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116-620: The two major fires, the Dotta and Sugar, were ignited by lightning strikes on June 30 and July 2, respectively. the fires burned a combined 82,926 acres (33,559 ha) by July 11, 2021. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the complex on July 17, 2021. Burning on Horton Ridge, to the west of Dixie Mountain , the Dotta Fire started on June 30, 2021. It developed a smoke column which caused considerable fire activity, including

232-704: A pyrocumulonimbus cloud, producing its own lightning. By the morning of July 10, the Sugar Fire had burned 16,365 acres (6,623 ha), moving further northeast. Additional evacuation centers were opened in Susanville, California and Reno, Nevada . That day, the fire reached Highway 395 and closures were put in place. The Sugar Fire continued to grow, threatening communities in Washoe County, Nevada . This resulted in evacuations for Rancho Haven, Fish Springs, and Flanigan Flats . Another evacuation center

348-437: A state appeals court judge and attorney for Getty Oil . He is a fourth-generation San Franciscan. One of Newsom's maternal great-grandfathers, Scotsman Thomas Addis , was a pioneer scientist in the field of nephrology and a professor of medicine at Stanford University . Newsom is the second cousin, twice removed, of musician Joanna Newsom . Newsom's aunt was married to Ron Pelosi , the brother-in-law of former speaker of

464-674: A state law passed in 2000 . Implementation of Care Not Cash, the initiative he had sponsored as a supervisor, began on July 1, 2004. As part of the initiative, 5,000 more homeless people were given permanent shelter in the city. About 2,000 people had been placed into permanent housing with support by 2007. Other programs Newsom initiated to end chronic homelessness included the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team (SF HOT) and Project Homeless Connect (PHC), which placed 2,000 homeless people into permanent housing and provided 5,000 additional affordable rental units in

580-519: A $ 24 million settlement with PG&E. The settlement did not mark an admission of liability by PG&E, which stated that the purpose of the settlement was to avoid future litigation. In October 2023 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposed a $ 45 million fine for PG&E, comprising $ 2.5 million to be paid into California’s general fund , $ 2.5 million to go to Native American tribes affected by

696-399: A Democratic stronghold after losing the 2000 presidential election and the 2003 gubernatorial recall election to Arnold Schwarzenegger . National Democratic Party figures, including Bill Clinton , Al Gore , and Jesse Jackson , campaigned for Newsom. Five supervisors endorsed Gonzalez, while Willie Brown endorsed Newsom. Newsom won the runoff with 53% of the vote to Gonzalez's 47%,

812-549: A November 2015 op-ed calling for the creation of the California College Promise, which would create partnerships between public schools, public universities, and employers and offer a free community college education. Throughout 2016, he joined Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf at the launch of the Oakland Promise and Second Lady Jill Biden and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti at the launch of

928-685: A PlumpJack Café (1994), a winery in Napa Valley (1995), the Balboa Café Bar and Grill (1995), the PlumpJack Development Fund L.P. (1996), the MatrixFillmore Bar (1998), PlumpJack Wines shop Noe Valley branch (1999), PlumpJackSport retail clothing (2000), and a second Balboa Café at Squaw Valley (2000). Newsom's investments included five restaurants and two retail clothing stores. Newsom's annual income

1044-476: A closer race in the December 9 runoff, when many of the city's progressive groups supported Gonzalez. The race was partisan, with attacks against Gonzalez for his support of Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election, and attacks against Newsom for contributing $ 500 to a Republican slate mailer in 2000 that endorsed issues Newsom supported. Democratic leadership felt they needed to reinforce San Francisco as

1160-518: A combined 98 percent contained and burned 105,670 acres (42,763 ha). The Forest Service reduced the size of the closure of forest land to an area slightly larger than the fire burn scar. The closure remained in place until September 1, 2021. On September 6, the Dixie Fire burned up to the fire's scar and prevented any further growth along the Dixie Fire's eastern portion. On September 22,

1276-483: A complex wildfire, with multiple ignition points) in recorded California history, and the second-largest wildfire overall (after the August Complex fire of 2020 ), The fire damaged or destroyed several communities, including Greenville on August 4, Canyondam on August 5, and Warner Valley on August 12. The Dixie Fire was the largest and most destructive fire of the 2021 California wildfire season . It

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1392-492: A failed local ballot measure that would have allowed an increased condo-conversion rate if a certain percentage of tenants within a building were buying their units. As a candidate for mayor, he supported building 10,000 new housing units to create 15,000 new construction jobs. Newsom's signature achievement as a supervisor was a voter initiative called Care Not Cash (Measure N), which offered care, supportive housing, drug treatment, and help from behavioral health specialists for

1508-533: A historic stagecoach stop and suffered damages to its cattle-grazing and culturally significant planting areas. On July 21, evacuation orders were issued for Butte Meadows in northeast Butte County and the west shore of Lake Almanor in Plumas County, while the east shore of Almanor and the town of Chester were under an evacuation warning. By July 24 evacuation orders were extended to Greenville, Crescent Mills, Taylorsville , and other communities along

1624-457: A leading contender for the mayorship in 2003. In a city audit conducted four years after the inception of program and released in 2008, the program was evaluated as largely successful. Newsom placed first in the November 4, 2003, general election in a nine-person field. He received 41.9% of the vote to Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez 's 19.6% in the first round of balloting, but faced

1740-511: A letter urging them not to increase federal enforcement against recreational cannabis firms opening in California. He wrote: "The government must not strip the legal and publicly supported industry of its business and hand it back to drug cartels and criminals ... Dealers don't card kids. I urge you and your administration to work in partnership with California and the other eight states that have legalized recreational marijuana for adult use in

1856-531: A margin of 11,000 votes. He ran as a business-friendly centrist Democrat and a moderate in San Francisco politics. Some of his opponents called him conservative. Newsom claimed he was a centrist in the Dianne Feinstein mold. He ran on the slogan "great cities, great ideas", and presented over 21 policy papers. He pledged to continue working on San Francisco's homelessness issue. Newsom

1972-414: A month later for starting the destructive Fawn Fire near Redding , prompted many to downplay the role of climate change and spread rumors and conspiracy theories about the causes of California wildfires. On February 1, 2024, Maynard pled guilty to three charges of arson. He was scheduled to be sentenced May 9, 2024 and faced fines of up to $ 250,000 for each fire and up to 20 years in prison. Ultimately, he

2088-662: A rut on a dirt road nearby, and took a photo of the car and its tire tracks. The next day, investigators responding to the Everitt Fire in a nearby part of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest noted identical tire tracks. Both fires were determined to have been caused by arson; additionally, burnt newspaper and a match were found where Maynard's car had been stuck. After linking Maynard to the two fires via several other methods, including surveillance footage and his use of an EBT card, investigators received

2204-470: A slow rate of spread. Air tankers promptly began to drop fire retardant —more than 7,000 gallons over the course of the evening—and helicopters scooped water from the Feather River below. By 6:31   p.m., aircraft had completed a line of retardant around the entire perimeter and the fire remained two acres (0.81 ha). Ground personnel, however, faced the same access issues that had plagued

2320-511: A small scholarship in his freshman year), but he had elbow surgery in late 1985 and never played on the varsity team. He has reflected on his education fondly, crediting Santa Clara's Jesuit approach with helping him become an independent thinker who questions orthodoxy. While in school, Newsom spent a semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy. Newsom and his investors created the company PlumpJack Associates L.P. on May 14, 1991. The group started

2436-405: A spot fire, on July 3. As a result, the area of Dixie Valley was put under an evacuation warning. By the morning of July 4, the fire had burned 670 acres (271 ha) and was 24 percent contained. The fire continued to smolder, with little to no growth. As a result, resources were moved from the Dotta to the Sugar Fire, which grew on July 6. Crews continued to focus on mop up. As of July 11, the fire

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2552-560: A state law to allow California communities to create policy restricting certain breeds of dogs. In 2007, he signed the law establishing Healthy San Francisco to provide city residents with universal health care , the first city in the nation to do so. Newsom came under attack from the San Francisco Democratic Party in 2009 for his failure to implement the City of San Francisco's sanctuary city rule, under which

2668-608: A vacant seat on the Parking and Traffic Commission in 1996, and he was later elected president of the commission. Brown appointed him to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors seat vacated by Kevin Shelley in 1997. At the time, he was the youngest member of San Francisco's board of supervisors. Newsom was sworn in by his father and pledged to bring his business experience to the board. Brown called Newsom "part of

2784-586: A warrant to track Maynard's phone and vehicle. On August 3, 2021, during a traffic stop in Susanville, a Forest Service agent placed a tracking device on Maynard's car. On August 5, the agents tailing Maynard discovered the roadside Moon Fire, in an area of the Lassen National Forest under an evacuation order for the fast-growing Dixie Fire. Maynard continued to camp in the forest despite emergency closure orders, and on August 7 agents discovered

2900-448: A way that will let us enforce our state laws that protect the public and our children while targeting the bad actors." Newsom responded to comments by Spicer that compared cannabis to opioids: "Unlike marijuana, opioids represent an addictive and harmful substance, and I would welcome your administration's focused efforts on tackling this particular public health crisis." Newsom joined Long Beach City College Superintendent Eloy Oakley in

3016-472: A well-established fire about 40 by 40 feet (12 m × 12 m). By 5:15   p.m., the Oroville emergency command center had dispatched a full wildland response, including six fire engines, two bulldozers , two handcrews , two water tenders , two airtankers , and a helicopter . Aircraft were overhead by 5:42   p.m., reporting that the now-named Dixie Fire was two acres (0.81 ha) with

3132-617: The San Francisco Examiner : "That's the kind of bureaucratic malaise I'm going to be working through." The business grew to an enterprise with more than 700 employees. The PlumpJack Cafe Partners L.P. opened the PlumpJack Café, also on Fillmore Street , in 1993. Between 1993 and 2000, Newsom and his investors opened several other businesses that included the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn with

3248-538: The Marina , Cow Hollow , Sea Cliff and Laurel Heights, which had San Francisco's highest income level and highest Republican registration. Newsom paid $ 500 to the San Francisco Republican Party to appear on the party's endorsement slate in 2000 while running for Supervisor. He was reelected. As a San Francisco Supervisor, Newsom gained public attention for his role in advocating reform of

3364-563: The Plumas National Forest and Lassen National Forest . By July 19 it had burned 40,500 acres (16,400 ha); over the next two days, the fire more than doubled in size to 85,000 acres (34,000 ha), driven by high winds. As of July 21, the fire was 15 percent contained, with nearly 4,000 firefighters and numerous aircraft assigned to the incident. By July 23, flames had traveled north almost to Highway 89 and Lake Almanor , after jumping over Butte Valley Reservoir. On

3480-561: The PlumpJack Winery in 1992 with the financial help of his family friend Gordon Getty . PlumpJack was the name of an opera written by Getty, who invested in 10 of Newsom's 11 businesses. Getty told the San Francisco Chronicle that he treated Newsom like a son and invested in his first business venture because of that relationship. According to Getty, later business investments were because of "the success of

3596-697: The United States Forest Service . Gavin Newsom Gavin Christopher Newsom (born October 10, 1967) is an American politician and businessman serving since 2019 as the 40th governor of California . A member of the Democratic Party , he served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019 and the 42nd mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. Newsom graduated from Santa Clara University in 1989. Afterward, he founded

Beckwourth Complex fires - Misplaced Pages Continue

3712-466: The escarpment south of Milford, where firefighters continued efforts to protect the town. By September 6, containment had reached 57 percent, but extreme fire activity continued and strong winds pushed the fire down off the escarpment to containment lines at the base of the slope. By September 10, fire crews were " mopping up " heat near the fire's edge south of Milford. In the West Zone, winds pushed

3828-535: The 2008 election, Newsom opposed Proposition 8 , the ballot initiative to reverse the Supreme Court of California ruling that there was a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. Proposition 8 supporters released a commercial featuring footage of Newsom saying the following in a speech regarding same-sex marriage: "This door's wide open now. It's going to happen, whether you like it or not." Some observers noted that polls shifted in favor of Proposition 8 after

3944-678: The August 10, 2007, filing deadline passed, San Francisco's discussion shifted to talk about Newsom's second term. He was challenged in the election by 13 candidates, including George Davis, a nudist activist, and Michael Powers, owner of the Power Exchange sex club. Conservative former supervisor Tony Hall withdrew by early September due to lack of support. The San Francisco Chronicle declared in August 2007 that Newsom faced no "serious threat to his re-election bid", having raised $ 1.6 million for his reelection campaign by early August. He

4060-648: The Beckwourth Complex was 100% contained. The complex led to the mandatory evacuations, starting July 6, of portions of Plumas County including Beckwourth, California , Frenchman Cove, Frenchman Village, Maddalena and all recreational and residential areas of Frenchman Lake. The Doyle Grade area, in Lassen County, was also evacuated starting July 9. The Sugar Fire also resulted in mandatory evacuations in Washoe County, Nevada for Fish Springs, Flanigan Flats and Rancho Haven. To support relief efforts,

4176-531: The Better Streets program, which ensures that public health perspectives are fully integrated into urban planning processes. He signed a menu-labeling bill into law, requiring that chain restaurants print nutrition information on their menus. Newsom was named "America's Most Social Mayor" in 2010 by Same Point, based on analysis of the social media profiles of mayors of the 100 largest U.S. cities. Newsom gained national attention in 2004 when he directed

4292-490: The COVID-19 pandemic , particularly due to strict lockdown measures that some felt were overly restrictive and economically damaging. Controversies and public frustration with his leadership contributed to an unsuccessful recall effort of Newsom in 2021 . He was reelected the next year with more than 59% of the vote. Newsom was born on October 10, 1967, the son of Tessa Thomas (née Menzies) and William Alfred Newsom III ,

4408-443: The Dixie Fire and the 2019 Kincade Fire . Prosecutors agreed to the deal because of the minute criminal fines they could have extracted from the company (barely more than $ 300,000). Attorney General of California Rob Bonta declined to bring any legal action against PG&E. On January 17, 2023, Shasta, Plumas, Lassen, Butte and Tehama counties and five other public entities impacted by the Dixie Fire announced that they had reached

4524-488: The Dixie Fire came to $ 637.4 million, split between multiple agencies such as CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service. Three firefighters were injured on the Dixie Fire. One fatality was reported: a firefighter died due to COVID-19 illness suspected to have been contracted during suppression efforts. The Dixie Fire destroyed 1,329 structures, of which at least 600 were residential. It damaged another 96 structures, and threatened 14,000 more. Communities largely destroyed by

4640-553: The Dixie Fire over the Diamond Mountains and into the Honey Lake Valley. A number of spot fires ignited south of Janesville and crossed Highway 395 , destroying several homes. This put areas south of Johnstonville under mandatory evacuation warning, including the town of Janesville. Continued southwest winds threatened to push the fire towards Susanville . In Lassen National Park, the area burned within

4756-504: The Dixie Fire. Prosecutors seeking to prevent Maynard's release while awaiting trial argued that the fires might have endangered those personnel, leaving them trapped between the Dixie Fire and Maynard's fires, had investigators not been tracking him. On July 20, 2021, mountain bikers reported the Cascade Fire on the slopes of Mount Shasta. A responding Forest Service investigator encountered Maynard attempting to free his car from

Beckwourth Complex fires - Misplaced Pages Continue

4872-585: The Dixie and other fires. In early August, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported unhealthy air pollution levels in much of the state. While not attributed specifically to the Dixie Fire, air quality in New York City was poorer than usual during the summer of 2021 due to wildfires in the western U.S. On January 4, 2022, Cal Fire determined that "the Dixie Fire

4988-533: The Feather River canyon (ignitions were about five miles (8.0 km) apart), the Camp Fire was caused by a faulty hook on a transmission tower that resulted in a power line touching the ground, while the Dixie Fire was caused by a "healthy green tree" falling and striking distribution lines. On April 11, 2022, PG&E consented to pay $ 55 million in civil penalties and other costs to multiple California counties, in order to avoid criminal prosecution for causing

5104-499: The Feather River canyons east and west of the fire, as well as Bucks Lake, Meadow Valley and parts of Quincy. As of July 25, about 7,400 people in Plumas County and 100 people in Butte County had been evacuated. On August 3, Chester, Lake Almanor Peninsula and Hamilton Branch were evacuated as the fire advanced north toward Lassen National Park. On August 4 evacuation orders were issued in southwest Lassen County, particularly

5220-983: The Interest of Society at the University of California, Berkeley , on the California Report Card (CRC). The CRC is a mobile-optimized platform that allows state residents to "grade" their state on six timely issues. The CRC exemplifies ideas presented in Citizenville , encouraging direct public involvement in government affairs via technology. In 2015, Newsom partnered with the Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy at California Polytechnic State University to launch Digital Democracy, an online tool that uses facial and voice recognition to enable users to navigate California legislative proceedings. Dixie Fire The 2021 Dixie Fire

5336-564: The LA Promise. In June 2016, Newsom helped secure $ 15 million in the state budget to support the creation of promise programs throughout the state. In December 2015, Newsom called on the University of California to reclassify computer science courses as a core academic class to incentivize more high schools to offer computer science curricula. He sponsored successful legislation signed by Governor Brown in September 2016, that began

5452-614: The Lassen County Sheriff's Department promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the removal of evacuees. On July 24, Lassen National Park was closed to backcountry camping, and the Warner Valley and Juniper Lake areas were closed to all visitors. On August 5, the entire park was closed to visitors as the Dixie Fire burned into the eastern side of the park. As of August 2, State Routes 32 , 89 , 147 , 36 , and 70 were closed to through traffic in

5568-508: The Lassen National Forest and the eastern side of Lassen Volcanic National Park . On the evening of August 4, the northeast flank of the fire jumped containment lines at Indian Valley and burned through the town of Greenville . An estimated 75 percent of structures in Greenville were destroyed, including much of the downtown and numerous nearby homes. The firestorm was compared to "a huge tornado" and took less than half an hour to destroy

5684-466: The PG&;E troubleman, including the damaged bridge and rough dirt roads. At 7:49   p.m. a drone was reported in the vicinity of the fire, and all aircraft were ordered to leave the area. Because it was so late and regulations generally do not permit firefighting aircraft to fly in the dark, air operations were not able to resume that night. The drone's appearance meant about 45 minutes of flying time

5800-735: The PlumpJack Winery in Oakville, California, new PlumpJack-owned Cade Winery in Angwin, California, and the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn. He is the president in absentia of Airelle Wines Inc., which is connected to the PlumpJack Winery in Napa County. Newsom earned between $ 141,000 and $ 251,000 in 2007 from his business interests. In February 2006, he paid $ 2,350,000 for his residence in the Russian Hill neighborhood, which he put on

5916-730: The Portola Baptist Church in Portola, California , Lassen County Fairgrounds in Susanville, California, and Hug High School and the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nevada, served as evacuation points. The fire also impacted recreational activities. The majority of the fire area was closed to the public, including trails, roads and points of interest, including Frenchman Lake, until September 1, 2021. The fire damaged some facilities at

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6032-483: The Ranch and Conard fires burning near Maynard's campsite. Tracking data supported his presence at the scenes of ignition. Maynard was arrested on August 7 by a California Highway Patrol officer, and indicted by a federal grand jury on November 18, 2021. Multiple people who encountered Maynard prior to his arrest and indictment expressed concerns about his mental state. Maynard's arrest, and that of Alexandra Souverneva

6148-544: The San Francisco city–county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples , violating state law. In August 2004, the Supreme Court of California annulled the marriages Newsom had authorized, as they conflicted with state law. Still, Newsom's unexpected move brought national attention to the issue of same-sex marriage, solidifying political support for him in San Francisco and in the LGBTQ+ community. During

6264-472: The United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi . Newsom's parents divorced in 1971 when he was three years old. Newsom has said he did not have an easy childhood, partly due to "pretty severe" dyslexia . He attended kindergarten and first grade at École Notre Dame Des Victoires, a French-American bilingual Catholic school in San Francisco, but eventually transferred out, due to

6380-646: The University of California–Berkeley's football team, which had the lowest graduation rates in the country. Newsom released his first book, Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government , on February 7, 2013. The book discusses the Gov 2.0 movement taking place across the nation. After its release, Newsom began to work with the Center for Information Technology Research in

6496-431: The West Zone, with calm winds, overnight temperatures down into the 30s, up to a quarter-inch of rain, and rising humidity resulting in minimal fire activity. Favorable conditions were expected to continue throughout the week. As of September 13, the few remaining areas of persistent heat and flames were all within the interior of the burned area, and containment had increased to 86 percent by September 16. By September 18,

6612-594: The area of the Dixie Fire. Smoke from the Dixie Fire caused unhealthy air quality throughout the Western United States . On August 6 in Salt Lake City the small airborne particulates (PM 2.5 ) level spiked to more than three times the federal standard, and caused the area to temporarily have the worst air quality in the world. The particulates causing the poor air quality in Utah came from

6728-794: The areas south of Highway 44 and Mountain Meadows Reservoir, and evacuation warnings for Westwood and Pine Town . The total number of people forced to evacuate by the Dixie Fire reached more than 9,500 by August 9. Lassen Community College served as a major evacuation site for residents of Plumas and Lassen Counties. Meanwhile, dormitory residents and student athletes at the college were evacuated to Humboldt State University . On August 16, Lassen County Sheriff Officials identified and forcibly removed residents of Plumas County from their camp at Lassen College. The Lassen County Health and Social Services Department later clarified that evacuees from all counties were welcome at Lassen College and

6844-466: The boutique winery PlumpJack Group with billionaire heir and family friend Gordon Getty as an investor. The company grew to manage 23 businesses, including wineries, restaurants, and hotels. Newsom began his political career in 1996, when San Francisco mayor Willie Brown appointed him to the city's Parking and Traffic Commission. Brown then appointed Newsom to fill a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors

6960-695: The city was to not assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement . The same year, Newsom received the Leadership for Healthy Communities Award, along with Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and three other public officials, for his commitment to making healthful food and physical activity options more accessible to children and families. He hosted the Urban-Rural Roundtable in 2008 to explore ways to promote regional food development and increased access to healthy, affordable food. Newsom secured $ 8 million in federal and local funds for

7076-556: The city's municipal railway (Muni). He was one of two supervisors endorsed by Rescue Muni, a transit riders group, in his 1998 reelection. He sponsored Proposition B to require Muni and other city departments to develop detailed customer service plans. The measure passed with 56.6% of the vote. Newsom sponsored a ballot measure from Rescue Muni; a version of the measure was approved by voters in November 1999. Newsom also supported allowing restaurants to serve alcohol at their outdoor tables, banning tobacco advertisements visible from

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7192-477: The city. During a strike by hotel workers against a dozen San Francisco hotels, Newsom joined UNITE HERE union members on a picket line in front of the Westin St. Francis Hotel on October 27, 2004. He vowed that the city would boycott the hotels by not sponsoring city events at them until they agreed to a contract with workers. The contract dispute was settled in September 2006. In 2005, Newsom pushed for

7308-970: The commercial's release; this, in turn, led to speculation that Newsom had inadvertently played a role in the amendment's passage. Newsom filed initial paperwork to run for lieutenant governor in February 2010, and officially announced his candidacy in March. He received the Democratic nomination in June and won the election on November 2. Newsom was sworn in as lieutenant governor on January 10, 2011, and served under Governor Jerry Brown. While lieutenant governor, in May 2012, Newsom began hosting The Gavin Newsom Show on Current TV . The same month, he drew criticism for calling Sacramento "dull" and saying he

7424-482: The death penalty in California. He argued that Prop. 62 would get rid of a system "that is administered with troubling racial disparities" and said that the death penalty was fundamentally immoral and did not deter crime. Proposition 62 failed. In 2014, Newsom was the only statewide politician to endorse California Proposition 47 , legislation that recategorized certain nonviolent offenses like drug and property crimes as misdemeanors as opposed to felonies. Voters passed

7540-414: The east flank, the fire was advancing toward Bucks Lake and Indian Valley, and on the west, it was burning toward Butte Meadows . It had grown to 167,430 acres (67,760 ha) with 18 percent containment. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Plumas, Butte, Lassen and Alpine counties due to the Dixie, Fly and Tamarack Fires. By then, the Dixie Fire had become the largest wildfire of

7656-406: The end of the week, it was reported that 33 homes were destroyed in the community of Doyle in Lassen County by the Sugar Fire. The fire was 60 square miles in size by July 20 and was primarily contained within control lines. Evacuation orders were lifted for most parts of Lassen County. The next day, July 21, mandatory evacuations were lifted for all Plumas County areas. On August 2, the fires were

7772-415: The fire burned much of Canyondam as it approached the eastern shore of Lake Almanor. By the morning of August 8, the fire had grown to 463,477 acres (187,562 ha), surpassing the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire to become the second largest fire in the state's history, with containment falling to 21 percent. Starting on August 13 increased winds pushed flames primarily to the east. The northern section of

7888-425: The fire expanded around the north side of Lake Almanor, heading east and south and threatening Westwood . The fire's eastern section, having burned past Indian Valley, continued to race east towards Antelope Lake . It became the first fire to ever cross from the west side of the Sierra Nevada to the valley floor on the east side. In the evening of August 16, winds of up to 30 mph (48 kmh) drove embers from

8004-458: The fire included Greenville, Canyondam, and Indian Falls . In downtown Greenville the fire destroyed multiple historic buildings, many dating back to the 19th-century California Gold Rush . In Lassen National Park, the fire destroyed the Mount Harkness Fire Lookout and possibly other historic facilities within the park. The Tásmam Koyóm valley that was returned to the Maidu as part of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company bankruptcy in 2019 lost

8120-452: The fire perimeter, as well as back burning operations to protect homes in Butte Meadows and Jonesville . Firefighters also contained the eastward spread of the fire with back burning from Mount Hough down to Quincy. At the start of August, the fire was most active on the north flank, having split into two main branches, with one burning up the western shore of Lake Almanor, and the other burning northeast toward Indian Valley. Fire activity

8236-433: The fire to the northeast, threatening the communities of Hat Creek and Old Station . Old Station was put under an evacuation order on September 8, and by the 10th, the fire had jumped containment lines and crossed Highway 44 . Fire crews began using Union Pacific Railroad’s fire train, which can deliver 30,000 gallons of water per load to fill water tenders. On September 9 the weather became more favorable, especially in

8352-479: The fire was 88 percent contained; firefighters reinforced containment lines and monitored/patrolled the fire for hot spots within the fire lines in advance of a red flag warning. Rain and work by firefighters on September 19 kept fire activity within the existing perimeter, and the increase in reported acreage on that date reflected area burned within that perimeter. On September 22, containment reached 95 percent and firefighters successfully completed containment around

8468-423: The fires alongside California crews. Houses and outbuildings in the immediate area were threatened, with fire crews implementing structure protection on July 3. By the next morning, July 4, the Sugar Fire had burned 470 acres (190 ha) and was 15 percent contained. Evacuation warnings were put in place for the ranches along Maddalena Road. That warning was rescinded on July 5 due to the fire's lack of growth. In

8584-514: The first". One of Newsom's early interactions with government occurred when Newsom resisted the San Francisco Department of Public Health 's requirement to install a sink at his PlumpJack wine store. The Health Department argued that wine was a food and required the store to install a $ 27,000 sink in the carpeted wine shop on the grounds that the shop needed the sink for a mop. When Newsom was later appointed supervisor, he told

8700-520: The following morning, July 14, the fire had burned 500 acres (200 ha), and by the end of the day it had grown still further to 2,200 acres (890 ha) with no containment despite the efforts of more than 150 firefighting personnel. Over the next few days the fire progressed rapidly northeast along the Feather River canyon, forcing the closure of Highway 70 , the Union Pacific Railroad ’s Feather River Route , and nearby areas of

8816-408: The future generation of leaders of this great city". Newsom described himself as a " social liberal and a fiscal watchdog". He was elected to a full four-year term to the board in 1998. San Francisco voters chose to abandon at-large elections to the board for the previous district system in 1999. Newsom was reelected in 2000 and 2002 to represent the second district, which includes Pacific Heights ,

8932-402: The ground over the following hours. At 1:30   p.m., a PG&E troubleman (a type of lineworker ) came to address the resulting power outage. Access roads were in poor condition, and the troubleman was forced to stop at a bridge undergoing repairs. The troubleman left and returned at approximately 4:30   p.m., arriving at the power lines 10 minutes later. Noticing the two blown fuses,

9048-570: The highest since the fire began. Growth of the fire slowed overnight due to increased humidity but overall weather conditions remained challenging. In late July and early August 2021, U.S. Forest Service investigators investigated a spree of wildland arson set by former university professor Gary Stephen Maynard in the vicinity of the Dixie Fire. Investigators connected Maynard to at least five fires, all of which were stopped at one acre (0.40 ha) or less and which did no serious damage. The Moon, Ranch, and Conard fires were set behind crews battling

9164-410: The homeless in lieu of direct cash aid from the state's general assistance program. Many homeless rights advocates protested against the initiative. "Progressives and Democrats, nuns and priests, homeless advocates and homeless people were furious", Newsom said. The successfully passed ballot measure raised his political profile and provided the volunteers, donors, and campaign staff that helped make him

9280-417: The importance of public service. His father's finances were strapped in part because of his tendency to give away his earnings. Newsom worked several jobs in high school to help support his family. Newsom attended Santa Clara University , graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science with a major in political science . In his first two years, he tried out for the university's baseball team (and received

9396-513: The lake and campground. The Sugar Fire destroyed 33 homes in Doyle, California , and 148 in total. 23 structures were damaged. The fires impacted air quality in the Reno, Nevada area starting July 7. Smoke from the fire cast an orange glow in the city in the morning and residents could smell smoke. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of

9512-648: The last portion of uncontained fire in the Devil's Punchbowl area of the East Zone. On October 1, Devil's Punchbowl was devoid of heat based on infrared data and InciWeb indicated a 94 percent overall containment for the Dixie Fire (East and West Zone). The Dixie Fire resulted in the most expensive wildfire suppression effort in United States history, in part due to a reliance on contracted and higher-paid local and private firefighters. The final cost of containing

9628-428: The late afternoon of July 6, the Sugar Fire jumped containment lines, fueled by gusty winds. Burning northeasterly, it grew 1,875 acres (759 ha). As a result, mandatory evacuations were put in place for residents in portions of Beckwourth. Evacuation warnings were put back in place for Dixie Valley and extended to Frenchman Cove. An evacuation center opened in Portola, California . The next day, July 7, Frenchman Cove

9744-572: The market in April 2009 for $ 3,000,000. At the time of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse in March 2023, it was acknowledged that at least three of Newsom's wine companies, PlumpJack, Cade and Odette, were Silicon Valley Bank clients. Newsom's first political experience came when he volunteered for Willie Brown 's successful campaign for mayor in 1995. Newsom hosted a private fundraiser at his PlumpJack Café. Brown appointed Newsom to

9860-547: The meantime, the troubleman returned to the fire with another fire extinguisher and a McLeod tool , attempting to rake and dig a firebreak . As the fire became visible from Highway 70 on the opposite side of the Feather River Canyon, it prompted multiple reports to 911. A fire engine strike team leader returning home from the Beckwourth Complex called 911 at roughly 5:12   p.m., reporting

9976-845: The measure on November 4, 2014. In July 2015, Newsom released the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy's final report, which he had convened with the American Civil Liberties Union of California in 2013. The report's recommendations to regulate marijuana were intended to inform a legalization measure on the November 2016 ballot. Newsom supported the resulting measure, Proposition 64 , which legalized cannabis use and cultivation for California state residents who are 21 or older. On February 24, 2017, in response to pro-enforcement statements by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer , Newsom sent Attorney General Jeff Sessions and President Donald Trump

10092-569: The next year and Newsom was first elected to the board in 1998. Newsom was elected mayor of San Francisco in 2003 and reelected in 2007 . He was elected lieutenant governor of California in 2010 . As lieutenant governor, Newsom hosted The Gavin Newsom Show from 2012 to 2013. He also wrote the 2013 book Citizenville , which focused on using digital tools for democratic change. He was reelected in 2014 and elected governor of California in 2018 . During his governorship, Newsom faced criticism for his personal behavior and leadership style during

10208-459: The north and began spotting around Frenchman Lake. The United States Forest Service closed forest access for the Beckwourth Complex area and shut down numerous roads that access the forest, including Highway 284 , on July 9. That same day, residents in the Doyle Grade area in Lassen County were evacuated. The fire continued to expand towards the evacuated Doyle Grade area and eventually created

10324-414: The northern side of the Feather River Canyon in a remote area above Highway 70 and Cresta Dam, midway between Paradise and Belden . Transmission lines (also operated by PG&E) further down the canyon were the cause of the devastating and fatal Camp Fire in 2018. At approximately 6:48   a.m. PDT a large Douglas fir , 65 feet (20 m) tall and 16 inches (41 cm) in diameter, fell onto

10440-486: The park had doubled to 22,000 acres (8,900 ha), and firefighters were building line to protect Manzanita Lake and Old Station areas. On August 18, the Dixie Fire merged with the Morgan Fire, which had been started by lightning August 12, near the south entrance of Lassen National Park. In addition to burning north into the park, the Morgan Fire had threatened the communities of Mineral and Mill Creek just to

10556-430: The planning process for expanding computer science education to all state students, beginning as early as kindergarten. In 2016, Newsom passed a series of reforms at the University of California to give student-athletes additional academic and injury-related support, and to ensure that contracts for athletic directors and coaches emphasized academic progress. This came in response to several athletics programs, including

10672-453: The power line. Why the tree fell is unknown—an arborist with Cal Fire said the tree was weakened after burning in the 2008 Butte Lightning Complex, while another arborist hired by PG&E noted possible root rot. When the tree fell onto the line, two fuses blew but one remained active, keeping the power line energized. The tree, in contact with both the line and the ground, created an electrical fault. Electric arcing slowly ignited fuels on

10788-419: The previous day north of Quincy and burned over 4,300 acres (1,700 ha). The Dixie Fire grew to 181,289 acres (73,365 ha) with 19 percent containment. On July 30 the fire was at 240,595 acres (97,365 ha), becoming the 11th largest wildfire in California history, having grown 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) in a single day. However, much of the growth was due to islands of unburned vegetation within

10904-523: The primary cause of death for more than 163 million trees in California between 2010 and 2019. Bark beetle-affected forests (especially species common in the Sierra Nevada such as the lodgepole pine ) are chemically altered, and the dead and dying trees are more flammable and more susceptible to intense crown fires . The Dixie Fire began on July 13, 2021, beneath a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) 12-kilovolt power distribution line located on

11020-403: The severe dyslexia that still affects him. It has challenged his abilities to write, spell, read, and work with numbers . Throughout his schooling, Newsom had to rely on a combination of audiobooks , digests, and informal verbal instruction. To this day, he prefers to interpret documents and reports through audio. Newsom attended third through fifth grades at Notre Dame des Victoires, where he

11136-688: The size and intensity of the Dixie Fire. 2021 was the hottest summer ever recorded in California. That year also saw further intensification of what scientists have found to be the most extreme megadrought in at least 1,200 years in the Western/Southwestern United States, amplified by high temperatures, low precipitation, and anthropogenic climate change : during the 2021 water year (the period between October 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021), Northern California received less than half of its usual precipitation. The Sierra snowpack , measured during its typical peak on April 1,

11252-449: The south. The Morgan and Dixie fires were joined by a backfire set in order to reduce fuels adjacent to the two towns. By the end of the day, the Dixie Fire had grown to over 635,000 acres (257,000 ha), an increase of more than 80,000 acres (32,000 ha) since August 15, with containment at 33 percent. By August 22, the Dixie Fire approached Milford but crews were able to protect the structures and containment rose to 37 percent,

11368-527: The streets, stiffer penalties for landlords who run afoul of rent-control laws, and a resolution, which was defeated, to commend Colin Powell for raising money for youth programs. Newsom's support for business interests at times strained his relationship with labor leaders. During Newsom's time as supervisor, he supported housing projects through public-private partnerships to increase homeownership and affordable housing in San Francisco. He supported HOPE,

11484-488: The town before leaping to the other side of Indian Valley and continuing northeast towards Mountain Meadows Reservoir. The whole Dixie Fire grew to over 320,000 acres (130,000 ha), an increase of 50,000 acres (20,000 ha) in two days, and was 35 percent contained. It became the sixth-largest wildfire in California history, surpassing the North Complex Fire that had burned nearby in 2020. On August 5,

11600-424: The troubleman was in the process of shutting off the third when he smelled smoke—looking down, he observed a fire approximately 600–800 square feet (56–74 m ) in size, burning among pine needles beneath the powerlines. The troubleman shut off the third fuse, then took a fire extinguisher from his truck and unsuccessfully attempted to put the fire out. He was able to raise his supervisor by radio, who called 911. In

11716-474: The year in California. On July 24 the fire expanded rapidly east, burning through Paxton and then Indian Falls , destroying around a dozen structures. Firefighters successfully kept the fire north of Bucks Lake, while flames approached the Indian Valley communities of Crescent Mills , Greenville and Taylorsville on the east. Later that night it merged with the smaller Fly Fire, which had started

11832-573: Was 99 percent contained. The Dotta Fire was 100 percent contained by July 22, 2021. The Sugar Fire started on the southeast side of Sugarloaf Peak, three miles northeast of Beckwourth, California , near Nervino Airport , adjacent to the Plumas National Forest , on July 2. It was first reported at around 10:30 AM on July 3, 2021, Despite significant fire growth on July 3 due to dry conditions, cloud cover and humidity helped tamper fire activity on July 4, allowing crews to make containment progress. Twenty firefighters from Puerto Rico arrived to help fight

11948-606: Was an enormous wildfire in Butte , Plumas , Lassen , Shasta , and Tehama counties in Northern California . Named after a nearby Dixie Road, the fire began in the Feather River Canyon near Cresta Dam in Butte County on July 13, 2021, and burned 963,309 acres (389,837 ha) before it was declared 100 percent contained on October 25, 2021. It was the largest single source wildfire (as compared to

12064-511: Was caused by a tree contacting electrical distribution lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) located west of Cresta Dam." Cal Fire forwarded the investigative report to the Butte County District Attorney's office, the same federal office that prosecuted PG&E in 2018 following the Camp Fire. PG&E pled guilty to 85 felonies in that case. Though the 2018 and 2021 fires were both ignited in

12180-507: Was greater than $ 429,000 from 1996 to 2001. In 2002, his business holdings were valued at more than $ 6.9 million. Newsom gave a monthly $ 50 gift certificate to PlumpJack employees whose business ideas failed, because in his view, "There can be no success without failure." Newsom sold his share of his San Francisco businesses when he became mayor in 2004. He maintained his ownership in the PlumpJack companies outside San Francisco, including

12296-425: Was greatly decreased along the south side from Bucks Lake to Quincy, as well as the west side around Butte Meadows. Beginning on August 3, after several days of calmer weather, a major wind event drove the fire up the west shore of Lake Almanor, threatening Chester and other nearby communities. Firefighting efforts were concentrated on protecting the town, while the fire front continued sweeping north into Lassen County,

12412-536: Was just 59 percent of the historical average, and runoff just 20 percent of the amount forecast. Reservoirs in the state shrunk, and vegetation dried out to the point where both living and dead conifers were drier than kiln-dried lumber . Rigorous fire suppression policies in the United States also meant that much of the area burned by the Dixie Fire had little fire history, going back more than 40 years. The resulting overcrowded forests became more vulnerable to drought, as well as bark beetle infestations that were

12528-533: Was lost, which Butte County district attorney Mike Ramsey said played a large role in the fire escaping control. The drone's operator was never identified, despite a multi-agency investigation that involved state and local agencies, the FAA and the FBI . With aircraft no longer able to help, limited ground access, and the fire exposed to nightly up-canyon winds, the Dixie Fire began to grow considerably. By 8:00   a.m.

12644-585: Was only there once a week, adding, "there's no reason" to be there otherwise. Newsom was reelected as lieutenant governor on November 4, 2014, defeating Republican Ron Nehring with 57.2% of the vote. His second term began on January 5, 2015. Newsom supported a failed measure in 2012 that sought to end capital punishment in California . He claimed the initiative would save California millions of dollars, citing statistics that California had spent $ 5 billion since 1978 to execute just 13 people. In 2016, Newsom supported Proposition 62 , which also would have repealed

12760-436: Was opened in Reno to accommodate. However, the fire did not cross the state line. By July 12, the fire was 23 percent contained on the south side of the fire. Highway 365 was reopened. Additional Lassen County evacuations took place. The Doyle Fire Protection District reported that an estimated 20 homes were destroyed by the fire. A few days later, on July 16, the fire encroached on Highway 395, leading to another brief closure. By

12876-670: Was placed in remedial reading classes. In high school, he played basketball and baseball and graduated from Redwood High School in 1985. Newsom was a shooting guard in basketball and an outfielder in baseball. His skills placed him on the cover of the Marin Independent Journal . Tessa Newsom worked three jobs to support Gavin and his sister Hilary Newsom Callan. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle , his sister recalled Christmases when their mother told them they would not receive any gifts. Tessa opened their home to foster children , instilling in Newsom

12992-413: Was placed under mandatory evacuation and Frenchman Lake was placed under an evacuation warning. Due to the fire's increasing behavior due to dry, hot and windy conditions, more mandatory evacuation orders were put in place for Dooley, Big Cove, Frenchman Cove, Frenchman Village and Frenchman Lake including all campgrounds and residences around the lake and Maddalena. The fire pushed towards Dixie Lookout in

13108-545: Was reelected on November 6 with over 72% of the vote. Upon taking office for a second term, Newsom promised to focus on the environment, homelessness, health care, education, housing, and rebuilding San Francisco General Hospital . As mayor, Newsom focused on development projects in Hunters Point and Treasure Island . He gained national attention in 2004 when he directed the San Francisco city–county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples , violating

13224-452: Was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $ 13,081 in restitution for the three counts of arson on federal property. The fire continued burning in the two management zones, the East Zone and West Zone. The eastern zone was mostly Plumas National Forest and the western zone was mostly Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lassen National Forest . The eastern zone extended to

13340-551: Was sworn in as mayor on January 3, 2004. He called for unity among the city's political factions, and promised to address the issues of public schools, potholes and affordable housing . Newsom said he was "a different kind of leader" who "isn't afraid to solve even the toughest problems". San Francisco's progressive community tried to field a candidate to run a strong campaign against Newsom. Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi and Chris Daly considered running, but both declined. Gonzalez also decided not to challenge Newsom again. When

13456-600: Was the first fire known to have burned across the crest of the Sierra Nevada (followed by the Caldor Fire later in the season). Smoke from the Dixie Fire caused unhealthy air quality across the Western United States , including states as far east as Utah and Colorado . The Dixie Fire was the most expensive wildfire (measured by cost of the firefighting effort) in United States history, costing $ 637.4 million to suppress. A number of factors contributed to

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