Terrifying period was formerly known as summer
In what has become a cherished tradition, throngs of Marin residents lined the streets to welcome the series of heat domes and red flag days that start now and won't end until early November. It was a lively family scene, with parents clutching go-bags and children in respirators presenting firefighters with garlands of vegetation removed from within five feet of their homes. "This is such a special time of year," said attendee Dina Gertle, her phone pinging with festive emergency notifications. "I actually have to go," she added.