To Our Readers:

The “Doonesbury” cartoon strips prepared for the week of Nov. 8 center on a fictitious fire in Malibu and were drawn a week before the devastating real fire occurred. Because the humor in these strips does not seem appropriate now, The Times has decided to substitute other “Doonesbury” strips this week.

A spokesman for Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes “Doonesbury,” said artist Garry Trudeau understands the decision but was unable to create new, original art to replace the strips.