Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. It’s one of the most important days of the year, so let’s focus on real-world issues: Which Halloween candy is the best?

HALLOWEEN

If you’re like me (and if you are, I’m very, very sorry), then Halloween was a mixed bag. I’m allergic to chocolate and can have maybe one chocolate bar before I get even puffier than normal and have to rush to the emergency room. Most people, however, love to give out chocolate on Halloween. So, when I would empty my bag, there was about 75% of it I couldn’t eat. So if you are giving out Halloween candy tonight, let me suggest this: give the kids two candies, one chocolate and one non-chocolate. Everyone wins! and if you aren’t sure what non-chocolate candy to give, here is the list that my 10-year-old self would have presented to you:

1. Now and Later

2. Skittles

3. Starburst

4. Smarties

5. Jolly Ranchers

6. Charms Blow Pops

7. Nerds

8. SweeTarts

9. Lemonheads

10. Shocktarts

Please, no Circus Peanuts or Swedish Fish. Those were made near the gates of hell and should never be given out. And if you are one of those people who gives out a pencil and a tiny notebook, then you have made a series of wrong choices in life and I will pray for you.

If you are wondering what my Halloween costume is, I’m dressing as a Dodger. That way I don’t have to worry about a gaudy World Series ring weighing me down when I lift up my bag.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled newsletter.

WORLD SERIES

Hey, it looks like Astros manager A.J. Hinch gets bullpen advice from his good friend Dave Roberts, because he left Gerrit Cole in the bullpen and went with Will Harris in a crucial situation in Game 7, and it cost his team dearly.

For the last five months, the Washington Nationals, baseball’s greatest underachievers at their nadir in late May, thrived when left for dead. They roared back from 12 games under .500 to claim a postseason berth. They won the National League wild-card game on a fluky late-inning hit and error. They stunned the 106-win Dodgers in an NL Division Series and they plowed through the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series.

But those conquests did not compare to the stakes presented Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park. They were nine outs from losing Game 7 of the World Series. The Houston Astros, the 107-win machine pushed to the brink, held a two-run lead. The deficit felt insurmountable with Zack Greinke on the mound and the weapons at the Astros’ disposal behind him. He was dealing. For the first six innings, the Nationals did not stand a chance.

But the Nationals, a group seasoned in anxiety, did not wither. Anthony Rendon, the Houston native wreaking havoc at home, homered against Greinke to draw blood. Juan Soto, the 21-year-old wunderkind, walked. The free pass prompted manager Hinch to replace Greinke with Will Harris, and initiate the next step in the Astros’ demise.

Two pitches later, Howie Kendrick, the man who ended the Dodgers’ season with a grand slam before being selected NLCS most valuable player, slashed a two-run home run off the screen on the right-field foul pole to complete the Nationals’ final, and greatest, comeback en route to a 6-2 victory and the first World Series title in franchise history.

The Astros were denied their second championship in three years as the road team won each of the seven games of a Series for the first time. The Nationals, the oldest team in the majors, concluded the postseason 5-0 in elimination games.

WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE

All times Pacific. All games on Fox.

Game 1: Washington 5, at Houston 4

Game 2: Washington 12, at Houston 3

Game 3: Houston 4, at Washington 1

Game 4: Houston 8, at Washington 1

Game 5: Houston 7, at Washington 1

Game 6: Washington 7, at Houston 2

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Game 7: Washington 6, at Houston 2

RON FAIRLY

Ron Fairly, the reliable, red-haired outfielder and first baseman who spent more than five decades in baseball —21 years as a player, first with the Dodgers and lastly with the Angels, and 30 more as a broadcaster— died Wednesday in Indian Wells, Calif., after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81.

A graduate of Long Beach Jordan High School and a former USC standout, Fairly played his first 11 ½ years (1958-69) in the big leagues with the Dodgers, helping the team to three World Series championships, and he closed his playing career with the Angels in 1978.

“The worst day in a baseball uniform,” Fairly wrote in a 2018 memoir that he co-authored with former Times sportswriter Steve Springer, “was better than the best day I could have had in any other career.”

CLIPPERS

With Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard still in California, missing the first of what is expected to be several games this season for precautionary reasons, his team struggled to create their own shots and stop Utah’s in a 110-96 loss at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

For the Clippers (3-2), there will be many more nights like this, where they play shorthanded.

In their attempt to ensure the healthiest roster possible by the postseason’s start, the team’s “load management” will not stop with Leonard.

“All year, we’re going to rest a lot of guys,” coach Doc Rivers said.

They can only hope they won’t all end like this.

Read more

Arash Markazi: Here’s why Arnold Schwarzenegger says Kawhi Leonard could have a future in Hollywood

Kawhi Leonard’s stunning improvement as a playmaker still shocks NBA coaches

LAKERS

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, who had a second straight good workout on Wednesday, will be monitored by the team after Thursday’s practice to see how his health is before a decision is made on whether he’ll play Friday night at the Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers hope that Kuzma doesn’t have any setbacks after practice before they leave for a three-game trip to Dallas, San Antonio and Chicago, and that the forward can play in one of those games.

NBA

The Golden State Warriors announced Stephen Curry has a broken left hand, an injury he suffered in the team’s third blowout loss this season.

During the Warriors’ 121-110 loss to the Suns in San Francisco, Curry fell between two Phoenix defenders and had his left hand rolled underneath Aron Baynes’ body once he hit the ground.

Curry, a two-time Most Valuable Player, could need surgery on the hand pending further testing. His timetable for a return is unknown.

KINGS

In a 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center, the Kings were outshot by a season-worst 49-24, surrendered a season-most four power-play goals, converted just one of their six man advantages, and dropped a season-high fourth game in a row.

Over their first dozen contests, the Kings’ limitations were revealed. Despite gaudy shot and scoring-chance metrics, they struggle to convert their opportunities into goals. Their goaltending was inconsistent, if not unreliable. Most of all, their power play and penalty kill were worrisome works-in-progress.

But where complacency took hold last season – leading to a last-place finish in the Western Conference and losing streaks of six, four and 10 games – coach Todd McLellan this week tried to light a competitive fire under his squad.

The first-year bench boss inserted rookie forward Carl Grundstrom, who was recalled this week from the minors, into a new-look top line alongside Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar. He healthy-scratched veteran Tyler Toffoli, snapping the forward’s streak of 207 consecutive appearances (which had been the 20th-longest active such streak in the league). He replaced defenseman Joakim Ryan with Kurtis MacDermid.

The message: The Kings are willing to make changes in search of results. Their players understand the new standards.

“Last year, the frustrating thing was, early in the season everyone was saying, ‘Oh, it will turn around. It will turn around. It’s going to come.’ It just never turned around,” Drew Doughty said. “This year … it’s about making it turn around. I think that’s what our focus is in here. We’re a lot more confident in this team this year than we were last year.”

UCLA FOOTBALL

Protecting his body wasn’t high on the list of priorities as UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson took off running last weekend with his team holding a 32-point lead against Arizona State.

There was still nearly a full quarter to be played and more points to be sought.

“I mean, our goal is to try and score, keep the score going and stuff like that,” Thompson-Robinson said Wednesday, “so that was what my focus was on, was getting a touchdown.”

Coach Chip Kelly would have preferred that his quarterback slid on the grass rather than exposing himself to a hit that resulted in his second knee injury of the season, but everything turned out just fine. UCLA held on for a 42-32 victory after Thompson-Robinson departed the game and he’s expected to start as usual Saturday evening when the Bruins (3-5 overall, 3-2 Pac-12 Conference) face Colorado (3-5, 1-4) at the Rose Bowl.

Thompson-Robinson has practiced all week with a brace over his left knee but doesn’t expect it to be a hindrance against the Buffaloes considering he also wore it against Stanford and ran for a career-high 66 yards.

Having Thompson-Robinson available is a big relief for the Bruins given his improved play over the last month. He’s completed 61.7% of his passes in conference games this season as opposed to 54.0% in nonconference games.

USC FOOTBALL

USC’s Christian Rector thought being on the field was the best way he could help his team. A talk with his coaches convinced the senior defensive end otherwise.

“I just feel like I was hurting myself trying to fight through injury,” said Rector, who sat out USC’s last two games because of a high-ankle sprain. “I just wasn’t helping out the team.”

After coaches convinced him to rest for two weeks and recover fully, Rector is in position to do what he always wanted. The Pasadena native said after practice Wednesday that he’s feeling 100% healthy.

USC plays No. 7 Oregon on Saturday at the Coliseum.

Read more

USC vs. Oregon offers a rare on-field battle for competitive Pittman brothers

CHARGERS

In opening the season 3-5, the Chargers at times have been accused of lacking urgency.

The same cannot be said this week of coach Anthony Lynn, who Monday fired Ken Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator.

“I just felt like it was time,” Lynn said Wednesday. “If I was eventually going to do it, why not just do it right now? We have eight weeks left in this season, and we still have everything in front of us that we want.”

Whisenhunt was in his fifth season overall and fourth in a row guiding the team’s offense.

He was let go after the Chargers made it four consecutive weeks of being unable to run the ball, produce big plays or consistently reach the end zone.

In a 17-16 victory Sunday at Chicago, the offense didn’t pick up a first down until early in the second quarter. It took more than 10 minutes for a second first down to be achieved.

Starting Sunday against Green Bay, Shane Steichen will take over calling plays. He has been the Chargers quarterback coach since 2016, but this will be his first experience as a play caller.

At 34, he’s three years younger than quarterback Philip Rivers, though Lynn is convinced Steichen is ready for the promotion.

“He’s young,” Lynn said. “He’s innovative. He has a lot of juice. I think the players are going to respond to Shane. He’s a good communicator. I’m just looking forward to seeing him do his job.”

YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MOMENT

What is your all-time favorite local sports moment? Email me at [email protected] and tell me what it is and why and it could appear in a future daily sports newsletter or Morning Briefing.

This moment comes from Bob Oppermann of Sylmar:

Sept. 27, 1973, was going to be a big night for me! Nolan Ryan was pitching for the Angels, and if all went well, he would set the single-season strikeout record. And in honor of the occasion, the game was even going to be televised! This was going to be a big night for a 15-year-old Angels fan!

But then Dad stepped in and ruined my plans. He said that he had to make an emergency service call in Santa Ana. Somebody’s chairlift had broken and he was going to need help lifting the unit. He was only going to need my help for a minute, but he wouldn’t be able to do it without me. (He was only going to need me for a minute, but my entire night was going to be ruined is how I saw it!) I looked pleadingly at my Mom, begging her to let Dad know how important this night was! She just shrugged and gave me a look that said, “Sorry, I can’t help. You need to help your Dad.” So Dad put his tools into the box on the back of his Honda 750, and off we went. Heading south on I-5, I remember getting off at Katella, and seeing The Big A right in front of us! How I wish we were going to the game!

Well, to my surprise, we were going to the game! Dad had gotten some tickets from a friend of his. Ryan was going to need 15 strikeouts to tie Sandy Koufax’s single season record of 382, 16 to break it. By the sixth inning it seemed that breaking the record was imminent, as Ryan was just mowing them down. As I recall, he tied the record in the eighth inning. But as luck would have it, he couldn’t get a strikeout in the ninth or the 10th. He finally got his 383rd strikeout of the season, in the top of the 11th inning, and history was made! Fortunately the Angels scored a run in the bottom of the inning to make it a complete-game victory.

What a big night it was, indeed! Nolan Ryan’s awesome, record-setting performance was made even better by the best prank that Dad ever pulled on me.

TODAY’S LOCAL MAJOR SPORTS SCHEDULE

All times Pacific

San Antonio at Clippers, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, AM 570

BORN ON THIS DATE

1902: Race car driver Wilbur Shaw (d. 1954)

1933: Surfer/sailor/Hobie Cat inventor Hobart Alter (d. 2014)

1947: Marathoner Frank Shorter

1951: Football coach Nick Saban

1953: Basketball player John Lucas

1958: Cyclist Jeannie Longo

1961: Sprinter Alonzo Babers

1963: Former Dodger Fred McGriff

DIED ON THIS DATE

1983: Football coach/owner George Halas, 88

2010: Basketball player Maurice Lucas, 57

2018: Baseball player Willie McCovey, 80

AND FINALLY

A look at Willie McCovey‘s Hall of Fame career. Watch it here.

That concludes the newsletter for today. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, please email me at [email protected]. If you want to subscribe, click here.

It’s a familiar scene: A fire erupts, firefighters battle the flames from the ground and water is sprayed across the land from the sky. The aerial fight occurs often, even when winds are strong, raising the question of how effective airborne firefighting tactics are when wind conditions are dangerous.

On Wednesday, as the Easy fire ravaged more than 1,300 acres in Simi Valley, the winds hit 60 mph. Overhead, helicopters were seen dousing the fire below, and two “super scooper” planes unleashed a flood in Ventura County.

“Water remains our No. 1 firefighting tool,” said Jim Hudson, an assistant chief at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. And typically, every available resource is utilized.

The sight of a water drop can often offer hope to those below. But effectiveness is not always easy to measure, especially when resource costs are taken into account.

Most firefighting aircraft in the U.S. are owned or operated by private companies under government contract. It typically costs up to $14,000 a day to keep an air tanker on call. Heavy-duty helicopters can cost $32,000 a day on standby, plus $6,300 per hour of flight time.

Hudson said that during high winds, a helicopter would typically be opted for deployment over a larger air tanker, as the smaller aircraft can more effectively operate at lower elevations to target the fire.

“They have a higher probability of dropping water on targets,” Hudson said.
But that doesn’t mean a 100% guarantee. Firefighting aircraft come with limitations, often magnified when battling choppy skies.

So why use water drops when wind is a constant obstacle?

For one thing, the equipment can hold hundreds upon hundreds of gallons of water, Hudson said. Additionally, a nearby pond or lake can offer a refill supply, offering a large volume of water without diverting time to the search for resources.

More fire coverage

Hudson said that the effectiveness of this approach is an ongoing assessment. Typically, it’s up to the individual agency that oversees the air supply to decide what equipment to deploy.

“Every agency is going to work in conjunction with the incident commander on the ground,” Hudson said.

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When the Easy fire erupted early Wednesday morning in Simi Valley, the stakes of this particular firefight quickly came into focus:

Save the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The pre-dawn blaze, stoked by strong easterly winds, was racing toward the hilltop compound surrounded by nearly 100 acres of rolling grasslands.

Long vulnerable to wildfire, the library had taken efforts to protect the facility — where Ronald and Nancy Reagan are buried — but this particular assault was unprecedented.

Maneuvering amid 60-mph winds, helicopters circled, unleashing their water drops behind the library. Two super-scooper planes swooped low to hit the advancing flames with such an inundation that it created a rainbow in the morning sun.

Every two minutes, a new rotation of choppers or super-scoopers dipped into the canyon behind the library, turning fire into smoke.

The Times is offering fire coverage for free today. Please consider a subscription to support our journalism.

“They are getting beat up good, those pilots,” said JD Nees, who flew helicopters for the Navy reserve. With wind gusts reaching 60 mph — strong enough to knock a person off the feet — the choppers bounced and danced in the unpredictable turbulence.
A hand crew crested the hill, the inmates working to tamp down the smoldering soil. “That’s a good sign,” Nees said.

When library planners selected the site in 1987, its location in eastern Ventura County was undeveloped and praised for its views of the adjoining mountains and its Western disposition, isolated and scenic.

But its rural character brought with it the inherent risk of wildfire. After the firestorms of 2017, 300 goats were brought in to help reduce the excessive fuel load, part of the county’s vegetation management program.

As the Easy fire burned south, it swept down a ridge toward a tract of homes off Madera Road. An off-duty LAPD officer, wearing a raid jacket, began yelling to residents that the fire was approaching. As flames grew visible, homeowners on Roosevelt Court began to make plans.

“I pulled the cars out into the driveway, put the passports and bank documents in one and my musical instruments in the other car,” said Rory Kaplan, who moved here in 2001 when the homes were built.

“I am ready to go,” he said.

The news to evacuate came over a loudspeaker from the Simi Valley police, and Kaplan joined the exodus with his neighbors. Kaplan believed his home would be safe.

“One thing is sure, they aren’t going to let Reagan’s library burn — and that protects us” he said.
Soon the roads out of Simi Valley had clogged with residents streaming south toward Thousand Oaks, cars and SUVs jammed with boxes and treasured objects.

In 1993, two years after the library opened, Reagan stood on the grounds of the library, accompanied by two dozen firefighters, a convoy of fire engines and a fire department helicopter.

He delivered a half-hour speech praising the heroic efforts of the fire crews who had battled the firestorms earlier that year.

More fire coverage

Years earlier, the Reagan family had lost their ranch in Malibu to fire, which the president’s daughter, Maureen, mentioned to visitors.

“We live in a place with unique terrain that’s continually touched by fire,” she said, “and thank God we have unique and special men and women that are trained to stop those fires when they threaten people.”

Times staff writer Thomas Curwen contributed to this report.

1/21

President Ronald Reagan’s Air Force One sits on display at the Reagan Library as the Easy fire burns in the neighboring hills in Simi Valley. 

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

2/21

Inmate crews set backfires to heavy brush along Madera Rd. as firefighters try to keep the Easy fire from crossing the road into Thousand Oaks, Calif. 

(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

3/21

Helicopters drop water after inmate crews set backfires to heavy brush along Madera Rd. as firefighters try to keep the Easy fire from crossing the road into Thousand Oaks. 

(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

4/21

Robyn Phipps, left, & Laura Horvitz rescue goats from a ranch along Tierra Rejada Road. 

(Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

5/21

Firefighters from a Ventura City and Oxnard City Fire work to extinguish hot spots from the Easy fire along Tierra Rejada Road. 

(Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

6/21

SIMI VALLEY CA OCTOBER 30, 2019 — Trisha Trifunovich, right, holds up Jennifer Porter, left, as gusts of wind almost blow people over in the Easy fire zone near a Simi Valley Wednesday, October 30, 2019. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 

(Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

7/21

Helicopters hit flames and burning brush along Madera Road as firefighters battle the Easy fire in Simi Valley. 

(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

8/21

A statue of President Ronald Reagan titled “Along The Trail” stands outside the Reagan Library as the Easy Fire burns in the background in Simi Valley. 

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

9/21

Billy Macfarlane uses a garden hose to put out embers from the Easy fire threatening his family’s ranch on Tierra Rejada Road in Simi Valley. 

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

10/21

Dean Cato and his son, Robert, arrive to help friend Billy Macfarlane save his family’s ranch on Tierra Rejada Road in Simi Valley. 

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

11/21

A horse runs free on Tierra Rejada Road early Oct. 30 as the Easy fire burns toward neighborhoods in Simi Valley. 

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

12/21

John Malta waters down mulch at his home while firefighters battle the Easy fire in Simi Valley. 

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

13/21

Equestrians flee with their horses as they evacuate Castle Rock Farms while firefighters battle the Easy fire in Simi Valley. 

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

14/21

People run as they flee Castle Rock Farms while firefighters battle the Easy fire in Simi Valley. 

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

15/21

Brent Lamb prepares to move horses at a ranch along Tierra Rejada Road between Simi Valley and Moorpark as the Easy fire burns. 

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

16/21

Jose Gutierrez evacuates horses in Simi Valley as the Easy fire burns Oct. 30 in Simi Valley. 

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

17/21

Smoke from the Easy fire on Tierra Rejada Road between Simi Valley and Moorpark. 

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

18/21

The Easy fire is burning near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Thick smoke choked the hillside where the large building — a repository of presidential records from former President Reagan’s administration — is perched. 

(KTLA)

19/21

A large brush fire erupted in Simi Valley early Oct. 30 and was quickly burning toward neighborhoods, triggering mandatory evacuations amid strong Santa Ana winds. 

(KTLA)

20/21

A large brush fire erupted in Simi Valley early Oct. 30 and was quickly burning toward neighborhoods, triggering mandatory evacuations amid strong Santa Ana winds. 

(KTLA)

21/21

A large brush fire erupted in Simi Valley early Oct. 30 and was quickly burning toward neighborhoods, triggering mandatory evacuations amid strong Santa Ana winds. 

(KTLA)

Buffeted by unusually strong winds, brush fires broke out across Southern California on Wednesday, sending thousands of people fleeing, closing major freeways and threatening the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The cycle of fire began Wednesday morning when flames surrounded the library and museum in Simi Valley and stalked nearby neighborhoods as it swiftly scorched hundreds of acres in Ventura County. As the day wore on and the winds howled, more than a dozen other smaller fires erupted in communities including Riverside, Santa Clarita, Brea, Whittier, Lancaster, Calabasas, Long Beach, Nuevo and Jurupa Valley.

The outlook was brighter in Northern California, where thousands of evacuees began to return home as firefighters started to gain the upper hand on the wine country blaze that has scorched more than 76,000 acres and burned dozens of homes.

The biggest battle Wednesday was in Ventura County, where 800 firefighters trying to control the wind-whipped fire surrounding the presidential library were stymied by intense gusts that sent embers flying far beyond the body of the blaze. Helicopters repeatedly dropped loads of water around the Reagan complex, which is perched atop a hill blanketed in dense brush, amid 60-mph winds that were strong enough to knock a person off balance.

The Easy fire began near Easy Street and Madera Road in Simi Valley shortly after 6 a.m. and bounded toward the library, a repository of records and artifacts from the Reagan administration, officials said.

“Unfortunately it was about the worst time it could happen — 40-mile-an-hour sustained winds and fuels that were ripe and ready to carry fire,” said Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen.

The Times is offering fire coverage for free today. Please consider a subscription to support our journalism.

Though flames surrounded the 125,000-square-foot center for several hours, the library was not damaged, officials said.

The blaze, which had chewed through 1,400 acres of brush as of Wednesday afternoon, burned at least one home on Tierra Rejada Road and threatened an additional 7,000 in parts of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Moorpark.

Southern California Edison confirmed Wednesday evening that the fire broke out in its service territory near one of its sub-transmission lines, which was not de-energized at the time of ignition. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown.

The utility has notified the California Public Utilities Commission that there was activity on the sub-transmission line around the reported time of the fire, spokesman Robert Villegas said.

Rory Kaplan, who has lived just south of the library for nearly two decades, fled among an exodus of neighbors Wednesday morning. About 26,000 people were evacuated because of the Easy fire, officials said.

“One thing is sure,” Kaplan said. “They aren’t going to let Reagan’s library burn — and that protects us.”

For many in the state, evacuating their homes has become a familiar routine as wildfires threaten the same suburban neighborhoods yearly. That is particularly true in Ventura County, where the Woolsey fire was sparked last November and where, the year before, the Thomas fire grew to become the largest fire in state history at the time.

Kris Mae, 69, hunkered down at an evacuation center in Thousand Oaks on Wednesday after leaving her home a few miles from the library. Her car had been packed for a month, with several suitcases, boxes of important files and a fire safe — just in case.

“It’s too hard to pack and unpack over and over,” she said.

Though California has experienced multiple deadly blazes in the last few years, weather officials warned that this week could lend itself to conditions that are even worse.

Abnormally strong winds that began Tuesday night are expected to continue through Thursday and could reach up to 80 mph in mountain areas. Such wind conditions, which weather officials deemed “extreme red-flag” danger, have not been seen since 2007, when they helped unleash the sixth-most destructive fire in California history.

Ernie Muro, 73, walked his Chihuahua mix Lulu through his lush yard Wednesday afternoon in Simi Valley’s Wood Ranch neighborhood, preparing to leave when the time came. As he stood outside, helicopters repeatedly dropped water near the avocado orchard next to his house.

This isn’t the first time he has seen fire from his home, he said.

“We’ve had them all around us before,” Muro said. “This time of year is nerve-racking.”

By midday Wednesday, Southern California was facing peak fire weather, with winds of up to 78 mph at Boney Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains in Ventura County, while relative humidity fell to rock bottom, clocking in at zero at Mt. Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains and peaks in the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Los Padres National Forest, Phillips said.

The air was exceedingly dry throughout Ventura County. Relative humidity was 8% at Sinaloa Lake and 7% in Moorpark. With the winds, that could be a dangerous combination, experts said.

“The magnitude of the wind gusts really is going to be a concern,” said Daniel Swain, climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

The forecast of extreme Santa Ana winds prompted Southern California Edison to say it might shut off power to more than 340,000 customers in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Also Wednesday, a fire in the Riverside County town of Nuevo began shortly after 7 a.m., burning several structures. Hours later, the Hill fire in the Jurupa Valley community of Riverside County prompted mandatory evacuations and closed the 60 Freeway in both directions. The Brea Canyon fire in eastern Los Angeles County burned 5 acres at Brea Canyon Road and briefly forced closure of the 57 Freeway.

The Getty fire, which damaged 12 homes Monday, continued to keep more than 7,000 people out of their homes in and around Brentwood. As of Wednesday morning, the blaze was 27% contained, but increasing containment any further became challenging because of the powerful winds.

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As conditions worsened in Southern California, the weather farther north provided a respite for firefighters who had been battling strong winds.

Firefighters in wine country were able to double the containment of the massive Kincade fire to 30% as of Wednesday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire has already burned 76,825 acres and destroyed nearly 100 homes, officials say.

More fire coverage

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said Wednesday that it would begin restoring power to customers whose electricity was shut off this week in its latest bid to reduce wildfire risk. Crews will inspect utility lines, repair damage and restore power to about 365,000 customers in its service area, except for Kern County, which is still experiencing strong winds, according to PG&E.

Muro, who was wandering in his yard in Simi Valley, said he and his family would evacuate either when they got notified to do so, or when the fire felt too close.

Muro moved to the neighborhood because it’s quiet — usually — and has views of rolling hillsides and the orchard.

“Why would you want to live anywhere else?” he said as Lulu sat at his feet in the yard, patiently waiting. “It’s beautiful.”

Times staff writers Soumya Karlamangla, Colleen Shalby, Alex Wigglesworth, Rong-Gong Lin II, Thomas Curwen, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Nina Agrawal contributed to this report.

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Thursday, Oct. 31, and I’m writing from Los Angeles.

California is still burning. But even as more fires ignited Wednesday, some areas saw a small measure of relief.

Firefighters finally began to get a handle on the massive Kincade fire in Sonoma County after days of chaos, and the majority of evacuation orders were lifted for the Getty fire in Los Angeles. PG&E — which has quickly become the most cursed name in the state — began the process of restoring power to most areas.

But the intense wind conditions also brought new blazes on Wednesday. The fires that broke out across Southern California sent thousands of people fleeing, closed major freeways and threatened the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. As the day wore on and the winds howled, more than a dozen other smaller fires erupted in communities including Riverside, Santa Clarita, Brea, Whittier, Fullerton, Lancaster, Calabasas, Long Beach, Nuevo and Jurupa Valley.

Here’s a look at where things stand, and what’s to come:

Southern California fire watch:

• The Easy fire: The fast-moving Easy fire in Simi Valley expanded to 1,645 acres and threatens 7,000 homes. About 26,000 residents in portions of Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks have been evacuated. Los Angeles Times
• See also: How a Times photographer got an iconic fire photo with Reagan’s Air Force One.
• The Hill fire: A brush fire in the hills north of Jurupa Valley forced evacuations of two mobile homes parks, a healthcare center and an elementary school before firefighters got the upper hand. Riverside Press-Enterprise
• Other fires broke out in Calabasas, Riverside and Kern County. Los Angeles Times
• Here’s a map of where wildfires are burning across the state. Los Angeles Times

The latest on the Kincade fire:

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• Six days after the Kincade Fire ignited, it appeared that the worst was over on Wednesday as many evacuees returned home. San Francisco Chronicle
• Sonoma County’s gamble on mega-evacuations left many residents unhappy. Was all the upheaval necessary? The death toll from the Tubbs and Camp fires in years past left communities like Paradise and Santa Rosa stunned and exposed major weaknesses in emergency evacuation systems. This year, Sonoma County officials didn’t take any chances and issued an unprecedented mandatory evacuation order. No deaths have been reported from the Kincade fire, but many residents questioned whether officials overcorrected, pulling far too many people into the evacuation zone. Los Angeles Times
• A Sonoma County mom gave birth in a Napa hotel after being evacuated from her home. San Francisco Chronicle

Blackouts

• Cell service outages could mean fire alerts don’t go through: Without cell service, signing up for emergency wildfire evacuation notices or getting backup chargers to keep phones going during a power outage is useless. San Francisco Chronicle
• California’s blackouts could make fighting climate change even harder. The state’s plans for slashing climate emissions depend on a stable electric grid. Los Angeles Times

What’s next:

• Extreme red flag wind conditions are expected to last through early Thursday evening in Southern California. Los Angeles Times
• In Sonoma County, a freeze advisory was in place for early Thursday morning, putting residents who still don’t have power at risk. Santa Rosa Press-Democrat

The Times is offering fire coverage for free. Please consider a subscription to support our journalism.

And now, here’s what else is happening across California:

L.A. STORIES

Long Beach native Snoop Dogg will serve as emcee for the reopening of Metro’s A Line (formerly the Blue Line). Long Beach Post

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said that errors committed by the sheriff’s department and coroner’s office may have played a significant role in the decision not to criminally charge Ed Buck in the death of a man who overdosed in Buck’s West Hollywood home in 2017. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles International Airport officials apologized late Tuesday night for an “unacceptable level of service” after travelers using the new Uber, Lyft and taxi pickup system faced gridlock, packed shuttle buses and long wait times for rides. Los Angeles Times

More L.A. homes could be rented out on Airbnb. Tenant activists aren’t happy. Los Angeles Times

Sqirl’s Jessica Koslow talks about the new Santa Monica restaurant she’s opening with Mexican chef Gabriela Cámara. Healthyish

IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER

Immigrant advocates say law enforcement agencies in the state are still helping federal immigration agents with deportations, nearly two years after California’s “sanctuary state” rule took effect. Capital Public Radio

Several Central Valley congressional representatives have helped introduce a bipartisan bill geared toward providing a path to legal status for more than 250,000 undocumented California farmworkers. Fresno Bee

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

The AB 5 battle continues: Uber, Lyft and DoorDash have launched a $90-million fight against the new California labor law. The three Silicon Valley companies unveiled a ballot measure to exclude many of those they pay for work from being considered benefits-earning employees. They intend to qualify it for next November’s statewide ballot. Los Angeles Times

Amid a torrent of speculation, Alex Padilla said he’s not running for Katie Hill’s congressional seat. Padilla currently serves as California secretary of state. Los Angeles Daily News

Inmates at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin have started a hunger strike and work stoppage over alleged unsanitary conditions inside the jail, including insects and vermin on their food. Mercury News

CRIME AND COURTS

The Orange County district attorney’s office has charged five UC Irvine fraternity brothers in connection with the alcohol poisoning death of an underage fraternity member in January. Los Angeles Times

A former surfing executive has been sentenced to two months in prison in the college admissions scandal. He paid $250,000 to guarantee his son’s admission to USC through fraud and bribery. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Twenty-five years ago, the anti-immigrant Proposition 187 was passed by Californians at the ballot box. The initiative, which was ultimately overturned by the courts, sought to punish undocumented immigrants by denying them certain services, including access to public healthcare and education. In a new podcast, Gustavo Arellano traces the proposition from its birth in Orange County to its peak on election day and its ultimate failure. Los Angeles Times

Twitter just banned all political ads, in sharp contrast to Facebook. Los Angeles Times

Alhambra high schools have added ramen and pho to their lunch menus to cater to their diverse student base. Pasadena Star-News

This is where Orange County chef Shawn Pham goes for classic Vietnamese drinking food in Little Saigon. Los Angeles Times

The owner of Fresno FC said the pro soccer club is “almost certain” to relocate without its own stadium. Fresno Bee

The taffy chews from Dewar’s Candy Shop in Bakersfield receive high praise from a food editor. (I enthusiastically co-sign this recommendation, and remain forever grateful to Central Valley journalist Emma Gallegos for introducing me to Dewar’s.) Bon Appetit

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles: sunny, 80. San Diego: sunny, 76. San Francisco: sunny, 71. San Jose: sunny, 75. Sacramento: sunny, 73. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California memory comes from Andree Joyce Gordon:

“In 1961, I was a 5-year-old in Bel-Air during what was then the worst fire in Los Angeles history. Our house was among the 484 homes lost. As the school bus drove by our house, I could see my mom in the doorway. Her station wagon open and filled with everything she could stuff in and a fireman talking with her. She was asking for just a little more time to look for our dog and cats. As we were driven down the mountain (Bel-Air), I saw many other homes starting to catch fire. Neighbor upon neighbor were on top of their roofs with hoses. Screens and pieces of wood flying through the air. Fireman after fireman with ash covering their faces. I didn’t see my mom or dad till late that night after going to a friend’s house far away from the flames. The smell of fire never leaves you. Years later, I still bristle if I’m walking a dog outside and smell it. I’ve been known to run back to make sure it’s not my house. California, oh California, how I love her and how I fear for her.”

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints, ideas and unrelated book recommendations to Julia Wick. Follow her on Twitter @Sherlyholmes.

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The wind-driven Hillside fire broke out about 1:40 a.m. near Highway 18 and Lower Waterman Canyon in San Bernardino. The fire quickly charred 200 acres and burned homes in the North Park neighborhood.

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EVACUATIONS

About 490 homes north of 50th Street, west of Highway 18 and east of Mayfield Street have been placed under mandatory evacuation orders.

SHELTER

• Pacific High School at 1020 Pacific Street in San Bernardino

• Animals: San Bernardino City Animal Shelter at 33 Chandler Place

ROAD CLOSURES

• Highway 18
• Local roads in North Park neighborhoods

The Times is offering fire coverage for free today. Please consider a subscription to support our journalism.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

• Cal State San Bernardino

Set against the backdrop of 2007’s NBA betting scandal, “Inside Game” ups the ante with an engaging ensemble headed by Will Sasso, Scott Wolf and Eric Mabius.

Buddies since childhood, bookie James “Baba” Battista (Sasso), NBA referee Tim Donaghy (Mabius) and charismatic, drug-dealing Tommy Martino (Wolf) find themselves living the dream in Philadelphia when they hatch a wagering scheme leveraged by insider information provided through Donaghy’s locker room proximity to coaches and injured players.

With greed precipitously raising the stakes as the FBI closes in through an unrelated mob investigation, it’s inevitable that the can’t-miss proposition soon begins spiraling out of control, leading to the conviction of all three.

The script by TV writer Andy Callahan (“Taken,” “Lethal Weapon”) and direction by Randall Batinkoff efficiently checks off the requisite true crime drama tropes, but the smart money is on the strong performances of the cast, particularly Sasso’s brow-mopping, pill-popping mastermind.

Also impressive is Betsy Beutler as his fiercely protective wife, who wields her South Philly accent like a take-no-prisoners weapon, and veteran character actor Michael O’Keefe as Donaghy’s critical dad.

Although the film dutifully follows a familiar path to the courtroom, along the way, it serves as a solid demonstration of the fissures that can form when the bonds of friendship are tested against those of familial loyalty.

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Recent scandals exposing celebrities who paid their children’s way into prestigious universities serve as a timely point of departure for Adam and Jaye Fenderson’s conventionally informative documentary “Unlikely.”

Narrated by Jaye Fenderson, a former admissions officer at Columbia University, the film dissects how higher education obstructs equal opportunity by obscenely favoring wealthy applicants with legacy links to the school or the means to ensure future donations. Private universities repudiate students from underprivileged backgrounds and actively deny them access to maintain their rankings and attract “desirable” candidates.

“We don’t go to high-end schools,” responds a resigned Juan, the child of Mexican immigrants from a low-income community in Los Angeles, when asked about college prospects for those like him who lack the resources (financial and otherwise) to succeed at Ivy League institutions.

There’s no riveting style, invigorating technique or atypical narrative devices on display; standard talking-head interviews and simple animated clips suffice as the well-researched piece follows a handful of people of color from across the U.S. who’ve failed to complete their degrees since the system refuses to factor in the additional socioeconomic hurdles on their plate. Hard data coupled with human-interest stories unmask the nationwide rigged operation.

Akron, Ohio’s homegrown idol LeBron James and former Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz briefly appear on camera to promote their initiatives and foundations that attempt to bridge the inequality gap. The codirectors, unconcerned with visual ornamentation, disseminate facts clearly in an undertaking that’s scholarly adept yet disappoints artistically. More digestible than a thick academic study, “Unlikely” was obviously designed as an issue-driven program without cinematic aspirations. That’s likely for the best.

“I am a man who paints. Nothing more, nothing less,” repeats L.S. Lowry (Timothy Spall), a suffering artist thwarted by his elderly mother Elizabeth (Vanessa Redgrave), throughout the gripping, gorgeously acted biopic “Mrs. Lowry & Son.” It’s a haunting mantra that speaks volumes about a self-effacing talent who became one of England’s most famous contemporary painters.

Based on the stage and radio play by scripter Martyn Hesford, this 1934-set film spends a swatch of time with Lowry and his domineering, widowed mum, who, with vivid dysfunction, share a modest home in working-class Lancashire, England.

Although it occasionally escapes its theatrical roots, the movie largely takes place in Elizabeth’s bedroom. That’s where Lowry shares meals and chats with the forlorn and manipulative woman, who never misses a chance to blithely degrade, browbeat or discourage her middle-aged son. Her constant jabs at Lowry’s artwork — gloomy but distinctive urban landscapes — are like stakes to his heart, endured with a grim patience learned over a lifetime.

If often sad and unsettling, the film is also livelier and less oppressive than it may sound thanks to the fine writing, deft direction by Adrian Noble, and the superb, if painful interplay between Redgrave and Spall (who played another well-known English painter in 2014’s “Mr. Turner”).

A present-day visit to the Lowry, a museum in Salford Quays, England, which houses much of Lowry’s work, provides a fitting coda.

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SERIES

Superstore Amy (America Ferrera) amps up the store’s Halloween spirit to impress the new district manager, but her haunted house terrifies Glenn (Mark McKinney) in this new episode of the workplace comedy. 8 p.m. NBC

Grey’s Anatomy In a new Halloween episode, Alex (Justin Chambers) is feeling optimistic that he can impress investors at Pac-Gen North, until he hears about skeletons being unearthed at the construction site. Also, Teddy (Kim Raver) tries to create original trick-or-treat costumes. 8 p.m. ABC

Perfect Harmony Arthur (Bradley Whitford) helps Ginny (Anna Camp) conquer her inferiority complex as she tries to take on a new management role at work. Meanwhile, Dwayne (Geno Segers) bows out of a long-established Halloween tradition, prompting Wayne (Will Greenberg) to fear that he and his lifelong buddy are starting to grow apart. Tymberlee Hill and Rizwan Manji also star in this new episode of the musical comedy. 8:30 p.m. NBC

Mysteries Decoded The season finale heads to New Orleans to investigate whether a vampire has attained immortality. 9 p.m. The CW

Ghost Adventures In a two-hour Halloween special episode, Zak Bagans and his team take their cameras to the Rhode Island farmhouse that provided the narrative backdrop for the horror movie “The Conjuring.” 9 p.m. Travel

Will & Grace When Grace (Debra Messing) admits she’s not sure who the father of her baby is, Karen (Megan Mullally) orchestrates a “Mamma Mia!” situation where all the potential baby daddies are invited. Eric McCormack and Sean Hayes also star. 9:30 p.m. NBC

SPECIALS

The 13 Scariest Movies of All Time Host Dean Cain counts down some of the scariest thrillers ever made in this new one-hour special. Guests include Elizabeth Stanton, Garrett Clayton, Darrin Butters & Ezra Weiss, Jackie Fabulous, Brandon Rogers, Noah Matthews, Katherine Murray, Ron Pearson, Mikalah Gordon and Neel Ghosh & Sheridan Pierce. 8 p.m. CW

Top 10 Most Terrifying Places A countdown of the spookiest locations on Earth, from a ghostly pirate hideout to a castle in England. 8 p.m. Travel

HALLOWEEN MOVIES

House on Haunted Hill (1959) 8:15 a.m. TCM

The Cabin in the Woods (2011) 8:45 a.m. IFC

Halloween (1978) 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. AMC; 8 p.m. HBO

Paranormal Activity (2007) 12:45 p.m. IFC

Carrie (1976) 2:45 p.m. IFC

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) 3 p.m. Epix

Interview With the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) 3:30 p.m. BBC America

Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001) 3:35 p.m. Disney

Shaun of the Dead (2004) 3:43 p.m. Encore

The Omen (2006) 7:07 p.m. Encore

Get Out (2017) 7:30 and 11:39 p.m. FX

The Village (2004) 7:35 p.m. Showtime

Ghost Ship (2002) 8 p.m. BBC America

The Scream Team (2002) 8 p.m. Disney XD

Rosemary’s Baby (1968) 8 p.m. Epix

It (2017) 8 p.m. TBS

House of Usher (1960) 8 p.m. TCM

Halloweentown (1998) 8:20 p.m. Disney

Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016) 8:30 p.m. Syfy

Hocus Pocus (1993) 8:50 p.m. Freeform

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) 9 p.m. AMC

Trick ’r Treat (2007) 9:15 p.m. IFC

Hell Fest (2018) 9:30 p.m. Showtime

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) 9:30 p.m. TCM

Thirteen Ghosts (2001) 10 p.m. BBC America

The Amityville Horror (1979) 10:20 p.m. Epix

Halloween II (2009) 11 p.m. AMC

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TALK SHOWS

CBS This Morning A Utah childrens hospital celebrates Halloween. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS

Today Halloween on the plaza; the science of fright. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC

KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA

Good Morning America Celebrating Halloween; the O’Jays perform. (N) 7 a.m. KABC

Good Day L.A. Rachael Ray; chef Gretchen Shoemaker; Harry Shearer as character Derek Smalls of “Spinal Tap.” (N) 7 a.m. KTTV

Live With Kelly and Ryan Jimmy Fallon, Drew and Jonathan Scott, Josh Groban, Liza Koshy, Kal Penn. (N) 9 a.m. KABC

The View Jordin Sparks; Dr. Mehmet Oz; “Beetlejuice.” (N) 10 a.m. KABC

Rachael Ray Rachael’s husband, John Cusimano; chef Anne Burrell. (N) 10 a.m. KTTV

The Wendy Williams Show Wayne Brady (“Let’s Make a Deal”); Circo Hermanos Vazquez performs. (N) 11 a.m. KTTV

The Talk The fifth Rocktober Lip Sync War; Kelly Osbourne. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS

The Dr. Oz Show Whether an adoptee is actually a teenager or a 30-year-old woman; Casey Anthony’s parents. (N) 1 p.m. KTTV

The Kelly Clarkson Show Kate Flannery; the Kingdom Choir performs; Lindsey Stirling performs with Kelly. (N) 2 p.m. KNBC

Dr. Phil A man’s alcoholism has caused him to injure himself. (N) 3 p.m. KCBS

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Jason Momoa (“See”); Tiffany Haddish and Andy Lassner. (N) 3 p.m. KNBC

The Doctors Medical records and doctors suggest a woman’s mother intentionally kept her sick. (N) 3 p.m. KCOP

Amanpour and Company (N) midnight KVCR; 11 p.m. KCET; 1 a.m. KLCS

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. (N) 11 p.m. Comedy Central

Conan Ewan McGregor (“Doctor Sleep”). (N) 11 p.m. TBS

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Kristen Stewart; Gaten Matarazzo; Pete Lee. (N) 11:34 p.m. KNBC

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Rob Corddry. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Antonio Banderas; Natalia Reyes; Big Boi; Sleepy Brown. (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC

The Late Late Show With James Corden Jason Momoa; Alfre Woodard; Hollywood Vampires perform. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS

Late Night With Seth Meyers Timothée Chalamet; Cynthia Erivo; Miranda Lambert performs. (N) 12:37 a.m. KNBC

Nightline (N) 12:37 a.m. KABC

A Little Late With Lilly Singh David Arquette; Justin Willman. (N) 1:38 a.m. KNBC

SPORTS

NBA Basketball The Miami Heat visit the Atlanta Hawks, 4 p.m. TNT; the Denver Nuggets visit the New Orleans Pelicans, 6:30 p.m. TNT; the Clippers host the San Antonio Spurs, 7:30 p.m. FS Prime

NFL Football The San Francisco 49ers visit the Arizona Cardinals, 5 p.m. Fox

For more sports on TV, see the Sports section.