Bring it to you live. In the meantime, we want to go to bill martin, our chief meteorologist, to talk about the weather conditions, and they are getting at least a little bit of good news here, bill. Yeah, a little bit of good news. Yeah, my camera is a little off balance. Ill tell you watt, let me fix this right now. Yeah, hat should be better. The air quality is pure right now. But the fires are still mainly terrain driven. The weather is not really driving these fires. Its really about so many fires having started, and cal fire not having enough resources to respond to almost 13,000 lightning strikes. So with over 350 fires in that first string. So were seeing good containment each day, and thats how its going to continue. And now i think weve got a live press conference. Just wanted to bring everybody up to speed, after the weather came through yesterday, and we found ourselves here getting wet last night, over the courts of the evening, across california, the cal fire confirmed there were over 300 lightning strikes in the state overall. 10 new fires occurred overnight, and zero, none of those fires, occurred if theisms santa cruz unit. So no lightning caused fires over the last 24 hours. We we remain at 13 contained, and have over 25,000 structures that still remain threatened due to the fire. We also can confirm this evening that 276 structures have been destroyed. That is both in san mateo and santa cruz county. A large majority of those structures inner santa cruz county, and obviously that information will get down to the specifics as it gets released to each eoc at the county level. And finally, some even better news. Were up to 1,609 firefighters, personnel assigned to this incident. Obviously every number of firefighters that comes on the line has a direct correlation that we can gain, so thats a Welcome Development for us. With that, im going operationa from cal fire imt3 ops section chief market brunton. Good evening. So today with the weather that we had, really led us to get in there and do a lot of good work. We had a lot of progress with the fire today, with the clear air. We were able to fly a lot more aircraft. Ill address that here shortly, and on the ground, again, as chief cox said that weve brought in more resources, and we were able to get more heavy equipment. The bulldozers and so forth, that are going to help us construct those lines. So a lot of good work going on. Predominantly up in the north zone, were having good progress. Our Line Construction continuing. The fire is backing into butano, but, again, its pretty much creeping. Were monitoring that. Its not making a threat to those communities, but it is advances, albeit slowly. Theres a hall road that ive been talking about. That line has been improved. The fire is creeping down into that. Its holding, which is great, because that is keeping fire from making any sort of advancement into potentially santa clara county. So thats looking really good. Were very happy with the results there. As were looking at the highway 9 corridor, continued work along that corridor, again, as ive said before, difficult terrain to work in, very steep terrain, heaven by fuels. Not the most ideal area to put our control lines, like we typically do, but it is aware making due with it, were making it work, and it is holding in most all locations. In state park down below ben low man, continued working there. That will be one of our challenges points, an area that will be a lot of work and planning, but we are making advancement there is throughout. The south is looking good. Out primary and secondary line on that south part of the fire is solid. The area that we burned in yesterday, fantastic. Its holding. Its doing what we want. Any fire that has burned down to that has either self extinguished, or is holding on that line, which is exactly what we wanted it to do. So it really minimizes that threat to santa cruz and the campus. In bonnie dune, continued work within the structures. Gain, painstaking work. A lot of structures there and heavy fuels, but thats a lot of work, just digging in and getting after it and taking care of business. We did a small burn operation along empire grade road to martin road, that kind of puts in a nice control line for a us. So it keeps spread going to the west, and affecting more homes, so thats a good control line. We buttoned that a little bit up. And as far as our air program, didnt find any of the fixed wing air tankers on it, really didnt have a need for that, but what was effective is the use of our helicopters. Today was the best day yet. We were able to drop 200,000 gallons throughout the day in Fire Suppression activities with our helicopters. So with our ground troops, our air force going, great day, and a lot of great work there and advancement work moving forward. With the weather were expecting, i think were going to have more days like this, and hopefully goat is closer to the end of suppressing this fire. All right. Weve been listening to a live News Conference talking about the czu complex fire burning in santa cruz and san mateo. We did get a little bit of new information. Here are the basics, though, 78,000 acres have been burned. The fire still only 13 contained. 25,000 structures are threatened. 276 structures have been destroyed, and theyve upped the number of firefighters now battling the flames to now slightly over 1600. They said that the weather really helped them do some quote unquote good work today. They moved in more heavy equipment, and made more air drops. Specifically, they have six waterdroppingdropping helicopters. And they have dropped 200,000 gallons of water on those fires today. And head to Governor Newsom said he has witnessed firsthand the mutual aid among firefighters to get control of these bay area fires. Were up there in the livermore area, and all of a sudden some Santa Monica Fire engines come up. Santa cruz, youre seeing the same thing from many Southern California engines coming up, from almost every department in the state. In state mutual aid is providing more than 2800 crews and 709 engines to battle fires out of their own jurisdictions, and 11 states now are sending crews and equipment from as far away as montana, texas, and kansas. More than 1300 personnel are on the scu wildfire complex burning the diablo range. Tom is in pleasanton now with some of the destruction he has seen from this enormous wildfire there. Tom . Reporter and this is still only 10 containment and 347,000 acres burned. This is nothing to play with, because they are fighting this fire actively, just up in remote areas. One of the dangers with being in a remote area is of course thats very high, you get high winds up there and you start getting embers. But as one california fire chief told me, look, this is a marathon, and its going to take a long time to finish it. Cal fire said it got lucky last night on the scu fire, very lucky. We were actually aided by the fact that the lightning strikes did not come in the way we expected them to yesterday. Only having started one Additional Fire last night. Reporter but the fire still remains a monster as it grows in two dangerous. Our number one priority will remain along this western front. Reporter and thats where the majority of the 20,000 threatened bay area structures are located. The large part of our priority right now is to stop any further southerly movement of the fire. Reporter we drove the 72 miles from parnas in Stanislaus County, and mines road, to livermore, crossing a major southern portion of the scu fire footprint. Much of what we saw was scorched earth of a sparsely populated wilderness, but we were surprised to see a number of Still Standing homes and structures that had a lot of well cleaned areas surrounding them. We also saw remnants of the firefight that went on here, such as this track of retardant laid down by an aerial tanker. Because folks here take defensive space very ceaseious economy is the firefighters date heck of a job of defending property, it looks like some of these folks, at least, are going to have homes to go home to. The frank rains offroad park remained most lip intact, with the childrens playground virtually untouched, but the park did suffer the loss of the rangers home, a barn, and small cottage. We encountered often large groups of fire trucks standing by to go on patrol for hot spots. Other crews plied the steep and rugged terrain to put any of those hot spots out. And in one case, a Southern California crew from tsa used their waiting time and location to use rope and rapell training. And there can never be too much training. We are living in a mega fire era. Reporter and said chief he ss, evacuations will now come earlier. Were going to have to evacuate people more often, and more people. Reporter and what all of that really means that their tactics are going to have to change as the intensity of these fires change. And in just 7 days, its going to be september, followed by october, the two worst months for fire in california history, and were not even there yet, and were already running two of the biggest fires weve ever seen. Tom vacar, ktvu fox 2 news. All right, tom, thank you. In the north bay, the deadly lnu lightning complex fire continues to burn in several counties. It is made up of at least 7 fire , in napa, solano, lake, and yolo counties, and now the second largest fire in state history. Five people have been killed if the north bay. Three in napa county, and two in solano county. According to cal fire, this complex has burned 350,000 acres, and is 22 contained. 871 structures have now been destroyed. Another 234 have been damaged, and more than 30,000 are still threatened tonight. Stay up to date with the late its wildfire developments by visiting ktvu. Com wildfires. There youll find the latest investigation orders, new fires that have broken out, and how you can help fire victims. Coming up, last week it was the dnc. This week, its the gops turn in the spotlight. What we know about the Republican National convention getting underway tonight. Also, the air quality around the bay area reaching hazardous levels. What doctors are saying about the longterm Health Effects of next this much exposure to smoke from wildfires. Also ahead, an Appellate Court makes a major decision in the case of scott petersen. Well be right back. Here is a live picture of the republican convention. President trump is expected to be featured each of the four nights, culminating with his acceptance speech at the white house on thursday. The republicans kicked off the week with delegates officially nominating the president. With more, we go to greg lee, our political reporter. Greg . Frank, good evening. Now we have a better idea. That section you were just dipping into of the rnc stream was about the president defending his administrations response to covid19. That is kind of what we have seen so far. One similarity already between democrats and republicans is that speakers and everyday speakers are saying it would be a bleak picture if the other party won. Another similarity, the republicans are having people from all across america, everyday people, sharing their stories about and answering the question in their lives are bitter than they were four years ago. We as a state want to bring forth our delegates, 172 for donald trump. Reporter california cast its votes en route to republicans formally renominating President Donald Trump as the partys president ial candidate. The president made a trip to charlotte, North Carolina, for day one of the scaled down Republican National convention, addressing the 336 delegates there in person. We have to win. Our country is counting on it. This is the biggest. This is it. Our country can go in a horrible, horrible direction, or in an even greater direction. Reporter in a wide ranging nearly hourlong speech, the president again attacked vote by mail, accused the depths of using covid to steel stale the election without evidence, and touted the economy, and the administrations response to the coronavirus. A new a. P. Poll Shows Approval 60 his handling of the pandemic has dropped to 31 . The president also went after his november opponents. On this base, its an incredible base. Everybody here is going to vote. I mean, we have a tremendous base. They dont. They have no enthusiasm for their candidate. Reporter democratic president ial nominee joe biden and senator Kamala Harris did their first joint interview as a ticket. Biden responding to trumps attacks on his mental fitness. Watch me. Mr. President , watch me. Look at us both, what we say, what we zoo, whats we control, what we know, what kind of shape were in. Come on. Reporter have mike pence also made a surprised visit to the convention this morning. The economy is on the ballot. Law and order is on the ballot. Reporter Republican NationalCommittee Member from Orange County sean steele criticized the dnc for being too much gloom and doom. Me said expect the opposite from his party this week. It think its going to be about hope and opportunity. We had some very glorious years with the president until the great playing came. The playing has destroyed many an economy, many countries. There is her shell walker, former nfl star and staunch trump supporter, speaking about how he believes president Trumps Administration has made his life better. Its like live the tope well see,000out this evening. One thing weve seen,000out the speakers so far is a consistent ask steady attack on the democratic nominee joe biden. Frank . And, greg, talk again well, actually your picture there, got it back. Talk again tonight who the main speakers will be, and what are your thoughts on President Trump speaking every single night. Reporter frank, think what well see tonight be the big speakers, donald trump jr. , the president s son, as well as nikki haley, and senator tim scott, the lone black republican in the senate, all speaking about certain major hot topics in america right now, like arrest relation, issues with the police, as well as nikki haleys perceived thoughts on President Trumps work with national, international relations. Relative to President Trump speaking every night, what we saw last week from democrats, was that joe biden appeared in either a pretaped video or in some capacity leading up to his speech on thursday. I have to imagine that well seeing some like that from President Trump, because thats what you want to do, you want to build up to thursday, and you dont want to lose your luster throughout the first couple of days, but well have to wait and see. And all right, greg, thank you and were a reminder here, well have complete coverage of the Republican National convention all week beginning at 7 00. You can watch the speakers live right now on ktvu, or ktvu plus. Now to our weather. And the smoke from the wildfires is creating unhealthy and in some cases hazardous air quality. This is a live look from our camera pointed it a mount diablo, but smoke is obscuring the view of the mountain. Rob roth tells us exposure to this much smoke could have lasting Health Effects. Reporter a curtain of smoke hovered over the entire bay area again monday, but worse in the north bay and east bay, including near pleasanton. The good news is the air was better than sunday, although still reads as unhealthy some parts, but the bad news is, this is the 6th consecutive day and counting of unhealthy air from the wildfires. The spare the air alert has been extend at least until wednesday. The longer you are exposed to this, the more it is stressing the body and the more problems we can expect to see. Reporter dr. Ron vero, is head of emergency at a Medical Center in oakland. Takes toll on, as we expect, those most vulnerable. The older people, younger people who maybe. Reporter developed their immune system yet, like young babies, and then, of course, those who are have chronic medical conditions. Reporter at hayward hardware, owner jim wheeler said there has been a run on smokerelated items, and she having little success replacing them. Its just its unprecedented that we wouldnt have access to these every day items that weve had access for in the 15 years ive been doing with this. The store sold out of respirators in days. Air Filtration Systems popular because of covid are also out of stock, and n95 masks . Forget about it. First responders have needed them because of the pandemic. Fy call somebody and i ask for an n95 mask, the answer is not no, the answer is hell no, we dont have it. Reporter much of the problem the timing of the current fires. Traditionally, theyve come in the fall, when supply could usually meet demand. No one predicted this, that we would be needing them for the fires as early as mid august, or late august, and were completely and totally unprepared for that. Reporter doctors say the cloth and surgical masks most people are wearing i dont filter smoke, but they do urge people to wear them in public. But youre going to see more people coughing, which means theyre going to be putting more of their saliva and droplets into the air, and that just speaks to why its all the more important to be masking. Reporter two years ago, the bay area endured 14 Straight Days of unhealthy air because of the campfire. The medical advice is to stay indoors with the windows closed until the smoke clears. Rob roth, ktvu fox 2 news. And its been bad. Some of the worst air quality weve seen in the bay area in years, and its going to be bad next couple of days. The air quality alert goes away on wednesday. And it will be better after that, but theres still folk some lingering smoke. Its worse in the morning. Late night and early morning, the smoke really settles down. So just take it easy on your lungs if you have a buck or a golf game early. These areas, the eastern zone and the southern zone down here, down towards santa clara, those areas are going to have the worst