Meanwhile, a blaze in Northern California wine country exploded in size. Terrified students at Mount Saint Mary's University were also forced to flee around midnight, taking what they could in their cars, as the flames ramped up toward the campus. Classes at UCLA were also canceled. The flames roared up a steep hillside near the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles' Brentwood section illustrated the danger the state faces as high winds batter both ends of California and threaten to turn any spark into a devastating inferno. No deaths from either blaze were reported, but a firefighter was seriously injured in the fire in Sonoma County wine country. Some 2.2 million people lacked electricity after California's biggest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, shut it off over the weekend in the northern part of the state to prevent its equipment from sparking blazes during windy weather. More deliberate blackouts are possible in the coming days because another round of strong winds is expected. 🔥

Similarly in Northern California, some 40 school districts in Sonoma County canceled classes, as did the University of California, Berkeley, which had no power because of the outages. With no rain and more wind in the forecast, the coming days could be grim. 'This is when we have the most potential for large and damaging fires,' said Thom Porter, chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 'All of California is in play right now.' Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the weekend. The biggest evacuation was in Sonoma County, where some people who packed up and fled had done so two years ago, when devastating wildfires swept through the region, killing 44 people. At an evacuation center at Napa Valley College, 15-year-old Francisco Alvarado said he, two younger brothers and his parents decided to leave their Calistoga home ahead of evacuation orders. Two years ago, the family had to flee in the middle of the night. 🔥😱

Why California wildfires won't destroy Getty Center art: Inside the billion-dollar fortress protected by travertine stone-clad walls, crushed stone rooftops, million gallon underground water tank and even fire resistant acacia SHRUBS. Prized works of art in a museum in the path of California wildfires will be safe from flames because the building was built with fire-resistance in mind - including a own million-gallon water tank under its garage. Flames were seen raging along 405 Freeway near the Getty Center, which displays pre-20th century works of art by artists including Rembrandt and Van Gogh. However fire resistance was built into the billion-dollar complex, Ron Hartwig, vice president of communications for the J. Paul Getty Trust said previously. 🔥

More than 20 climate change protesters were arrested on Tuesday morning as they targeted a mining conference in Melbourne, Australia. Ugly scuffles broke out as protesters blocking the disabled entrance to the city's Convention Centre had to be physically removed. Pictures showed a man with dreadlocks and red shorts desperately resisting officers while footage captured several policemen dragging a man away by the face as others used capsicum spray on demonstrators. Two of the protesters were arrested for alleged animal cruelty after a police horse was attacked, Victoria Police said. 👮🏻‍♂️