Fires, Earthquakes, Floods and a Tsunami Advisory: One Week In California

By AUTUMN JOHNSON (Patch Staff)

It was an intense week in California as residents endured ruthless fires, a surprise summer deluge, several earthquakes and even waited out a tsunami advisory along the coast following an earthquake in Chile. Here’s what you may have missed this week in California. Some of the videos will take your breath away.

Northern California:

2 More Bodies Discovered in Valley Fire

• One body was found in Anderson Springs and the other in Hidden Valley.

Cadaver Dogs Search for Missing Residents in Valley Fire

• None have been heard from since the firestorm roared through communities Sunday, traveling so fast that people ran for their lives.

Valley Fire Already the 9th Most Destructive in California History

• It’s expected to move up the list when a complete assessment of damaged and destroyed homes is complete. And the worst ever?

Pets and Livestock Being Rescued From Valley Fire Evacuation Area

• Residents are being escorted to their homes today to pick up pets or feed livestock.

Wildfire Victim Was Disabled; Containment Doubles in One Day

• Firefighters caught the break they needed on Monday and Tuesday as the fire slowed to a crawl, and bulldozers carved a path of safety.

Highway Through Hell: Video Shows Driver’s Escape from Valley Fire Inferno

• Wind gusts on Saturday were 50 to 60 mph fanning these ravenous flames.

Evacuated Fire Victims Settling into Tent City

• Fall like weather has arrived with the people, horses, chickens and dogs--all forced from their homes by the Valley Fire.

Berryessa Estates Evacuation Order Lifted

• The all-clear to return home came at 4 p.m. Road closures have also been updated. Check the list.

Napa Valley Vintners Make Generous Donation to Valley Fire Victims

• Money is pouring into the Red Cross and other organizations.

Earthquake Rattles Fried Nerves Near Valley Fire

• The temblor struck Monday morning after the North Bay communities endured a weekend of fire devastation.

Morning Quake Hits Valley Fire Area; Felt as Far Away As San Francisco

• The fire-ravaged North Bay was rattled by yet another early morning quake on Tuesday. Did you feel the earthquake?

Southern California:

Tsunami Advisory for Dana Point Following 8.3 Magnitude Earthquake

• An 8.3 earthquake off the coast of Chile has triggered tsunami alerts for Southern California.

Tsunami Advisory Issued For Southland

• The rise in sea level began to register shortly before 5 a.m., with the first waves under a foot but the surf never rose much above that.

Tsunami Affects Tide, Little Else

• The predicted tsunami lapped ashore with minimal impact.

Brush Fire Erupts at Lakeside Recreation Area

• The fire was probably ignited by downed power lines.

No Damage From Quake Felt in Coachella Valley

• The temblor, initially reported as a magnitude-4.5 but later downgraded to 4.0, struck at 9:10 a.m. in Big Bear Lake.

Summer Storm Floods Exotic Super Car, But Did it Help the Drought?

• The showers, which began in earnest in the late morning, tapered off by mid-afternoon, but not fast enough to save this Lamborghini.

Region Gets More Rain in One Morning Than It’s Had All Year

• The morning’s storm brought more rain than anticipated, triggering accidents and road closures.

Screenshot courtesy mulletFive via YouTube from Highway Through Hell: Video Shows Driver’s Escape from Valley Fire Inferno