are separated.

Since then, Schwarzenegger has largely committed to a Hollywood comeback. He appeared in this summer's "The Expendables 3," and he returns to his cyborg assassin character in a new "Terminator" film due out next year.

Schwarzenegger previously told The Associated Press that he has no plans to run for elected office again. "I never wanted to be a career politician," he said.

AP TELEVISION

Sacramento, California - 8 September 2014

1. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Arnold Schwarzenegger / Former California Governor

"And I knew that one day I would have to come to this beautiful state if I want to make my dreams become a reality. But not in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day that I would be governor or that one day that there would be a portrait hanging here in the state Capitol."

2. Close: Arnold's face on portrait

3. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Arnold Schwarzenegger / Former California Governor

"My seven years as governor were the most fulfilling years that I'd ever have in my life. I did not accomplish everything I had on my to-do list, but I don't think any governor ever does. But I'm very proud of the things that we did get done - from investing in our infrastructure to reforming our political system to protecting the environment."

4. White Flash

5. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Gov. Jerry Brown / (D) California

"When my father saw my portrait, he was angry. He said, 'You'll never be elected to another office again.' Well, it did take me 28 years to get back."

WIRE STORY:

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lifted the curtain on his official portrait on Monday, revealing a photograph-like giant image of the onetime bodybuilder standing in front of the official California seal.

Schwarzenegger revealed the portrait at a ceremony in the state Capitol in which he made a rare appearance in Sacramento nearly four years after he left office.

The portrait, which will eventually hang on the third floor, was done by Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein, a realist who previously illustrated Andy Warhol and John F. Kennedy.

Schwarzenegger, a movie star before he ran for governor in the chaotic recall election of 2005, said he owes all his successes in life to California, which he called a mythical place "where nothing is impossible." As a boy growing up in Austria, he dreamed about the state, he said.

"I dreamt about California every day, and I knew that one day I would have to come here to this beautiful state if I wanted to make my dreams a reality," he said.

Schwarzenegger said that while he always dreamed big, he never envisioned his portrait hanging in the state Capitol, joking "I might have envisioned a sculpture on Muscle Beach."

Two of Schwarzenegger's five children attended the unveiling, Christopher, 16, and Patrick, 20, which also included political notables including at least three former speakers of the state Assembly, Willie Brown, Bob Hertzberg and Fabian Nunez.

It followed an event earlier Monday in which Schwarzenegger's University of Southern California-based institute hosted a climate symposium that also featured Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat.

The seminar, titled "Lessons from California," highlighted the state's aggressive efforts to tackle issues such as reducing carbon emissions.

"While the politicians in Washington can't get anything done because of being stuck in these ideological foxholes, we here in California have two governors from two different parties, together in the same room fighting for the same green energy future," Schwarzenegger said at the summit.

Organizers are using the state's policies to prompt further action ahead of United Nations climate-change conferences in Peru and Paris.

During his tenure, Schwarzenegger signed California's landmark 2006 global-warming law, called AB32, which paved the way for the state's cap-and-trade system for controlling greenhouse-gas emissions by the worst polluters.

Monday's gathering featured research experts, businesses executives from Apple Inc. and UPS Inc., as well as actor-activist Ed Begley Jr.

Schwarzenegger said that California leaders of all political stripes have chosen to address climate change because not doing so will cost much more in the long run in things such as state infrastructure at risk of failure because of flooding, increased heat- and pollution-related deaths, and a never-ending wildfire season that stretches state budgets.

As governor, Schwarzenegger had promised to bring fiscal accountability, but the state faced a huge budget deficit when he left office. Brown has been credited with passing a tax increase, cutting services and bringing the budget back in balance.

In one of his final acts in office, Schwarzenegger commuted the involuntary-manslaughter sentence of the son of Nunez, a former political ally.

Months after Schwarzenegger left office, embarrassing revelations emerged about an affair he had with his maid that resulted in a son born out of wedlock. The disclosure devastated his marriage to Maria Shriver, and the two are separated.

Since then, Schwarzenegger has largely committed to a Hollywood comeback. He appeared in this summer's "The Expendables 3," and he returns to his cyborg assassin character in a new "Terminator" film due out next year.

Schwarzenegger previously told The Associated Press that he has no plans to run for elected office again. "I never wanted to be a career politician," he said.

AP TELEVISION

Sacramento, California - 8 September 2014

1. Wide: Schwarzenegger pulls curtain off portrait

2. Close: Arnold's face on portrait

3. Medium: Schwarzenegger poses with sons next to portrait

4. Wide: Spectators watch from balcony

5. Wide: Schwarzenegger takes the stage in Capitol

6. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Arnold Schwarzenegger / Former California Governor

"And I knew that one day I would have to come to this beautiful state if I want to make my dreams become a reality. But not in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day that I would be governor or that one day that there would be a portrait hanging here in the state Capitol."

7. Medium: Schwarzenegger poses with sons, young girls

8. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Arnold Schwarzenegger / Former California Governor

"My seven years as governor were the most fulfilling years that I'd ever have in my life. I did not accomplish everything I had on my to-do list, but I don't think any governor ever does. But I'm very proud of the things that we did get done - from investing in our infrastructure to reforming our political system to protecting the environment."

9. Medium: Schwarzenegger poses with supporter

10. Medium: Spectators shoot photos from balcony

11. Medium: Schwarzenegger greets Gov. Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom

12. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Gov. Jerry Brown / (D) California

"When my father saw my portrait, he was angry. He said, 'You'll never be elected to another office again.' Well, it did take me 28 years to get back."

11. Wide: Woman poses next to Schwarzenegger portrait

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4289440

California will halt sales of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks by 2035, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday, a move he says will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% in the nation's most populous state.

The proposed rule would not ban people from owning gas-powered cars or selling them on the used car market. But it would end the sales of all new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks in the state of nearly 40 million people.

California and the roughly dozen states that follow its lead on auto emissions standards make up a significant part of the U.S. auto market, giving the day's move huge potential impact for the U.S. automobile industry as well as for long-term efforts against pollution and climate change, which is driven by fossil-fuel emissions. It also is likely to meet opposition from President Donald Trump, who wants to roll back tougher Obama-era auto emissions standards and is battling California to force it to comply.

California already has rules mandating a certain percentage of new car sales must be electric or zero-emission vehicles. This rule, if implemented, would make California the first U.S. state with a plan to phase them out completely.  

At least 15 other countries have already made similar commitments, including Germany, France and Norway.

Newsom's order directs the California Air Resources Board to develop and approve regulations to meet the 2035 deadline. He also ordered them to make a rule requiring all medium and heavy-duty trucks be 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2045 "where feasible."  

Newsom also directed state agencies to speed up development of charging stations across the state and called on the Legislature to eliminate new fracking licenses by 2024.  

Fracking is a technique that allows energy companies to extract huge volumes of oil and gas from shale rock deep underground. It involves injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals into rock. Fracking opponents say the chemicals involved threaten water supplies and public health.

California has a goal of relying 100% on clean, renewable energy by 2045. Gasoline and diesel-powered cars and trucks are the biggest impediment to reaching that goal as they account for more than half of the state's carbon pollution.

The order comes as massive wildfires have burned a record 5,600 square miles (14,500 square kilometers) in California this year. Experts say the size and intensity of the fires are aided by warmer temperatures and years of drought brought on by climate change.

POOL

Sacramento, California – 23 September 2020

1. California Gov. Gavin Newsom walks past parked electric cars with California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols  

++PARTIALLY COVERED++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Gavin Newsom, (D) California:

"By 2035 in the next 15 years, we will eliminate in the state of California the sales of internal combustion engines. We will move forward to green and de-carbonize our vehicle fleet here in the state of California. As a consequence, substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as oxide nitrogen, meaning NOx emissions here in the state of California."

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

++PARTIALLY COVERED++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Gavin Newsom, (D) California:

"And so I couldn't be more proud today to sign this executive order moving forward by not denying people the ability to keep their cars after 15 years. You can still keep your internal combustion engine car. You can still have a market for used cars. You can trade and transfer those cars. We're not taking anything away. We're providing an abundance of new choices and new technology."

4. Newsom signs executive order on the hood of a red electric Ford Mustang SUV

California will halt sales of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks by 2035, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday, a move he says will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% in the nation's most populous state.

The proposed rule would not ban people from owning gas-powered cars or selling them on the used car market. But it would end the sales of all new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks in the state of nearly 40 million people.

California and the roughly dozen states that follow its lead on auto emissions standards make up a significant part of the U.S. auto market, giving the day's move huge potential impact for the U.S. automobile industry as well as for long-term efforts against pollution and climate change, which is driven by fossil-fuel emissions. It also is likely to meet opposition from President Donald Trump, who wants to roll back tougher Obama-era auto emissions standards and is battling California to force it to comply.

California already has rules mandating a certain percentage of new car sales must be electric or zero-emission vehicles. This rule, if implemented, would make California the first U.S. state with a plan to phase them out completely.  

At least 15 other countries have already made similar commitments, including Germany, France and Norway.

Newsom's order directs the California Air Resources Board to develop and approve regulations to meet the 2035 deadline. He also ordered them to make a rule requiring all medium and heavy-duty trucks be 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2045 "where feasible."  

Newsom also directed state agencies to speed up development of charging stations across the state and called on the Legislature to eliminate new fracking licenses by 2024.  

Fracking is a technique that allows energy companies to extract huge volumes of oil and gas from shale rock deep underground. It involves injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals into rock. Fracking opponents say the chemicals involved threaten water supplies and public health.

California has a goal of relying 100% on clean, renewable energy by 2045. Gasoline and diesel-powered cars and trucks are the biggest impediment to reaching that goal as they account for more than half of the state's carbon pollution.

The order comes as massive wildfires have burned a record 5,600 square miles (14,500 square kilometers) in California this year. Experts say the size and intensity of the fires are aided by warmer temperatures and years of drought brought on by climate change.

POOL

Sacramento, California – 23 September 2020

++PARTIALLY MUTE AT SOURCE++

1. California Gov. Gavin Newsom walks past parked electric cars with California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Gavin Newsom, (D) California:

"And we'll do that by setting forth a goal, a firm goal, that by 2035 in the next 15 years, we will eliminate in the state of California the sales of internal combustion engines. We will move forward to green and de-carbonize our vehicle fleet here in the state of California. As a consequence, substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as oxide nitrogen, meaning NOx emissions here in the state of California."

3. Medium view of reporter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. Gavin Newsom, (D) California:

"And so I couldn't be more proud today to sign this executive order moving forward by not denying people the ability to keep their cars after 15 years. You can still keep your internal combustion engine car. You can still have a market for used cars. You can trade and transfer those cars. We're not taking anything away. We're providing an abundance of new choices and new technology, being agnostic about how we get to zero emissions, but being committed to getting to zero emissions by 2035."

5. Newsom and others walk to vehicle to sign executive order

6. Newsom signs executive order on the hood of a red electric Ford Mustang vehicle

7. Newsom walks back to podium

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board:

"We are challenging the interpretation of the law by the Trump Administration. We believe the Clean Air Act gives us the authority to set exactly the kinds of standards that we have set since the late 60s and we look forward to being able to do that in the future.

Environmentalists and city leaders in San Francisco said that they will push ahead with aggressive climate change policies despite President Donald Trump's executive order that seeks to boost the coal industry.

Trump, who has called global warming a "hoax" invented by the Chinese, said during his campaign that he would kill Obama's climate plans and bring back coal jobs.

But the senior environment advisor to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said clean energy creates thousands of new jobs...and the idea that environmentalism is bad for business is false.

The director of the clean energy advocacy group "SF Environment" said the agency is also prepared to go to court if necessary to fight the order that eliminates many restrictions on fossil fuel production.

Meanwhile California Governor Jerry Brown said the state will help fill the void left by Trump's decision to unravel former President Barack Obama's plan to curb global warming.

Brown also signed a statement released by West Coast political leaders calling climate change one of the region's greatest threats due to wildfires, ocean acidification and drought.

California, along with New York, has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.

They also have mandated that half of each state's electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2030.

San Francisco, California - March 29, 2017

1. wide shot of San Francisco City Hall

2. close up of solar panels on City Hall roof shot from ground

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tyrone Jue, Mayor's Senior Advisor on the Environment

"We're on the rooftop of San Francisco City Hall which just celebrated its centennial anniversary. This is a classic example of the direction we're heading in our city. We can take an historic building like this, add solar panels to help power the building and also do a bunch of energy efficiency and water conservation projects in order to improve the output from here."

4. pan down from City Hall dome to solar panels on rooftop

5. electric vehicle charging station outside City Hall

6. green vehicle parking spot outside City Hall

7. wide shot of SF Environment agency electric vehicle

8. close up of SF Environment logo on electric car

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Raphael, Director - SF Environment

"It was a really tough day to be an American for me and for those of us here in San Francisco. We are so committed and so convinced of the importance of this work, to heal the planet, to get CO2 out of the air, to stop polluting our environment. When we hear from our top leader that this work is not only not valued but that they also want to go backwards in time, it's very demoralizing."

10. Composting Means Jobs sign in Raphael's office

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Deborah Raphael, Director - SF Environment

"Every one of us is asking the question: is it legally defensible, what they're doing? We are reading those same documents. We are looking at the Constitution. We are looking at the laws of our land. We are prepared to fight and prepared to demand that the law of the land remain in tact."

12. side profile shot of rows of solar panels on City Hall roof

13. close up of one solar panel

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Tyrone Jue, Mayor's Senior Advisor on the Environment

"We've definitely been keeping a close eye on where those funds are coming into our city and how they may impact our programs. But, to be clear, the Mayor has made a very firm commitment that we're going to move forward our climate action plan in the city. This is something that we've embraced for over a decade now because it's the right thing to do. It's also the right thing to do both economically and from a public health perspective. If you look at San Francisco's thriving economy, we've managed to reduce our emissions by 24 percent while our economy has grown by over 50 percent. To say that going to a clean energy economy is somehow bad for business, that's just not the case in San Francisco, the Bay Area and many of the major cities throughout the United States are clear examples of that being the case."

15. medium static shot of City Hall dome above solar panels