This Week In The News (10/21-10/25)

50,000 Ordered to Evacuate as Wildfire Spreads

Friday, October 25 (NBC News) – About 5,000 people were ordered to evacuate as wildfires in Los Angeles County and wine country in Northern California burned out of control Friday morning. The Los Angeles Unified School District closed all San Fernando Valley schools due to air quality and safety concerns. In rural Sonoma County, the Kincade Fire prompted evacuation orders for about 2,000 people. It destroyed 49 homes and buildings by Thursday evening. On Friday morning, over 500 firefighters were combating the Tick Fire near Los Angeles, while PG&E pre-emptively cut power to hundreds of thousands of people in Northern California on Wednesday.

Pedestrian Airlifted to Hospital After Being Struck by Vehicle Near Hacienda Heights High School 

Thursday, October 24 (KABC) – A pedestrian struck by a vehicle near a Glen A. Wilson High School on Thursday morning was airlifted to a hospital. The incident occurred in the 16400 block of Wedgeworth Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The California Highway Patrol were investigating the crash site, while the victim’s identity and condition were not released.

PG&E Admits Its Electrical Equipment May Have Sparked Destructive Kincade Fire in Sonoma County

Friday, October 25 (KTLA) – PG&E, the largest utility in California, admitted Friday its electrical equipment may have ignited the Kincade Fire. The wildfire has burned at least 25 square miles and burned 49 buildings in Geyserville. Meanwhile, the utility company cut power to a half-million people in Northern and Central California, most of which was restored by Thursday evening. On Wednesday night, the company reported a broken jumper wire on a transmission tower and that it didn’t de-energize a 230,000-volt transformer line before the fire started.

SoCal Edison Begins Shutting Off Power To Thousands Across Southland

Thursday, October 24 (CBSLA) – After power was shut off to over 27,000 residents on Thursday morning, Southern California Edison issued an alert to more than 286,000 other customers that additional shutoffs were possible. A total of 28,892 customers were without power across Southern California, including 10,378 in Los Angeles County. The utility warned that additional customers could be affected there and in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Kern Counties, while PG&E alerted customers in 17 counties in Northern California. Fires had forced the closure of several school districts, as strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity were increasing fire weather conditions throughout Orange County.

4 Detained After Deputy-Involved Shooting at Studio City Home

Thursday, October 24 (CBS Los Angeles) – After a shooting in Studio City Thursday morning, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies detained four people at a home in the 11500 block of Dona Theresa Drive. A SWAT standoff ensued at 7:24 a.m. with the belief at least one suspect was inside. A deputy-involved shooting occurred while a search warrant was conducted. No injuries were reported.

Drugged Driver Who Killed Woman, Injured Boy in Cathedral City Sentenced

Thursday, October 24 (NBC Los Angeles) – Emanuele Trombini, 27, was sentenced to 22-years-to-life in state prison on Thursday, after being found guilty of killing Caryn Clemente, 50, in a February 24, 2016 car crash. Trombini was convicted of second-degree murder on September 25 following a retrial. He was also convicted of two counts of driving under the influence of drugs last fall. Toxicology reports found marijuana and Xanax in his system after the accident on Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City, which resulted in the death of Clemente and traumatic brain injuries to her 16-year-old son Peter.

Californian Becomes 1st Black Patient to Receive Full Face Transplant

Thursday, October 24 (NBC Los Angeles) – Robert Chelsea, 68, of Los Angeles received a full face transplant at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in July. He is the first black face transplant recipient and also the oldest thus far. The 16-hour procedure involved over 45 physicians, nurses, and practitioners. Chelsea suffered burns to over 60% of his body in a 2013 car accident caused by a drunk driver and had undergone 30 surgeries prior to the transplant.

Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers Outlast LeBron’s Lakers in Highly Anticipated NBA Opening Night

Wednesday, October 23 (NBC Los Angeles) – The Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 112-102, on Tuesday night, with Kawhi Leonard scoring 30 points. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers led 25-22. The Clippers took the lead after Leonard scored on seven consecutive possessions. Meanwhile, Danny Green shot five three-pointers over 12-minutes in the third quarter, totaling seven three-pointers and topping LeBron James and Anthony Davis.