`There’s an eerie glow`

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Dan Teckenoff, publisher of the Catalina Islander, reached by telephone, said he was ripping up part of the front page to get in a picture and story of the fire.

‘The hills of Catalina are on fire,’ he said by telephone.

He said he could hear aircraft dropping retardant. City Hall was closed and officials had moved to a Catholic Church that was serving as an ad hoc evacuation center.

‘There’s an eerie glow over the town. We need to leave,’ Teckenoff said. He said his priorities are getting out the paper then, ‘I need to pack my things and move out of my house.’ He said he doesn’t know where he will sleep tonight. The island is noted for the bison that roam the hills in the fire-damaged area. ‘They’re probably running for cover.

-Michael Muskal