Fires devastate Ventura, LA counties BY TESS SCHOONHOVEN ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Fires raging across California the past month have now been 100 percent contained, according to the California Fire Department. Two major blazes ran through Northern and Southern California both igniting Nov. 8. The Camp Fire in Northern California’s Butte County burned for 18 days and Southern California’s “Woosley Fire” in Ventura and Los Angeles counties lasted for one week. Both fires devastated multiple cities, igniting homes, commercial buildings and injuring residents, firefighters and causing fatalities. The Camp Fire started in the Plumas National Forest. The fire is marked as one of the deadliest blazes in California’s history destroying 13,972 residencies and 528 commercial buildings. At least 85 people were killed while more than 290 people are still considered missing. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea in a press conference Nov 21 said the list of individuals missing is dynamic and changes as new information continues to surface. “But I’m encouraged by the fact that we’re continuing to locate and account for more and more people,” Honea said. The town of Paradise, a small city nestled amid the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, was destroyed by the fire. The Woosley Fire ignited near Simi Valley and caused heavy damage to multiple cities, including celebrity housing in Malibu and Calabasas. The Woolsey fire took three lives, injured three firefighters and destroyed 1,500 struc-
Lauren Shelburne | Banner Resident walked the remnants of Bell Canyon with tools in hand ready to help their neighbors in need. A common bond of tragedy brought together new friends as they dug through debris to try to find what remained of their homes after the Woolsey Canyon Fire quickly ripped through the hillsides dividing Los Angeles and Ventura counties. tures with another 343 damaged. In total, the fire burned 96,949 acres. Lynette Gebler, West Hills resident in LA County, said the cities surrounding and including West Hills were evacuated, but she decided to stay in her home in an effort to protect it. “We could see the fire burning and we decided, ‘We’re watching the fire; we’re watching the winds; if there are any embers we can put out,” Gebler said. Eventually, the streets were blocked off and it was too late to try to leave. “They said, ‘If you leave now, you’re not coming back again,’” Gebler said, “so we stayed.” For Gebler in West Hills the evacuation order came
Nov. 9 and was lifted Nov. 12. However, this was not the first time Gebler was in a city under evacuation orders. “It’s unfortunate that you become used to it. We know the drill,” Gebler said. “We’re used to being evacuated; this is not the first time.” Gebler said she has learned to know what she needs to take with her when she leaves. “You know what’s important to at least get by — what you need — and most things can be replaced,” Gebler said. Gebler said being aware of the environment she lives in is important for preparedness. Living in Los Angeles County surrounded by brush and fueled by a Californian drought reminded Gebler of her housing circumstance and which
cities are prone to wildfires. Rains helped clear the smoke Nov. 23 and 24. However, they also caused flash floods and mudslides, making the search for missing individuals difficult, particularly in the town of Paradise. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced a public health emergency Nov. 13 because of the evacuation of at least two hospitals and eight other health facilities. The HHC also released a smoke advisory to residents of LA County. As the smoke blows away and the damage is contained, residents of cities across California will continue together to recover from the devastation as they rebuild their lives and homes.
Lauren Shelburne | Banner Lynette Gebler, Bell Canyon resident, helped search through debris for friends whose homes were destroyed in the Woolsey Canyon Fire.
Annual Festival of Lights returns downtown BY VICTORIA BUSZINSKI ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Art gallery moves on campus for student shows BY NINASOPHIA STOWE
In its 26th year, the Riverside Festival of Lights has significantly impacted the Riverside community. The official 2018 lighting took place Nov. 23, and the display will continue until Jan. 6, 2019. Many consider the event a staple in the Southern California holiday season. It showcases the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa’s display of holiday lights and decorations. Attractions at the Festival of Lights include the Artisans Collective, lighted displays, rides, entertainment, food vendors, Santa Claus and more. The idea for the Festival of Lights came from the city at Sendai, Japan, and its Sendai Starlight Pageant. The creators of the Festival of Lights wanted to create an event of festive celebration for children and families. This event started out as a one-day ceremony and has grown to a nearly six-week-long event. The city of Riverside be-
A&E EDITOR
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce and the City of Riverside.”
After five years at the California Baptist University Gallery in downtown Riverside, the College of Architecture Visual Arts and Design art gallery relocated Oct. 24 to the Rose Garden Gallery on campus for its debut show, “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time,” the Biennial Faculty Exhibit. Beka Leininger, CBU alumna and curator of the Rose Garden Gallery, is responsible for choosing and installing all of the art pieces for the new on-campus gallery. Since relocating the gallery, attendance for the opening show improved drastically. Leininger said students are more willing to visit a gallery on-campus rather than off-campus. She said there were more people at the opening show than there have ever
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Kengkue Her | Banner
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa hosts the 26th annual Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside for the entire community to enjoy throughout the holiday season. gan its involvement in 2006 helping to create this into a signature event for the community and Southern California. Not only is the Festival of Lights popular in Riverside, but
it also positively impacts the Riverside economy. Margie Haupt, senior project manager at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, said the Festival of Lights sets Riverside apart.
“This event is about celebrating and bringing the community together,” Haupt said. “The length of time sets us apart as well as the successful private-public partnership of