Bay Briefing: ‘Nightmare’ scenario for fire risk – San Francisco Chronicle

The brutal California heat wave is making it difficult to contain a number of fast-moving blazes.

The Mill and Mountain fires that both ignited on Friday have burned thousands of acres. The Mill Fire killed two people and destroyed at least 50 homes and structures. The Fairview Fire in Riverside County that started on Monday has already burned 4,000 acres and caused two deaths.

While the larger Bay Area and Central Coast regions have not seen extreme wildfires yet this season, the extreme temperatures are further drying fuels and Hurricane Kay could arrive on the California coast this weekend, bringing lightning that could spark wildfires.

“… What this extreme heat is doing is kiln-drying the vegetation, pre-baking it if you will and making things that much more flammable,” said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain, speaking Tuesday during a Twitter Spaces event.

Read more from Hannah Hagemann and Jack Lee.

• Today’s forecast: The heat dome enters its seventh day with hot temperatures on tap for the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley today. San Francisco’s west side will welcome the sea breeze with strong winds and temperatures in the 70s, and 80s everywhere else. Read the full forecast here.

• Northern California heat wave may go down as the worst in history.

• “We’re basically dying”: Heat wave forces some Bay Area restaurants to shut down.

• Many of California’s wild animals are stressed amid the heat wave. Here’s how they’re coping.

Data on S.F. evictions

A Chronicle analysis of newly released data from the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing shows that evictions in single-room-occupancy hotels, or SROs, have jumped sharply. At least 114 people were officially evicted from SROs, in fiscal year 2022, compared with 40 last year.

Critically, a small number of SROs accounted for a large share of evictions: The Chronicle found that more than half were in nine residential hotels, which housed 16% of all supportive housing SRO residents.

Emily Cohen, a spokesperson for HSH, said the agency anticipated such an increase in evictions this year, given that pandemic-related restrictions on evicting tenants have loosened, write Joaquin Palomino and Trisha Thadani, and that the agency is “proud” of its relatively low eviction rate.

Also:

• California wanted to end homeless shelters. Instead, COVID reinvented them.

• San Francisco is considering an ambitious new approach to tackle the deadly drug crisis. Here are the details.

What to eat and drink

Lots of news is coming out of Wine Country that will satisfy both foodies and wine aficionados. Newton Vineyard, which saw its beautiful Spring Mountain estate burn to the ground during the 2020 Glass Fire, has opened a modern new space in Calistoga with $100 private tastings.

Healdsburg’s three-Michelin-starred SingleThread has opened a super swanky farm stand, while Oxbow Public Market in Napa has a new restaurant and beer garden called Napa Yard. Smith Story Wine Cellars in Healdsburg puts your wine tasting skills to the test with Blind Tasting Sundays for just $10.

While you’re making your wine tasting and restaurant reservations, be sure to check out wine critic Esther Mobley’s updated list of the Top 25 Wineries in the Bay Area, which includes a number of new additions such as Hanzell Vineyards in Sonoma and Spottswoode Winery in St. Helena.

• The Giants are the first U.S. professional sports team to hire a master sommelier to oversee and expand its wine programming.

• This new Asian American deli feels hella Oakland.

Around the Bay

• A profound impact: BART has carried riders for 50 years. It also changed how the Bay Area lives. Also: Even with delays, Muni’s chief says Central Subway service will begin “this fall.”

• A royal visit: S.F. just got its first royal visit in 17 years. Here’s what Queen Máxima of the Netherlands did in the Castro.

• Ruled unconstitutional: Judge strikes down part of California’s aid-in-dying law after challenge from Christian medical group.

• Football and politics: After stadium settlement, 49ers put money on ally Anthony Becker in Santa Clara mayor’s race. Also: 49ers data breach may have exposed more than 20,000 people to ID theft, documents say.

• Opinion: Doctors are spreading COVID disinformation. California needs to do something about it.

An underdog story

Starting in 1973, the San Francisco Police Department played an annual goodwill game against the Pendulum, a gay bar in the Castro district. Tensions between police and the gay community were high. The Pendulum Pirates scored a stunning upset over the Police Department, prompting SFPD to broaden its pool of players.

In 1975, the Pendulum Pirates entered the game as major underdogs, but they had a home crowd at Margaret Haywood Field, drawing local politicians and more than 5,000 mostly gay supporters.

Read more about the epic rivalry and see photos of that exciting match in this Chronicle visual story.

Bay Briefing is written by Kellie Hwang and Anna Buchmann and sent to readers’ email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact the writers at kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com and anna.buchmann@sfchronicle.com.