Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Russian consulate in San Francisco on Friday, a day after President Donald Trump ordered the closure.

Russia was ordered to close the consulate and two diplomatic annexes in New York and Washington until Saturday.

The San Francisco Fire Department sent a team to investigate but was ultimately turned away by consulate staff.

An Associated Press reporter heard people coming out of the consulate telling firefighters that everything was OK and that the smoke was due to “unidentified items” being burned in a fireplace.

Mindy Talamadge, a fire department spokeswoman, confirmed to the AP that firefighters were dispatched to the consulate and found the smoke was coming from the chimney.

Talamadge also noted that it was a hot day in the city, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees at lunchtime, and she wasn't sure what might have burned there.

“It wasn’t unintentional. They burned something in their fireplace,” Talamadge told the AP.

Some on social media speculated that consulate staff burned documents.

A fire truck showed up at the Russian consulate in San Francisco, where documents or other items were apparently burned https://t.co/qhQDZWll3F

— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) September 1, 2017

The Trump administration's decision to order Russia to close its consulate, the oldest in the United States, comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow.

In late July, Congress voted overwhelmingly to impose new sanctions on Russia over its interference in the 2016 election. Trump eventually agreed, albeit somewhat reluctantly, to sign the legislation imposing the sanctions.

Moscow responded by ordering the expulsion of 755 US diplomats. Trump controversially thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for doing so, but later claimed he was being sarcastic.

The decision to close the consulate and two diplomatic annexes was made directly by the president, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters.

In a statement about the move, the US State Department said: “The United States hopes that, having complied with the Russian Federation's desire for parity, we can avoid further retaliation from both sides and move forward to achieve the stated goal of both sides .” of our Presidents: improved relations between our two countries and increased cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The United States stands ready to take further action if necessary and warranted.

While speaking to students in Moscow on Friday about these latest developments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would “respond harshly to things that harm us.”

Unusual knowledge

Newsweek strives to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek strives to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.

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San Francisco Bay Area’s AC Transit orders an additional 20 fuel cell-electric buses from NFI’s New Flyer.

(TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF) NFI Group Inc. (“NFI” or the “Company”), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer and a leader in electric mass mobility solutions, announced that the Alameda Contra Costa Transit District (“AC Transit”) has awarded NFI subsidiary New Flyer of America Inc. (“New Flyer”) an order for 20 zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell-electric 40-foot Xcelsior CHARGE H2 heavy-duty transit buses.

The purchase was made through California’s State Cooperative Procurement, which New Flyer was selected for as a top-scoring approved supplier in 2019.

Supported by Federal Transit Administration funds, the order follows AC Transit’s 2019 purchase of ten hydrogen fuel cell-electric and five battery-electric buses from NFI, and demonstrably advances AC Transit’s Clean Corridors Plan (a commitment to operate a 25% zero-emission fleet by 2023) and ultimately its implementation of the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) Innovative Clean Transit Regulation that requires all California agencies to transition to zero-emission bus fleets by 2040.

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Based in Oakland, AC Transit is one of the largest bus-only systems in America, serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay, delivering over 52 million rides annually.

Paul Soubry, President and Chief Executive Officer, NFI.

Since 1980, NFI has delivered over 740 buses to AC Transit, and we are pleased to continue expanding zero-emission mobility in the greater San Francisco Bay Area through this follow-on order.

“AC Transit is an innovative leader focused on delivering the best in urban mobility for its riders, and we look forward to supporting AC Transit on its continued journey to a fully zero-emission fleet.”

Chris Stoddart, President, New Flyer and MCI.

With more Xcelsior CHARGE H2 fuel cell buses in its fleet, AC Transit can count on proven range performance, cleaner transportation, reduced noise pollution, and elimination of greenhouse gases – with buses that produce only clean water vapor from the tailpipe.

NFI is a leader in zero-emission mobility, with electric vehicles operating (or on order) in more than 80 cities in four countries. NFI offers the widest range of zero-emission battery and fuel cell electric buses and coaches, and the Company’s vehicles have completed over 40 million EV service miles.

NFI supports growing North American cities with scalable, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions through a four-pillar approach that includes buses and coaches, technology, infrastructure, and workforce development. It also operates the VIC, the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus and coach technology and providing workforce development.

Since opening late 2017, the VIC has hosted over 300 interactive events, welcoming 3,000 industry professionals for EV and infrastructure training.

San Francisco Bay Area’s AC Transit orders an additional 20 fuel cell-electric buses from NFI’s New Flyer, WINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 14, 2021

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Crown Electrokinetics Corp.

Los Angeles, California, Aug. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crown Electrokinetics Corp. (NASDAQ: CRKN) (“Crown” or the “Company”), a leading smart glass technology company, has received two purchase orders for its Smart Window Inserts.

The Smart Window Inserts will be delivered after Crown’s first-generation production line comes into operation this fall. The Inserts will be deployed in two buildings located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Doug Croxall, CEO of Crown, “These purchase orders for our Smart Window Inserts are a confirmation of years of hard work by the entire team at Crown. While this represents the first purchase order of our Smart Window Inserts, we know they will not be the last. Crown has the only retrofit insert with dimmable smart glass technology, providing existing building owners with a solution that can affordably, effectively, and rapidly reduce their energy consumption levels.”

As part of Crown’s commitment to its vision, the Company is actively working to become a key ESG (“Environmental, Social and Governance”) supplier to US-based office buildings, by helping them retrofit their legacy infrastructure and assets to be environmentally responsible and energy efficient. Crown’s Smart Window Insert can lower the HVAC energy costs for building owners and help lower the building’s carbon footprint.

The recently announced Inflation Reduction Act will expand the tax incentives for retro-fitted energy improvements and has also now made them available to the Company’s REIT customers – further enhancing Crowns already significant value proposition. Other legislation, such as New York City’s Local Law 97 which targets a 40% reduction in building energy use levels by 2030, is compelling REITs to rapidly upgrade their building envelopes.

About Crown Electrokinetics
Crown is a smart glass technology company and the creator of DynamicTint We Make Your Glass Smarter. Originally invented by Hewlett-Packard, our technology allows any glass surface to transition between clear and dark in seconds. At the core of our technology is a thin film that is powered by electrically charged pigment which not only replaces common window tints but is also a more sustainable alternative to traditional window treatments. With its unique ability to be retrofitted to existing glass, DynamicTint offers myriad benefits related to reducing carbon emissions. The company is supported by a robust patent portfolio.

Story continues

Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this news release may be “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions, or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and Crown Electrokinetic Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release.

This press release does not constitute a public offer of any securities for sale. Any securities offered privately will not be or have not been registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

Crown Electrokinetics

IR Email: info@crownek.com
Source: Crown Electrokinetics: www.crownek.com

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SALINAS (BCN) – Heavy rains, expected Monday afternoon, prompted authorities to upgrade an evacuation warning for areas at risk from debris flows near River Road in Salinas, the authorities said.

The order is for Pine Canyon Road in Salinas, including Trimble Hill, Mesa Road, Manzanita Way, Wildwood Way, Redding Drive, Belmont Circle, and the southwest end of Berry Drive, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s office. The order also affects Limekiln Road and the 800 block of River Road in Salinas.

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The National Weather Service had previously issued a flash flood warning for the fire scarring areas of River Fire, Carmel Fire and Dolan Fire from 1:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Forecasters said heavy rainfall is expected to hit thresholds for increased risk of debris flow activity in the former fire areas, prompting the upgrade to an evacuation order.

CONTINUE READING: UPDATE: Flash Flood Watch in effect for San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties

Debris streams are fast moving masses of mud, rocks, boulders, trees, and sometimes houses or vehicles. They move fast and are often fatal to those who get in their way. The only way to avoid debris flows is to get to safety from a debris flow event.

Properties downstream of the fire areas are at increased risk of flooding and debris flows. Local residents are asked to be vigilant and watch out for any land movement. Anyone concerned about security should leave the area and not wait for officials to tell them to, the sheriff’s office said.

Highway 1 is closed at Deetjens Big Sur Resort and Ragged Point. Resources and information on evacuating large animals are available from the SPCA Monterey County at (831) 646-5534.

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© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WASHINGTON (CBS SF / AP) – As sky-high gas prices in the San Francisco Bay Area drive the average price in California to new heights, President Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered the release of 50 million barrels of oil from America’s strategic reserve to allocate the cut support gasoline and energy costs.

Biden’s action was in coordination with other major energy-consuming nations, including India, Great Britain and China.

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“Today we are embarking on a great effort to bring the price of oil down, an effort that will span the globe and eventually reach your corner gas station, God willing,” said President Biden. “I’ve worked hard in phone calls and meetings with overseas leaders and policymakers over the past few weeks to put together the building blocks for today’s global announcement. And while our joint actions won’t solve the problem of high gas prices overnight, it will make a difference. “

The move is aimed at global energy markets, but also at US voters who are struggling with higher inflation and rising prices ahead of Thanksgiving and winter vacation travel. Gasoline prices are around $ 3.40 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association, more than 50% higher than a year ago.

In California, however, the average price is currently $ 4.71 a gallon, a decrease from last week’s record increase to more than $ 4.85 a gallon. In the Bay Area, gas prices have exceeded $ 5 a gallon in many areas.

According to the AAA, recent heavy rains in Northern California have curtailed production capacity, which then seeped into Southern California – exactly what happened in Louisiana with Hurricane Ida.

The Biden announcement comes as some people prepare to travel considerable distances to see loved ones for Thanksgiving. While gasoline prices of nearly $ 5 per gallon make car trips more expensive, they also affect people’s daily lives and monthly budgets.

“I think anyone who comes to the gas station doesn’t really want to be here,” said Steven Mangano of San Jose as he pumped gas at a Chevron gas station in South Bay.

Laura Esparza from San Jose filled her tank on the way to work. It takes more than $ 100 to fill it up. If she does this at least twice a week, her wallet will be hit hard.

“I pump out gas more than once a week. I don’t have a small car, ”said Esparza. “With daily bills, rent, everything is so expensive, and now gasoline? It adds up. “

She hopes President Biden’s announcement to release oil from the strategic oil reserve will bring gas prices down here in the Bay Area.

“Lowering prices will help a lot,” says Esparza.

Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at Gas Buddy, says drivers will soon be able to see the difference.

“Right now we could see relief that could reach or exceed 25 cents a gallon by Christmas,” De Haan said

An estimated 53 million people will be driving to their destination on Thanksgiving, with even more planning to drive on vacation in December.

According to Gas Buddy, there are some deals out there when you’re ready to drive a few miles.

The government will begin putting barrels on the market in mid to late December. However, the action is unlikely to cut gasoline prices significantly right away as families go on vacation. Gasoline usually has a delay in responding to changes in oil prices, and administrative officials suggested that this is one of several steps that can ultimately be taken to bring costs down.

Oil prices had fallen in the days leading up to the announced redemptions, a sign that investors were anticipating moves that could add 70 to 80 million barrels of oil to world markets. But in Tuesday morning trading, prices shot up almost 2% instead of falling.

The market was expecting the news and traders may have been overwhelmed when they saw the details, said Claudio Galimberti, senior vice president of oil markets at Rystad Energy.

“The problem is that everyone knows this measure is temporary,” said Galimberti. “So once it stops, if demand continues to outpace supply, as it is now, you are back in first place.”

Shortly after the US announcement, India announced it would release 5 million barrels from its strategic reserves. And the UK government has confirmed it will release up to 1.5 million barrels from its inventory. Japan and South Korea are also participating. Government officials say it is the largest coordinated release from global strategic reserves.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson spokesman Max Blain said it was “a sensible and measured move in support of global markets” during the pandemic recovery. Blain added that UK businesses will be authorized, but not compelled, to participate in the release.

The actions of the US and others also risk counter-movements by the Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, and Russia. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have made it clear that they want to control supply in order to keep prices high for the time being.

As an impending joint release of US and other countries’ reserves has spread in the past few days, there have been warnings from OPEC interests that these countries may react on their part and break their promises to increase supplies in the coming months.

Biden has sought to reshape much of his economic agenda around inflation, saying his recently passed $ 1 trillion infrastructure package will ease price pressures by making the transportation of goods more efficient and cheaper.

Republican lawmakers hammered the government for inflation to hit a 31-year high in October. The consumer price index rose by 6.2% compared to the previous year – the largest twelve-month jump since 1990.

Senate Republican Chairman Mitch McConnell stormed the White House in a speech last week saying the victims of the higher prices were middle-class Americans.

“The three biggest drivers of the staggering 6.2% inflation we recorded last month were housing, transportation and food,” said the Kentucky Senator. “This is not a luxury, but the essentials, and from the middle class onwards they take up a much larger part of the family budget.”

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is an emergency repository to secure access to oil in the event of natural disasters, national security issues, and other incidents. The reserves, managed by the Department of Energy, are stored in caves created in salt domes along the Gulf coasts of Texas and Louisiana. There are around 605 million barrels of oil in the reserve.

“With an unprecedented global economic downturn behind us, oil supplies have not kept pace with demand, forcing working families and businesses to pay the price,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “This move underscores the President’s commitment to using the tools available to cut costs for working families and continue our economic recovery.”

The Biden government has argued that the reserve is the right tool to help alleviate the supply problem. According to the Energy Information Administration, Americans consumed an average of 20.7 million barrels a day in September. This means that the release equates to approximately two and a half days of additional supply.

The pandemic has shaken the energy markets. When closings began in April 2020, demand collapsed and oil futures prices turned negative. Energy traders didn’t want to get stuck with crude oil they couldn’t store. But as the economy recovered, prices jumped to a seven-year high in October.

US production has not recovered. Energy Information Administration figures show domestic production averages around 11 million barrels daily, up from 12.8 million barrels before the pandemic began.

Republicans have also seized Biden’s efforts to minimize drilling and promote renewables as the reason for the decreased production, although several market dynamics are at play as fossil fuel prices are higher around the world.

Meanwhile, Biden and government officials insist that unlocking more oil from the reserves does not run counter to the president’s long-term climate goals, as it is a short-term solution to a specific problem, while climate policy is a long-term answer for decades.

They argue that the US’s dependence on fossil fuels will ultimately be less as they push to promote renewable energy. But that’s a politically convenient argument – in simple terms, higher prices reduce consumption, and significantly higher gasoline prices could force Americans to become less dependent on fossil fuels.

“The only long-term solution to rising gas prices is to continue our march to end our dependence on fossil fuels and create a resilient green energy economy,” said Democratic Senate Chairman Chuck Schumer in support of the release.

The White House decision comes after weeks of diplomatic negotiations. In their virtual meeting earlier this month, Biden and President Xi Jinping of China spoke about steps to tackle oil scarcity and “discussed the importance of measures to combat global energy supplies,” according to the White House.

The US Department of Energy will provide oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in two ways; 32 million barrels will be released over the next few months and will return to the reserve in the coming years, the White House said. Another 18 million barrels will be part of a Congress-approved oil sale.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday night the White House will keep an eye on oil companies that have “made record profits” and watch out for price gouging “when there is a supply of oil or the price of oil goes down and the price of gas goes down does not sink. “

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© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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BOULDER CREEK (CBS SF) – With the sky lightening and a strong atmospheric river moving south, Santa Cruz County officials announced Monday that they are lifting evacuation orders for residents who are in or near the burn scar life left by the massive fire of the CZU complex in 2020.

The order went into effect on Sunday in parts of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, where fears were heightened about the fire-ravaged areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains’ ability to withstand the torrential rains.

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The National Weather Service reported that the mountain town of Ben Lomond had fallen 7 inches in the past 24 hours, but the hills seemed to be holding up.

KPIX 5 weather center: Current conditions, maps, forecasts for your region

Many residents ignored the order and survived the storm in their homes.

“Yes, we’ll stay tuned,” said Steven Coleman from Boulder Creek to KPIX 5 on Saturday night. “Where else should we go?”

Those who stayed cited their experiences of dealing with large storms, evacuation fatigue, and fear of looting.

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“We’ll stay until it gets unsafe,” said Coleman.

“We decided to stay,” said another resident of Gloria Sitz.

Most people like Sitz either stayed with family and friends or paid more than a month for hotel rooms during last year’s CZU fire evacuation.

They said they don’t want to deal with it anymore.

“At my location we have a generator, we have chainsaws, we know how to use it, and we are prepared,” said Sitz.

There were lines at the local gas station in Boulder Creek on Saturday night as residents filled gas cans to power their generators.

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“If the power goes out, we have extra power,” said Alfredo Ramirez, who had just filled a five-gallon can. He also stopped.

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SANTA CRUZ (CBS SF) – As an “atmospheric flow” rainstorm was approaching the Bay Area, evacuation orders for higher risk areas of Santa Cruz County were issued on Saturday afternoon as MPs went door-to-door to notify residents.

County residents are encouraged to call (831) 454-2181 with questions about evacuations and resources, and the county expects to open housing at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, according to Nicole Coburn, the county’s assistant administrator.

“The sheriff’s office began door-to-door operations on Saturday in anticipation of evacuations in higher risk areas,” Coburn said. MPs are contacting homes in the low-lying, high-risk areas with the highest potential for evacuation, the deputy administration official said.

TIED TOGETHER: Flood clocks issued as a storm against fire-scarred Northern California

Residents are encouraged to look up their evacuation zone at https://community.zonehaven.com. Residents are also advised to register landline, cellular, or VoIP phones with CodeRED by visiting https://www.scr911.org and signing up for notifications or texting SCR911 at 99411.

“We are in the process of finalizing plans for the evacuation shelter site and once we have solidified the site, we will inform the public of the site,” said Coburn.

Order to evacuate streams of debris for areas in and near the #CZUFire burn scar due to a strong storm. The order will take effect on Sunday, October 24th at 8 a.m. #KnowYourZone by looking up your address at https://t.co/s5GvnBLmyF.

– Santa Cruz District (@sccounty) October 23, 2021

Debris streams are fast moving masses of mud, rocks, boulders, trees, and sometimes houses or vehicles. They move fast and are often fatal to those who get in their way.

According to the district, the only way to avoid debris flows is to get to safety before a debris flow event.

Residents can find information about the debris flow at http://www.santacruzcounty.us/FireRecovery/DebrisFlow.aspx

County residents are encouraged to seek refuge with friends and families and local news or county social media accounts at http://www.twitter.com/sccounty or http://www.facebook.com/countyofsantacruz for Updates and additional information to keep track of information.

© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Guards, janitors, administrators and other California law enforcement personnel who don’t provide direct health care but may be exposed to the coronavirus are now required to get vaccinated under a new state health ordinance released this week.

The public health ordinance, enacted Thursday, builds on an earlier ordinance that requires an estimated 2.2 million health workers in California, whether private or public, to be fully vaccinated by the end of September. Employees cannot opt ​​out by agreeing to weekly testing.

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The latest order, affecting prisons, prisons, and other detention centers, requires that anyone who provides inmates, prisoners, or detainees with health services be fully vaccinated by October 14th, may be exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted through the health service, “according to law enforcement officials , Maintenance staff and laundry staff.

It is unclear how many people are affected. Neither the California Department of Health nor the state’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation were able to provide details on Friday. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office did not respond to an email asking for more information.

The governor had previously announced vaccination requirements for government employees and school employees.

• ALSO READ: Marin County requires vaccine verification or testing for first responders

Even union leaders groped in the dark. Glen Stailey, president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, said Friday through spokesman Nathan Ballard that the union “is waiting for the CDCR’s plan to implement the order and its impact on our members.”

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The union represents around 28,000 civil servants and is committed to combating any vaccination regulations.

More private employers and governments are demanding vaccination of employees amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, delaying plans for employees to return to the office and putting personal training at risk. The mandates provide exceptions for people who refuse for religious or qualifying medical reasons.

In California, Newsom announced that government officials and all teachers will need to show that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 but can instead get frequent tests. In San Francisco and Los Angeles, all city employees, including the police and fire departments, must be vaccinated without the option of testing.

Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area announced last week that first responders will need to check that they are fully vaccinated or test for the virus weekly.

In southern California, Orange County has made a “strong recommendation” for paramedics, paramedics, and general practitioners to be fully vaccinated or have a coronavirus test twice a week by the end of September, said Dr. Clayton Chau, county health officer.

“This is a strong recommendation, not a mandate,” said Chau. “We believe these fellows of ours are really touching high-risk citizens who are Orange County residents.”

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Also on Friday, San Francisco became the first major US city to require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for people who dine in restaurants, exercise in gyms, or attend indoor concerts.

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MARKLEEVILLE, Alpine County (CBS SF) – Additional mandatory evacuations were ordered in areas around the Tamarack fire on Monday as authorities warned of possible mudslides or debris flows because of the rain forecast for the region.

The Alpine County Sheriff’s Office ordered the mandatory evacuation of the Blue Lakes Road, which runs west of the fire area. The evacuation is in addition to the existing evacuations for Markleeville, Grover’s Hot Springs Park and Campground, Shay Creek, Markleeville Village, the Poor Boy Road area, Carson River Resort, Sierra Pines, Upper and Lower Manzanita, Crystal Springs, Diamond Valley Road, Hung A Le Ti, Alpine Village and Woodfords.

The Alpine and El Dorado County’s sheriff’s offices announced Monday that they are escorting evacuated residents to secure pets, papers and other emergency items. The accompaniments take place on Mondays from 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Future dates for additional escorts will be set based on current fire activity.

Anyone interested in assistance is recommended to visit the Mad Dog Cafe at 290 Old Pony Express Way in Markleeville.

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The U.S. Forest Service said there was a 60 percent chance of rain on Monday, with the possibility of flooding in drains and debris flows in steep terrain in the fire area. Even if it rains in the area, the fire could remain active, said the forest service.

The wildfire also forced Highway 89 to be closed at the Highway 4 intersection. Highway 4 remains open west of the intersection. The latest reports of the incident suggest that the Tamarack fire burned more than 25,000 acres on Monday afternoon.

On Sunday, the advancing flames forced federal park officials to close the Pacific Crest Trail, which has also been closed between Carson Pass (Highway 88) and Ebbetts Pass (Highway 4). The trail stretches for 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada and has attracted thousands of hikers. It is divided into five regions: Southern California, Central California, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.

A firefighter walks towards a house as he battles the Tamarack Fire in the Markleeville community of Alpine County, California on Saturday, July 17, 2021. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)

Over the weekend, a determined group of firefighters battled the advancing flames of the Tamarack fire, preventing the fire from entering the heart of the evacuated Sierra community of Markleeville. The fire had consumed 23,078 acres on Monday morning without containment.

The fire began as a small smoldering flame that was ignited by lightning over the July 4th holiday. The fire came to life on Friday and quickly grew from 500 acres to more than 18,000 acres over the next 36 hours.

There was no containment, but the rapidly growing numbers of firefighters brought into the fight against the flames appeared to have saved much of Markleeville after the fire nearly encircled the community on Saturday. The fire was advancing north, away from the small mountain community.

The fire initially overwhelmed the 50 firefighters who were monitoring the fire. By Monday morning, the number of firefighters had grown to over 750.

Among those evicted from their homes was Rodney Pryor, who lives in Shay Creek.

“They gave me a couple of hours before they said, ‘You have to get out now!'” He said. “So I got a lot of stuff in my RV. All of my valuable things. “

Flames lick the side of the road as the Tamarack Fire burns in the Markleeville community of Alpine County, California on Saturday, July 17, 2021. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)

The National Weather Service said thunderstorms were expected south of US Highway 50 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday and were moving north. More isolated storms were likely in the Reno-Carson and Tahoe regions, as well as northwestern Nevada and far northeastern California.

Aside from concerns about flash floods from new burn scars and steep terrain, other impacts include gusty and erratic runoff winds, hail and frequent lightning, in addition to the heavy local rainfall.

There was also a risk that a larger area of ​​blown dust would move over parts of western central Nevada later Monday and well into the evening, causing a rapid drop in visibility.

The weather service had previously issued a red flag warning for the region from 11 a.m. on Sunday until Monday morning. Dry light was also expected to rumble through the Tahoe area, adding to the risk of forest fires.

Gusts of up to 40 miles per hour were expected.

“A red flag means that critical fire weather conditions are either now or about to occur,” weather forecasts said. “A combination of strong wind, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.”

At least two buildings were destroyed.

The fire forced the cancellation of the “Death Ride” on Saturday, a 103-mile bike tour in the so-called Californian Alps over three mountain passes of the Sierra Nevada.

Kelli Pennington and her family camped near town on Friday so her husband could join his ninth ride when they were told to leave. They had observed the smoke development during the day, but were surprised by the rapid spread of the fire.

“It went so quickly,” said Pennington. “We left our tents, hammocks and some groceries behind, but we got most of our things, pushed our two children into the car and left.”

Paul Burgess, who had pulled up from Los Angeles to take the ride, said most of the cyclists he met were grateful to avoid the risk of fire.

“You just said it was going to go that way,” said Burgess. “It’s part of climate change to some extent, it’s part of many fuels that don’t burn, the humidity is low, the moisture content of the fuels is low, and … across the state, many parts are like a tinderbox.”

For long-time residents, the flames and evacuation brought back memories of the 2012 acorn fire that burned in the area.

“Everything has been rebuilt here and this area is threatened for the second time,” said local resident Andrea Fierle.

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Employees at dental offices in Los Angeles County and San Francisco will soon be required to provide proof of vaccination to work or enter these facilities after two new public health orders were issued last week.

Local ordinances are stricter than the July 26 state Health Ordinance, which requires all California health care providers, including dentists and dentists, to either provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or, if not vaccinated, periodically August 23 August compliance deadline.

Dentists and dentists in San Francisco and Los Angeles Counties who cannot provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be able to get weekly tested unless they meet the permitted exemptions after local regulations go into effect. Dental offices must comply with both state and local health ordinances between August 23 and their local ordinance compliance deadlines.

The local orders are coming as the two counties grapple with increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, mainly caused by the Delta variant in unvaccinated people.

The deadline for completing the order in Los Angeles County is September 30th

The Los Angeles County’s Department of Health ordinance of August 12 requires all health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by September 30, 2021.
Dentists should read the full order to understand the details, but the key requirements are:

• All workers, including those who work in dental offices, must receive their first dose of a one-dose regimen or their second dose of a two-dose regimen by September 30th.
• “Worker” refers to all paid and unpaid employees, contractors, volunteers and non-clinical office workers.
• Employees can be exempted from vaccination requirements for medical or religious reasons.
• Exempt workers must be tested with a nucleic acid or antigen test at least once a week.
• Employers must comply with the record-keeping requirements for fully vaccinated and vaccination-exempt workers.

The deadline for completing the order in San Francisco County is October 13th

As of October 13th, San Francisco dental office workers must be fully vaccinated in order to work in or enter the dental facility, as per the local ordinance issued on August 12th. The order also applies to employees in nursing homes, pharmacies and other health care workers and also includes a new vaccination mandate for companies in certain indoor high-contact areas and for large indoor events.
Dentists should read the full order for the details. The most important requirements include:

• All workers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 15 before entering a dental office or working in a dental office.
• “Worker” is defined as an employee, contractor and subcontractor, independent contractor, seller authorized to sell products or services on-site, and any other person who regularly provides on-site services.
• Employees can be exempted from vaccination requirements for medical or religious reasons.
• Unvaccinated, exempt personnel must be tested for COVID-19 with a nucleic acid or antigen test at least once a week.
• The employer must comply with the record-keeping requirements for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated workers.

CDA FAQ, resources available

The following CDA resources can help dentists comply with state and local regulations:

CDA asks for clarification of open employment issues

CDA is looking for additional guidance on how employers should react if employees refuse to be vaccinated. In the meantime, employers are advised to seek legal advice prior to separating from an employee. CDA will keep members informed via the newsroom and weekly newsletter as more information becomes available.

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