Woolsey Fire Explained
The Woolsey Fire was a wildfire that started in Los Angeles County and spread north to neighboring Ventura County, both located in the U.S. state of California. The fire ignited on November 8, 2018 and wasn't fully contained until November 21, 2018. The fire burned 96949acres of land, destroyed 1,643 structures, killed three people, and prompted the evacuation of more than 295,000 people.[3] It was one of several fires in California that ignited on the same day, along with the nearby Hill Fire and the destructive Camp Fire in Northern California.[6]
The fire started in Woolsey Canyon on the Santa Susana Field Laboratory property, and burned 80% of the site, a complex of industrial research and development buildings belonging to Boeing, in the Santa Susana Mountains above the Simi Valley near the boundary between Los Angeles and Ventura counties.[7] The Santa Ana winds, which often are a factor for Southern California fires, pushed the fire in a southerly direction throughout the first day.[8] [9] The Ventura Freeway (US 101) between the San Fernando Valley and the Conejo Valley was closed as the fire crossed and headed into the rugged Santa Monica Mountains.
The fire raced through the chaparral-covered steep canyons where it encountered historic movie and TV sets, small ranches, and the houses of celebrities.[10] Hundreds of houses in Malibu were destroyed or damaged on both sides of Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1). Many of these were on Point Dume that juts out from the narrow coastal terrace that lies between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The mitigation measures Pepperdine University had in place successfully protected the campus, with students sheltering in place, to the south. The entire sparsely populated portion of the Malibu coast west to the community of Solromar, which includes state and national parklands, suffered damage from the fire. The fire cost at least $6 billion (2018 USD) in property damage.
Thousands of residents were kept away from their houses in numerous neighborhoods along the Ventura Freeway and the communities along the Malibu coast. The evacuations frustrated residents as they lasted for many days as the fire continued to threaten houses especially when the winds increased and fanned the flames. The evacuated residents were incrementally allowed to return to see if their houses were damaged or destroyed as the fire continued to spread through the rugged wilderness at the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains. Authorities in many of the damaged communities declared that they needed to prevent residents from returning quickly as neighborhoods were crowded with crews repairing downed power lines and other hazardous conditions. In the months after the fire, residents criticized what they thought was a slow and inadequate response by cities and counties during public meetings held by public officials.
While this and other fires were burning, President Donald Trump blamed poor forest management by the state. One fire scientist explained that forest management (good or bad) had a minor influence on the severity of the fires, and that Woolsey was not a forest fire.[11] The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating an equipment problem near the point of origin reported by Southern California Edison.
Timeline
At 2:22 p.m. PST on November 8, Southern California Edison reported an outage on the Big Rock 16 kV circuit out of the Chatsworth substation on the Santa Susana Field Laboratory property, south of Simi Valley, Ventura County, California.[12] [13] [14] At 2:24 p.m. PST a brush fire was reported in the same location.[15] [16] The first firefighters arrived almost 20 minutes later, a Ventura County engine carrying three firefighters from the Simi Valley station about 8miles away.[17] Ventura County had heavily dedicated crews to the Hill Fire burning near Newbury Park.[18] The nearest fire crew, part of a private company contracted to protect Santa Susana Field Laboratory, a Boeing Company facility nearby, was delayed by its engine breaking down.[19] Powerful Santa Ana winds, reaching 50to, caused the fire to spread rapidly and beyond firefighting capabilities. During the overnight hours into the early morning of November 9, the fire crossed U.S. Route 101 near Calabasas and spread through Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills. Aerial suppression of the fire was unable to commence until 5:00 a.m. PST, November 9, when winds lessened enough.
On the morning of November 9, Assistant L.A. County Fire Chief Williams told KBUU-LP that his request for 70 strike teams had been denied.[20] The blaze spread rapidly throughout the day burning through the mountains and along the 101 Freeway, eventually reaching Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu by the afternoon devastating numerous houses there. Firefighters and firetrucks who did not know the area were reported idle by many frustrated citizens.[21] Several homeowners stayed despite the mandatory evacuation to defend their houses.[22] [23] Pepperdine University in Malibu recommended that students shelter in place in specific buildings on campus rather than use the crowded highway to evacuate. Farther north, the flames spread to portions of Thousand Oaks, Bell Canyon, Westlake Village, Oak Park[24] and the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles forcing residential evacuations and the closure of numerous business and corporate offices in the region.[25] On the day before the Hill and Woolsey fires started, residents in the Conejo Valley experienced the shooting of thirteen people in a bar including a police officer and the perpetrator. As the fires threatened the community and otherwise disrupted their routine, memorial services had to be postponed.[26]
By November 9, Cal Fire and the United States Forest Service were also helping local services with the fire.[27] [28] This resulted in 3,242 firefighters being deployed to contain the blaze by the morning of November 10. The fire had engulfed more than 70000acres of land, forcing the evacuation of an estimated 295,000 people from 105,000 residences.[29] This included an unprecedented total evacuation of Bell Canyon, Malibu, Agoura Hills, Malibou Lake, and Oak Park.
Before sunrise on November 14, the fire flared up in rugged wilderness at the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains with winds blowing strongly.[30] The fire burned well away from populated neighborhoods, but was threatening scattered home sites. The flare-up sent a huge column of smoke over Point Mugu and out to sea.[31]
By November 21 at 6:11 p.m. PST, the fire was 100% contained.
Impacts
Many of the public and private parks and trails within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area were closed indefinitely as damage due to the fire was being evaluated and necessary remediation measures were put in place. Closures included Malibu Creek State Park and Zuma Beach.[32] Property owned by the federal government within the national recreation area includes some developed parks and large undeveloped tracts of land. The fire caused trails to be shut for months as 88% of the federal parkland was burned.[33] The fire created a challenge to native plants as black mustard with bright yellow flowers quickly established itself post-fire.[34] Thirteen mountain lions with radio collars were within the fire area according to National Park Service researchers.[35] Repairs were needed to the Ventura Freeway at the proposed location of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing designed to benefit the mountain lions.[36]
Two people were found dead in a vehicle on Mulholland Highway in Malibu.[37] Emergency personnel were unable to reach the victims when a report of a critical burn victim was relayed, due to downed power lines.[38] On Tuesday November 13, a third victim was discovered in the 32000 block of Lobo Canyon Road in Agoura Hills.[39] The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced on January 22, 2019, that charred human remains had been found in the burn area in Malibu and that homicide detectives were trying to determine if the victim had been killed in the flames or had met with foul play.[40]
At least 1600 houses were destroyed by the fire.[41] Several celebrities were among those who lost their houses, including Jonathan Banks,[42] Kim Basinger,[43] Tracey E. Bregman,[44] Gerard Butler,[45] Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth,[46] David Dreier,[47] Scott Derrickson,[48] Shannen Doherty,[49] Fred Durst,[50] Joe Flanigan,[51] Mike Garson,[52] Camille Meyer,[53] Daryl Hannah and Neil Young,[54] Pat Hitchcock,[55] Kevin Parker,[56] Gabe Kapler,[57] Catherine Oxenberg,[58] Lil Pump,[59] Robin Thicke, Andrew von Oeyen,[60] Eric Wynalda,[61] and Daniel Tosh.[62] Multiple filming locations and historical sites were directly impacted by the fire, including Paramount Ranch,[63] [64] Peter Strauss Ranch,[65] the former Reagan Ranch now part of Malibu Creek State Park,[66] and the lower house of Villa De La Vina,[67] the mansion where The Bachelor and The Bachelorette are filmed.[68] The numerous drug rehabilitation centers and sober living houses in Malibu that have given rise to the nickname "Rehab Riviera" were evacuated ahead of the fire. At least two were destroyed or significantly damaged.[69] Three Jewish summer camps JCA Shalom, Gindling Hilltop, and Camp Hess Kramer were almost completely devastated in the fire.[70] There were two cases of looting in Ventura County, one of which resulted in a car chase.
Reporters and officials rescued animals from houses, and brought them to shelters and vets.[71] Other animals at locations such as Malibu Wines were either evacuated or cared for at the locations.[72] Local fire officials opened Zuma Beach as an evacuation point for large animals, with pictures by the Los Angeles Times, showing llamas, alpacas, and horses tied to lifeguard stations and poles.[73]
Clean up of materials like asbestos, pesticides, plastics, and electronic devices began almost immediately after the flames were out. The ruins of burned homes and vehicles can have a harmful impact on the surrounding environment.[74]
Responses
On November 10, President Donald Trump, stated poor forest management by the state of California as the cause of the Woolsey Fire and the concurrent Camp Fire. In a controversial tweet,[75] the President threatened to end federal assistance unless the state improves its "gross mismanagement of the forests".[76]
The small groves of California sycamores and coast live oaks amidst the sage and chaparral covered hillsides in the area of the fire are not considered to be forests as commonly understood by the public or wildfire experts.[77] Since these small, critical habitats are not logged, President Trump's statements had little relevance to the Southern California fire.[78]
The firemen's union disagreed with President Trump's claims, noting that California experienced unusually dry conditions and abnormally high fire danger at the time.[79] Brian Rice, president of the California Professional Firefighters, described Trump's assertion about the state's forest management practices as "dangerously wrong," noting that 60 percent of California forests are directly managed by the federal government, which has reduced spending on forestry in recent years.[80] [77]
In public meetings
In public meetings, people affected by the fire were critical of the slow and inadequate response of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol and their poor handling of the evacuation, and the city of Malibu and their lack of preparation and overall response during and after the fire.[81] [82] [83] [84] [85]
Investigations
California Public Utilities Commission launched a probe into Southern California Edison who reported a problem with their transmission grid at the point of origin two minutes before the start of the fire.[86] [87] [88] The redacted version of the Ventura County Fire Department Woolsey report, that was released in October 2020, concluded that the fire was started by electrical equipment associated with the Big Rock 16kV circuit that is owned and operated by Southern California Edison.[89]
A 2019 Los Angeles County report[90] on missteps in the government's handling of the Woolsey Fire response (the 'Woolsey Report') cited the unavailability of firefighting units in Western Malibu during critical times of the fire, where hundreds of houses were lost.[91] The report stated: "a significant number of requests by political figures to check on specific addresses of homes to ensure their protection distracted from Department leadership to accomplish priority objectives" which included a personal request to the city fire chief by Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti.[92] [93]
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, Alex Villanueva, Los Angeles County Sheriff, was removed from his position as head of county emergency operations by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors due to the poor emergency response reported by investigators in the Woolsey Report.[94] [95] [96]
Scientists analyzed coastal water quality and found unusually high levels of fecal bacteria and sediment that remained for months.[97]
Possible contamination from Santa Susana Field Laboratory
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory site has been undergoing a cleanup of the contamination from a partial nuclear meltdown in 1959 and extensive rocket engine testing. After the fire, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found "no discernible level of radiation in the tested area" and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, which is overseeing cleanup of the site, said in an interim report that "previously handled radioactive and hazardous materials were not affected by the fire."[98] Bob Dodge, President of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles, said "When it burns and becomes airborne in smoke and ash, there is real possibility of heightened exposure for area residents."[98]
In 2019, Risk Assessment Corporation (RAC) conducted soil sampling surrounding the SSFL, and performed source term estimation, atmospheric transport, and deposition modeling. The study reports published in 2023, concluded, “Air measurement data collected during the Woolsey Fire, along with atmospheric dispersion modeling and an offsite soil sampling program designed specifically to look for impacts from the fire, showed no evidence of SSFL impact in offsite soils because of the Woolsey Fire. No anthropogenic radionuclides were measured at levels above those expected from global fallout. The soil sampling confirmed that no detectable levels of SSFL-derived radionuclides migrated from SSFL at the locations sampled because of the Woolsey Fire or from past operations of the SSFL.”[99] [100]
In 2020, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) stated in their final report that the fire did not cause contaminants to be released from the site into Simi Valley and other neighboring communities and that the risk from smoke exposure during the fire was not higher than what is normally associated with wildfire.[101] [102]
In 2021 a study which collected 360 samples of dust, ash, and soils from homes and public lands three weeks after the fire found that most samples were at normal levels, ("Data did not support a finding of widespread deposition of radioactive particles.") but that two locations "contained high activities of radioactive isotopes associated with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory."[103] [104]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Woolsey Fire General Information . CAL FIRE . California . November 19, 2018 . November 8, 2018 . June 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190603093305/https://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=2282 . dead .
- Web site: Woolsey Fire Incident Update. Los Angeles County Fire Department. November 13, 2018. November 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181112231819/https://www.fire.lacounty.gov/woolsey-fire-incident/. dead.
- News: Woolsey fire death toll increases to 3, body found in charred Agoura Hills home. November 14, 2018. The Mercury News. San Gabriel Valley Newspapers. Gonzales. Ruby. Cain. Josh. November 14, 2018.
- News: $6 Billion In Real Estate Destroyed In Woolsey Fire: Report. Emily Holland. patch.com. Patch Media. November 28, 2018. September 1, 2020.
- Web site: Woolsey Fire Incident Update. Los Angeles County Fire Department. November 22, 2018. November 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181112231819/https://www.fire.lacounty.gov/woolsey-fire-incident/. dead.
- News: Investigators point to human activity as cause of Hill Fire; containment at 100 percent. Tyler . Hersko . . November 16, 2018. November 17, 2018.
- News: Harris. Mike. October 17, 2021. Study finds radioactive contamination migrated off field lab site during Woolsey Fire. 2021-10-17. . en-US . The Woolsey Fire broke out at the site on Nov. 8, 2018, sparked during high winds by electrical equipment owned there by Southern California Edison, an investigation by the Ventura County Fire Department concluded. The blaze went on to burn about 97,000 acres, including 80% of the field lab site, ... The study examined 360 samples of household dust, surface soils and ash from 150 homes and other locations such as parks and trails collected after the fire. It concluded that while most of the collected samples were at normal levels, “some ashes and dusts collected from the Woolsey Fire zone in the fire's immediate aftermath contained high activities of radioactive isotopes associated with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory." .
- News: Chandler . Jenna . Ventura County's Woolsey Fire moving south, Malibu under evacuation . Curbed . November 10, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
- News: Woolsey Fire: Forecast calls for high winds in burn area as containment increases to 10 percent. Haskell. Josh. November 11, 2018. ABC7. ABC. November 11, 2018.
- News: It wasn't just the rich who lost houses in the Malibu area. Is fire California's great equalizer?. Los Angeles Times. STEVE . LOPEZ . November 14, 2018 . November 24, 2018.
- News: What Trump gets wrong about wildfires, by a fire scientist. The Guardian. en. April 28, 2020.
- News: New lawsuit blames Southern California Edison for Woolsey Fire. USA Today. en. February 1, 2019.
- News: SCE: Substation outage occurred before Woolsey Fire reported. Lara. Jovana. November 12, 2018. ABC7 Los Angeles. en. February 1, 2019.
- News: Lieff Cabraser Files Lawsuit Against Southern California Edison for Losses and Damages Arising From the 2018 Woolsey Fire. December 21, 2018. AP NEWS. February 1, 2019.
- News: Activists concerned after wildfire ripped through nuclear research site. November 14, 2018. NBC News. Ortiz. Erik. November 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224636/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/activists-concerned-after-wildfire-ripped-through-nuclear-research-site/ar-BBPHXYo. November 14, 2018. dead.
- News: Electrical Circuit Went Down 2 Minutes Before Woolsey Fire Was Reported, SoCal Edison Says. November 12, 2018. KTLA. en. February 1, 2019.
- News: Cosgrove . Jaclyn . 2019-01-06 . Firefighters' fateful choices: How the Woolsey fire became an unstoppable monster . 2022-04-29 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
- Web site: Gabbert . Bill . Initial attack on Woolsey Fire was hampered by shortage of resources . Wildfire Today . November 14, 2018 . January 8, 2019 .
- News: First engine broke down en route to Woolsey fire, sources say. Blaze grew at a terrifying rate. November 11, 2019. Los Angeles Times. en-US. November 11, 2019.
- News: LA Fire Trucks Sent to Nor Cal Fire Left Malibu Undefended, Chief Says. www.radiomalibu.net. December 5, 2018. February 2, 2019.
- News: Amateur firefighters say they saved most of their Malibu neighborhood from the Woolsey fire. November 11, 2018. Daily News. en-US. February 2, 2019.
- News: Malibu residents vow not to evacuate in next fire. Chandler. Jenna. December 5, 2018. Curbed LA. February 2, 2019.
- News: Despite evacuation orders, some Malibu residents 'stay and defend' homes. December 13, 2018. KCRW. en. February 2, 2019.
- News: CBS Los Angeles. CBS. November 10, 2018. November 10, 2018. Woolsey Fire Doubles To 70,000 Acres, Destroys 150+ Homes And Forces Evacuation Of 250,000. https://web.archive.org/web/20181111050635/https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/11/10/woolsey-fire-doubles-to-70000-acres/. November 11, 2018. dead.
- News: Residents returning home as LA wildfire scorches 96,314 acres. Chandler. Jenna. November 13, 2018. Curbed LA. November 14, 2018.
- News: Hwy 101 closed in Ventura County after wildfire jumps highway. Associated Press. KSBY. November 8, 2018. November 17, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181117105235/https://ksby.com/news/fire-watch/2018/11/08/wildfire-erupts-in-ventura-county. November 17, 2018. dead.
- Web site: Cal Fire . Woolsey Fire News . February 4, 2019 . May 11, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190511163423/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_newsreleases?incident_id=2282 . dead .
- Web site: USDA Forest Service Supports California Fire Suppression Efforts . US Forest Service . November 14, 2018 . February 4, 2019.
- News: 2 killed in Woolsey Fire as it surpasses 83,200 acres . KSBY 6 . NBC . https://web.archive.org/web/20181110214340/https://ksby.com/news/fire-watch/2018/11/10/2-deaths-possibly-related-to-35k-acre-woolsey-fire-coroner-says . November 10, 2018 . dead . November 11, 2018 . November 10, 2018.
- News: 3rd body reportedly found in Southern California fire zone. The Columbian. AMANDA LEE . MYERS . BRIAN . SKOLOFF. Associated Press. November 14, 2018. February 4, 2019.
- News: Woolsey Fire: Containment increases to 62 percent as fire burns 98,300 acres. Leo . Stallworth. John . Gregory. Sid . Garcia . KABC. November 14, 2018. November 14, 2018.
- News: Forgione . Mary . SoCal wildfires temporarily close Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu parks and beaches . Los Angeles Times . November 11, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
- News: Hiking in the Woolsey fire's burn area: See photos of nature's remarkable comeback. Wallack. Roy. April 19, 2019. Los Angeles Times. April 22, 2019.
- News: They Look Pretty, But The Yellow-Green Plants On Central And South Coast Hills Are Invasive Weeds. Orozco. Lance. April 19, 2019. KCLU News. en. April 23, 2019.
- News: Sahagun . Louis . Local mountain lions face a smaller, harsher world after Woolsey Fire . 2022-04-26 . Ventura County Star . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
- News: City News Service . 2018-12-10 . Parts of north 101 Freeway will be closed overnight this week for repairs after Woolsey fire . 2022-04-27 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
- Web site: Bravo . Kristina . Fenoglio . John . Lynn . Tim . Von Quednow . Cindy . Woolsey Fire 5 Percent Contained at 109 Square Miles; 2 Found Dead in Malibu Were 'Severely Burned' . KTLA 5 . November 11, 2018 . November 10, 2018.
- News: Steve. Ganey. KTLA 5. November 10, 2018. November 10, 2018. 2 Dead in Malibu as Woolsey Fire Continues Destructive Path; Cause of Death Not Released.
- News: Sierra Fire erupts near Los Angeles as death toll rises in Woolsey Fire: The latest death brings the statewide total to 51, which is mostly attributed to the 48 who have been confirmed killed in the Camp Fire 500 miles north in Butte County. November 14, 2018. NBC News. Li. David K.. November 14, 2018.
- News: Charred human remains found in Malibu area burned by wildfire. January 23, 2019. Reuters. January 23, 2019. en.
- Web site: Woolsey fire likely worst ever to hit Malibu, with home losses topping $1.6 billion. Stiles. Matt. Schleuss. Jon. www.latimes.com. December 3, 2018 . en. January 27, 2019.
- Web site: Home of actor Jonathan Banks, aka Mike in Breaking Bad destroyed in Woolsey Fire. November 18, 2018. en-US.
- News: Ireland Baldwin Accused of Looting During Malibu Fire, Reveals Mom Kim Basinger 'Lost' Her Home. November 12, 2018. People. November 13, 2018. en-US.
- Web site: Pasquini . Maria . Gerard Butler, Camille Grammer & More Lose Homes to California Fires as Death Toll Climbs to 23 . People . November 12, 2018 . en . November 11, 2018.
- News: Gerard Butler Shares Photo of Burned Malibu Home in Woolsey Fire. The Hollywood Reporter. November 11, 2018. en.
- Web site: Rahman . Abid . Miley Cyrus' Home Burns Down in California Fires . The Hollywood Reporter . November 13, 2018 . en . November 12, 2018.
- Web site: . 2019-02-26. Ex-Congressman Sues SCE Over Home Destroyed in Woolsey Fire. 2021-04-30. MyNewsLA.com. en-US.
- Web site: Evans . Greg . Haring . Bruce . Martin Sheen Found Safe, But Other Celebrities Still On The Move From Fires . Deadline Hollywood . November 10, 2018 . November 10, 2018.
- News: Miley Cyrus, Shannen Doherty, Gerard Butler Among Celebrities Who Have Lost Homes to Southern California's Woolsey Fire. November 13, 2018. Weather Channel. May 27, 2020. en-US.
- News: Sharp . Tyler . Fred Durst's House Burns Down in California Fires . November 19, 2018 . Loudwire . November 11, 2018 . en.
- Web site: Joe Flanigan on Instagram: "House gone. But I am grateful for the many great years Malibu has given me and my children. Now, trying to help neighbors save their…". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BqA7MQaAt3N . December 26, 2021 . registration. Instagram. en. November 13, 2018.
- mikegarson . 1061377034381750272 . November 10, 2018 . The fire situation in the Los Angeles area is terrible..
- News: Camille Grammer: 'My House Couldn't Be Saved' From Fires. November 11, 2018. Us Weekly. November 11, 2018. en-US.
- Web site: Desai . Devika . Hollywood celebrities return to charred homes after California hellfire burns Malibu . Montreal Gazette . November 13, 2018 . en . November 12, 2018.
- Web site: Saperstein . Pat . 2021-08-11 . Pat Hitchcock, Daughter of Alfred Hitchcock Who Appeared in His Films, Dies at 93 . 2023-03-05 . Variety . en-US.
- Web site: Tame Impala: Kevin Parker scrambled to save album from wildfires. BBC. November 28, 2019. July 29, 2024.
- Jones . Kaelen . Phillies' Kapler on CA fires: 'Keep talking about it' . Sports Illustrated . November 14, 2018 . en . November 13, 2018.
- Web site: At Catherine Oxenberg's Malibu fire-destroyed home - only statue of Ganesh - Hindu god of fortune and overcoming adversity - survives. November 27, 2018. Artvoice. en-US. February 2, 2019. February 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203030700/https://artvoice.com/2018/11/27/at-catherine-oxenbergs-malibu-fire-destroyed-home-only-statue-of-ganesh-hindu-god-of-fortune-and-overcoming-adversity-survives/. dead.
- News: C. Vernon II . Coleman . Lil Pump Evacuates California Home As Wildfire Reaches His Backyard . . November 10, 2018.
- Web site: Andrew Grams and the Dallas Symphony worked magic with Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker,' less elsewhere. November 23, 2018. Dallas News. en. January 27, 2019.
- Web site: Woolsey Fire burns celebrities' homes, popular filming locations . ABC 10 News . ABC . November 11, 2018 . November 10, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181111044030/http://amp.10news.com/3095809119/woolsey-fire-burns-celebrities-homes-popular-filming-locations.html . November 11, 2018 . dead .
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- Web site: Pamer . Melissa . Western Town at Paramount Ranch, Filming Location Since 1927, Burns in Woolsey Fire: NPS . KTLA 5 . November 10, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
- News: Deb . Sopan . Set for 'Westworld' and Other Shows Destroyed in California Fire . The New York Times . November 10, 2018 . November 10, 2018.
- Web site: Johnson . Scott . Historic Hollywood Sites Destroyed as Woolsey Fire Burns . The Hollywood Reporter . November 13, 2018 . en . November 12, 2018.
- Web site: Carter . Ryan . Western Town, Reagan Ranch, Santa Susana Field Lab: The Woolsey fire torched them, but spared other famous sites . The Orange County Register . November 11, 2018 . en . November 10, 2018.
- Web site: Drysdale . Jennifer . 'Bachelor' Mansion Partially Destroyed by California Wildfire . Entertainment Tonight . November 10, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
- Web site: Strause . Jackie . 'The Bachelor' Mansion Burning Amid California Wildfires . The Hollywood Reporter . November 10, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
- News: Seth Abramovitch. Hollywood Reporter. November 11, 2018. November 11, 2018. Multiple Rehab Facilities Destroyed in Malibu Fires.
- Web site: Torok . Ryan . Three Beloved Camps Destroyed in Fires . Jewish Journal . November 14, 2018 . February 2, 2019.
- News: Woolsey Fire: Reporter helps burned cat get emergency care. November 9, 2018. ABC7 Chicago. November 11, 2018. en-US.
- News: Good news, California: Stanley the Giraffe is OK!. November 10, 2018. ABC7 Chicago. November 11, 2018. en-US.
- News: The animals caught in wildfire destruction. November 12, 2018. BBC News. November 12, 2018. en-GB.
- Matthew . Zoie . 2018-11-22 . How Does California Clean Up After a Disaster Like the Woolsey Fire? . 2022-05-02 . Los Angeles Magazine . en-US.
- News: Zauzmer . Emily . Miley Cyrus & Neil Young lose homes in California fires as he slams 'unfit' Trump. People. November 12, 2018. November 12, 2018. en.
- News: Deruy . Emily . Trump blames poor forest management for California fires, threatens to revoke funding . The Mercury News . November 10, 2018 . November 10, 2018 .
- News: Trump's Misleading Claims About California's Fire 'Mismanagement'. subscription . The New York Times. Fact Check. Kendra . Pierre-Louis. November 12, 2018. November 14, 2018. “These fires aren’t even in forests,” said Max Moritz, a wildfire specialist at the University of California, Santa Barbara..
- News: Trump's erroneous claims about cause of California fires don't add up. Los Angeles Times. Hector . Becerra. Shelby. Grad. November 10, 2018. December 23, 2018.
- California Wildfires Kill At Least 9 as Trump Blames the State . . Peter. Wade. November 10, 2018. December 23, 2018.
- Web site: Del Real . Jose A. . 10 Nov 2018 . In an absolutely scathing statement, California Professional Firefighters President Brian Rice blasts President Trump’s comments on the California fires: . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190913131342/https://twitter.com/jdelreal/status/1061370261897801728https://web.archive.org/web/20190913131342/https://twitter.com/jdelreal/status/1061370261897801728 . Sep 13, 2019 . Twitter.
- Web site: LA County fire chief faces tough questions about Woolsey response. Shannon M. . Hoffman . January 27, 2019. Daily News. en-US. February 1, 2019.
- Web site: LA County Fire Chief addresses contemptuous crowd at town hall meeting. www.malibusurfsidenews.com. February 1, 2019. February 1, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190201171915/https://www.malibusurfsidenews.com/f/news-police-fire-city/la-county-fire-chief-addresses-contemptuous-crowd-town-hall-meeting. dead.
- Web site: Fire Chief Faces Vitriolic Malibu Crowd. Jimy. Tallal. Malibu Times. en. February 1, 2019. January 31, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190131050415/http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_08720286-24c5-11e9-8eab-2f1ba190ebb2.html. dead.
- News: L.A. County and Malibu will study the Woolsey wildfire response in a 'new era of threat'. Hamilton. Matt. Los Angeles Times. February 1, 2019.
- Web site: Council mulls independent review of City manager, staff's fire response. www.malibusurfsidenews.com. February 1, 2019. February 1, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190201171835/https://www.malibusurfsidenews.com/f/news-city/council-mulls-independent-review-city-manager-staff%E2%80%99s-fire-response. dead.
- News: Edison Reports Circuit Problem Near Woolsey Fire Origin . San Fernando Valley Business Journal. February 1, 2019.
- News: SCE Investigated for Possible Role in Woolsey Fire. City News Service. NBC Southern California. en. February 1, 2019.
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- Citygate Associates, Inc.. October 23, 2019. DRAFT: Woolsey Fire After Action Report. 2020-11-07. County of Los Angeles. en.
- Web site: Chandler . Jenna . 2019-10-23 . Report: What went wrong during the Woolsey Fire response . 2022-04-29 . Curbed LA . en.
- News: Woolsey fire response hurt by poor disaster preparation, lack of firefighters, report says. Stiles. Matt. Serna. Joseph. October 23, 2019. Los Angeles Times. en-US. April 1, 2020.
- News: Mayor Garcetti Asked Crews to Check on Bell Canyon Home During Woolsey Fire, Heavily Redacted Texts Show. August 9, 2019. Los Angeles Times. KTLA. en-US. April 1, 2020.
- News: L.A. supervisors remove Sheriff Alex Villanueva as head of emergency operations. Tchekmedyian. Alene. March 31, 2020. Los Angeles Times. en-US. March 31, 2020.
- News: LA County Sheriff Releases Some Jail Inmates, Advises Against Buying A Gun Right Now. . March 16, 2020. LAist. March 31, 2020.
- News: LA County Removes Sheriff as Head of Emergency Operations. March 31, 2020. NBC Los Angeles. en-US. April 1, 2020.
- News: Smith . Esprit . March 3, 2022 . California Fire Led to Spike in Bacteria, Cloudiness in Coastal Waters . 2022-03-05 . NASA . Earth Science News.
- News: Activists concerned after wildfire ripped through nuclear research site. 14 November 2018. NBC News. Ortiz. Erik. 14 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224636/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/activists-concerned-after-wildfire-ripped-through-nuclear-research-site/ar-BBPHXYo . 2018-11-14 . dead .
- Web site: Risk Assessment Corporation . October 26, 2020 . Evaluation of Off-site Impacts from the Woolsey Fire Burning on Portions of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory . November 20, 2023.
- Web site: Risk Assessment Corporation . April 2023 . Potential Airborne Releases and Deposition of Radionuclides from the Santa Susana Field Laboratory during the Woolsey Fire . November 20, 2023 . Health Physics. 14 (4). 257-284.
- Web site: DTSC Final Summary Report of Woolsey Fire . . 2020-12-01 . 2021-10-28 .
- News: Harris. Mike. January 19, 2021. State reaffirms Woolsey Fire didn't cause toxins to be released from field lab site. 2021-01-20. Ventura County Star. en-US.
- Radioactive microparticles related to the Woolsey Fire in Simi Valley, CA . Kaltofen . Marco . Gundersen . Maggie . Gundersen . Arnie . Journal of Environmental Radioactivity . 2021-12-01 . 240 . 106755 . 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106755 . 34634531 . 238637473 . In two geographically-separated locations, one as far away as 15 km, radioactive microparticles containing percent-concentrations of thorium were detected in ashes and dusts that were likely related to deposition from the Woolsey fire. These offsite radioactive microparticles were colocated with alpha and beta activity maxima. Data did not support a finding of widespread deposition of radioactive particles. However, two radioactive deposition hotspots and significant offsite contamination were detected near the site perimeter. .
- Web site: Rutherford . Phil . October 27, 2021 . Review of Fairewinds Study . November 20, 2023 . Phil Rutherford Consulting.