If you didn’t lose your home, these fires are a startling reminder of the importance of being properly insured.

In fact, advocacy group United Policyholders says two-thirds of wildfire victims are under-insured by more than $100,000.

Here are tips for making sure you’re protected.

1. First, make sure you’re fully covered by insurance. You don’t want to rely on FEMA -- that’s a needs-based program and the maximum grant is $32,000.
2. You want to be sure you have enough insurance to rebuild from the ground up. Here’s what will help you determine that: the cost to rebuild in most parts of California is $130 - $180 per square foot. Do the math and confirm with your insurance company that your coverage meets those numbers.
3. Take a thorough home inventory. This means more than taking pictures and videos. Last year, in the Bay Area fires, some homeowners had to account for every single item they lost -- down to every fork and sock. They took heavy hits when they couldn’t complete a detailed inventory.
4. If you live in a high fire risk area, insurance experts recommend buying as much Extended Replacement Cost Coverage as you can afford. If you need to rebuild, this covers you beyond your policy limits.
5. Finally, don’t just rely on what the insurance company tells you. Do some homework -- double check what they advise. Document every conversation with them -- including the date and the name of the person you spoke with.

If you’re in a high risk area and can’t find coverage, use this California Insurance Finder tool to help. 

For more preparedness tips, visit this site. 

For help in understanding homeowners policies, check out Uphelp.org.

You can see more information on how to help fire victims here. 

And you can find how to avoid firefighter charity scams here.

Growing fears over potentially toxic and radioactive ash and smoke from the Woolsey Fire are prompting calls for an independent investigation of the fire and fallout.

People most concerned live in the West San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley and Oak Park -- neighborhoods within a few miles of the contaminated Santa Susana Field Lab, which went up in flames during the Woolsey Fire.

"I'm worried about breathing in all those toxic substances. Long term I'm worried about cancer," Caroline Aslanian told NBC4. She lives in an Oak Park neighborhood near the field lab that's now covered with ash.

Aslanian runs an air purifier 24 hours a day in her home to filter out ash and particles, like those clinging to her windows and cars from the fire.

"I want to limit my exposure to toxic chemicals and radioactive particles from the smoke," she told NBC4.

Aslanian and her neighbors are not comforted by a statement issued late Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. The statement says the department "collected air samples and operated multiple radiation detection units" on the burned out Santa Susana Field Lab grounds. "There was no discernible level of radiation in the tested area," the statement said.

"I think they're just trying to shut the public up. I want to see the study and see how they did the study," Aslanian said.

Also skeptical of the Health Department's claims is Dan Hirsch, former director of the Program on Environmental and Nuclear Policy at the University of California. Hirsch has advocated for a full clean of the contamination at Santa Susana for decades.

"The health department's claims are not reassuring," Hirsch told NBC4.

He points out that elevated levels of radioactivity have been found at hundreds of locations for years at the Field Lab.

"If the quick and dirty measurements the agency is now reporting are not detecting any radiation, they are clearly using devices that are too insensitive to detect it," Hirsch said.

He also noted the Public Health Department's statement is "silent about toxic chemical contamination." More than 100 toxic chemicals have been found at the Field Lab, and Hirsch says they could be in the smoke and ash that drifted from the Field Lab to neighborhoods during and after the fire.

Hirsch also strongly believes there should be an independent investigation of the fallout from the fire conducted by a university or non-profit group.

"Public confidence in regulatory agencies is so shaken that independent analysis is absolutely critical to credibly determine the nature of potential risk from the fire," Hirsch said.

Here is the health department's statement in full:

"At the request of Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) performed an assessment of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) due to nearby wildfire activity burning through portions of the facility.

"Public Health officials traveled to the facility and performed nuclide identification, collected air samples, and operated multiple radiation detection units. There was no discernible level of radiation in the tested area. Public Health has discussed with the California Department of Toxic Substances and partner agencies their preliminary findings, and all found no evidence of discernible radiation in areas they tested around the facility.

"Although the SSFL is located in Ventura County and is regulated by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, multiple agencies took measurements of radiation and hazards compounds including the 9th Civil Support Team, the Department of Energy Radiological Assistance Program, and California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Results reported from the agencies concur with Public Health’s assessment.

"Public Health will continue to work with partner agencies to monitor the facility and respond to the fire event. For health information, visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov."

A brush fire erupted near the intersection of North Riverside Avenue and Sierra Avenue in Fontana Tuesday night and threatened homes on the border of Fontana and Rialto as it grew rapidly.

San Bernardino County Fire Department Public Information Officer Eric Sherwin told NBC4 that the fire was first reported at approximately 9:30 p.m.

The SBCFD's official Twitter account labeled the vegetation fire as the "Sierra Fire" and recorded the flames at 2-3 acres at 10:03 p.m.  Only 15 minutes later, the fire had grown to 20 acres.

The Sierra Fire was predominantly burning alongside North Riverside Avenue between Sierra Avenue and North Adler Avenue, but high winds assisted in spreading the flames, with embers clearly visibly flying into the bordering neighborhoods.

The embers spread and quickly lit up a fence and a tree. Firefighters were on scene to put out hot spots, but the winds posed a major threat.

A bizarre brawl broke out in an Orange County McDonald's after a woman went into the employee area, demanded ketchup, and allegedly started choking an employee when she was told to leave, the Santa Ana Police Department said Tuesday.

Police were searching Tuesday for the woman captured on McDonald's surveillance footage.

It started after the customer, a woman seen in surveillance footage in a pink shirt and gray sweatpants, got upset in the drive-thru because something was left out of her order Oct. 27.

She allegedly became so upset that she walked in a back door left open at the Santa Ana McDonald's in the 1500 block North Bristol and began swearing at the manager, police said.

The manager said she couldn't believe it started over ketchup.

The woman allegedly slipped in through a door left open after an employee took out the trash. On surveillance, the woman in the pink shirt can be seen confronting the manager, and a fight quickly breaks out.

It took a while before a co-worker tried to break up the fight. By that point, the woman in pink can be seen on video choking the employee.

"It happened all so fast. One of the girls did help me. The rest, I don't know, I wasn't really aware of what was going on," the manager who was attacked said. She didn't wish to be identified.

The manager says beyond a few four-letter words, the woman kept asking for ketchup.

"We're starting to see more of this type of incident: people upset by service take it beyond a complaint. They physically assault the workers," said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

About a minute after it began, a man walks in and seems to tell the female attacker it's time to leave. It is unclear if she ever got the ketchup.

"Fortunately the male you see got her out of the store otherwise we don't know where this would have gone," Bertagna said.

As for the 22-year old manager, she said she suffered more from shock than serious injury.

The manager believes the two were seen leaving in a white car.

Survivors of California's deadliest wildfire say belated warning from public officials and a reluctance of residents who had survived previous fires to leave home were among the factors that contributed to the delayed and chaotic evacuations, NBC News reported. 

Much attention has been focused on the search for dozens of people who are still missing, as well as the possibility that power equipment belonging to the electric utility PG&E may have sparked the deadly fire. But some residents wonder why notice was not given sooner prior to the so-called Camp fire, which has killed at least 48 people and destroyed an estimated 7,600 homes — both records for California. 

"They definitely didn't do enough," said Christina Taft, whose 67-year-old mother has been missing since the fire. "She didn't expect it to be that bad. She expected someone would be calling, or something, if it got bad. But they didn't."

The Butte County Sheriff's Office said it delivered notifications about the fire danger via email, phone and text message. But at a Tuesday news conference, Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the fire's unusually swift progress south and west made timely notification difficult. 

The 2020 presidential election may seem far away, but hopeful candidates are already starting to host small events and engage their supporters in states with early primaries. New Hampshire is one of the earliest and most-watched primaries, which means that candidates from both parties begin to travel to it before they even officially declare that they're running. NBC10 Boston and necn are keeping track of which hopefuls have visited the Granite State, and what they do when they are here, so explore the interactive below to see some of our findings and check back as we continue to update it in the months leading up to the 2020 primary.

Are we missing a visit? Email us at web@necn.com

[[490728741,BL]]

From once rampant sexual harassment to their new role of eyes and ears in hallways, hotel housekeepers are revealing secrets of the job and debunking myths. 

Five housekeepers at downtown Chicago hotels, who asked us to only use their first names and not reveal their workplace, sat down with NBC 5 Investigates and Telemundo Investiga. 

For the women, their favorite part of the job is the flexibility that allows them to be home with their children as they leave for school and when they return, as well as the ability to meet people from all over the world who stay in Chicago. 

The housekeepers discussed how their union, Unite Here Local 1, is fighting for their safety and better conditions. They also revealed the time of year in Chicago that most housekeepers dread. 

#1 Sexual harassment was once widespread 

The five women said they either personally experienced or know a colleague who endured sexual harassment on the job. 

There is a universal three-knock rule in hotels. After three knocks, the housekeeper assumes the room is empty and is safe to enter. 

“I enter the room, and there’s a guy standing there completely naked,” said LaTonia. “I felt embarrassed, ashamed and angry.” 

The women said they’ve also been solicited. 

“When I ask, ‘do you need service or do you want service?’ They ask, ‘what kind of service?’” said Faviola. “They make me angry because I don’t know what they think we are.” 

A 2016 survey of nearly 500 women working in hotels in Chicago, conducted by Unite Here Local 1, found 58 percent of hotel workers experienced sexual harassment by guests. It prompted the union to push Chicago aldermen to implement panic buttons in all hotels. The ordinance passed with a July 1 implementation date. 

The housekeepers said the panic buttons make them feel safer. 

“We wear it with pride,” said LaTonia. “It’s scary being on those floors alone and knocking on doors and you never know what’s on the other side of that door.” 

#2 The worst time of year for housekeepers in Chicago: Lollapalooza 

The popular summertime festival, along with New Year’s Eve and Taste of Chicago, prove to be a challenging time each year, the housekeepers said. 

“The guests leave behind a mess,” they explained. “A lot of damage, a lot of broken stuff, pictures off the wall, drugs…a lot of vomit. And during the festivals, if it’s raining…they come in with bare feet and there’s mud all over their feet, mud in the tub.” 

The women said they typically have a half hour to clean rooms for a multi-night stay guest and 45 minutes for a check out, which they said it not enough time. 

The Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association told NBC 5 that its member hotels have “policies in place to provide housekeepers with additional assistance and resources when rooms are excessively dirty.” 

#3 Go green or save green? 

The “green” program in hotels, which encourage guests to skip service or re-use towels in order to save the environment, creates problems for hotel workers, the housekeepers said. 

“The guests think they are doing the right thing, but essentially what happens is it lays the workers off,” said LaTonia. 

The housekeepers also explained that declining a turn-down means a bigger mess to clean up the next day. 

“It doesn’t save anything. We use more water. We use more chemicals,” Dias said. 

The Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association told NBC 5 that its hotel members are “committed to preserving the jobs of their team members by ensuring they receive the proper workloads.” 

“Job growth and protecting our precious environment are not mutually exclusive, and I’m proud of our hotels’ commitment to both,” said Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association. 

#4 The most disgusting and outrageous things found in rooms 

Hotel housekeepers have truly seen in all. 

They said the most disgusting things they have found include vomit, unflushed toilets, toothpaste in the sink, used condoms in drawers. 

“You have to get on your knees and look for them under the bed,” Dias said. 

#5 The worst kind of guest 

Even worse than the creepy or disgusting guest is the rude guest, the housekeepers said. 

“No matter what you do, he’s not happy, she’s not happy,” Tina said. “You just have guests that complain because they want something free – a bottle of wine, a free night stay, breakfast. And they get it, but we’re the ones who face the consequences.” 

#6 Their jobs go beyond just cleaning 

In the aftermath of the 2017 Las Vegas massacre, where a gunman killed more than 50 concertgoers by shooting from a hotel window, housekeepers are now required to be extra vigiliant. 

“If the guests don’t request service in a couple of days, we have to report that, so (hotel management and security) can come up and investigate.” 

#7 Housekeeping is a taxing job 

The housekeepers said a majority of their colleagues are on daily medication to relieve aches and pains. 

“I had surgery on my rotator cuff due to repetitive work,” said Tina. “It’s a lot because you’re scrubbing down walls in the bathroom, scrubbing toilets, scrubbing sinks.”

The woman said they are on their feet for 8-hour shifts, pushing carts that can weigh upwards of 200 pounds. 

It’s one of the reasons why Unite Here Local 1 initiated a citywide hotel strike in September, calling for year-round healthcare. 

The women said during the slow tourism period in the winter months, housekeepers and other hotel workers were laid off without health insurance. The union negotiated with each downtown hotel by early October to end the strike. 

#8 Should you really drink from those glasses? 

Despite common hotel myths, the housekeepers said everything is wiped down and cleaned from one guest to another, from the TV remote, drinking glasses, drawers, mirrors and phones. 

Mattresses are replaced every 3 months, the women said. 

#9 Should you tip? 

Tips have declined, the housekeepers said. They’re not required by any means but very much appreciated. 

“If you stay three to four days, and you’re a mess every day you’re there, and I make it tidy for you, just out of appreciation, you should leave something,” said LaTonia. 

The housekeepers said handwritten ‘thank you’ notes are often worth more than a couple dollars. 

“A thank you note? Oh, it would just make me feel like I did something and they were satisfied,” Dias said. 

“I like when they leave a note, saying I did a good job and they like my service. That makes me feel good,” Faviola said. 

#10 Guest freebies and etiquette 

Yes, go ahead and leave used towels on the floor. That’s not considered rude, the housekeepers said. 

Also, there’s little the housekeepers won’t give you if you ask (except for themselves). 

Extra hangers, chocolates, bottled water, toiletries? It’s all free of charge. 

“I had this one guest who completely took my whole caddy, the whole thing! And then came back and asked for some more. I couldn’t do nothing but give them more,” Tina said. 

“You always have to make the guest happy.”

President Donald Trump's legal team is closing in on submitting written answers to special counsel Robert Mueller's questions on Russian interference in the 2016 election, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News Tuesday.

The answers, which don't touch on obstruction of justice, could be submitted as early as this week, the source said. Trump has met with the team at least once this week, according to a person familiar with the meetings.

Prosecutors would not typically be satisfied with written answers in an investigation, but Mueller may want to avoid a legal battle.

"I imagine that the Mueller team is still going to want to sit down with the president," former federal prosecutor Chuck Rosenberg said on MSNBC.

The New Jersey homeowners who started receiving threatening letters from someone identified as "The Watcher" after they bought a home in Westfield have spoken out and shared the letters in a new interview.

Derek and Maria Broaddus had just purchased the home for nearly $1.4 million in 2014 when they started receiving letters from someone who claimed to be its rightful owner and said he or she was watching the house.

In an interview with New York Magazine published this week, the Broadduses spoke out about the terrifying ordeal.

The family ultimately decided they couldn’t live in the house after receiving the letters, which contained threats toward their children.

“657 Boulevard has been the subject of my family for decades now and as it approaches its 110th birthday, I have been put in charge of watching and waiting for its second coming,” the first letter read, according to New York Magazine.

“My grandfather watched the house in the 1920s and my father watched in the 1960s. It is now my time. Do you know the history of the house? Do you know what lies within the walls of 657 Boulevard? Why are you here? I will find out,” the letter went on to say.

Subsequent letters made disturbing mentions of the Broaddus’ children.

“It has been years and years since the young blood ruled the hallways of the house. Have you found all of the secrets it holds yet? Will the young blood play in the basement? Or are they too afraid to go down there alone. I would [be] very afraid if I were them. It is far away from the rest of the house. If you were upstairs you would never hear them scream,” one letter read, according to the outlet.

The family decided to move in with Maria Broaddus’ parents as they dealt with the issues at their new home before deciding to sell it, but weren’t able to find a buyer.

“I was a depressed wreck,” Derek Broaddus told the outlet.

Later, they filed a lawsuit against the former owners of the home claiming they failed to disclose a note they’d received from “The Watcher” before they sold the home, but a judge ultimately threw out the suit. The Broadduses were eventually able to find renters who didn’t mind living at the property.

The Broadduses also shared a recent letter from The Watcher with the outlet.

“You are despised by the house,” the letter reads, according to the outlet. “And The Watcher won.”

Some Westfield residents and people who followed the news story believed the Broadduses could have sent the letters to themselves, among other conspiracy theories, according to the outlet.

“What happened to my family is an affront to their contention that they’re safe, that there’s no such thing as mental illness in their community,” Derek Broaddus told the outlet. “People don’t want to believe this could happen in Westfield.”

As news of Amazon's move to Northern Virginia sinks in, residents and real estate watchers are monitoring the impact the announcement will have on rent costs and sale prices.

Northern Virginia realtor Jen Walker said she's already seen what's being called "the Amazon effect." Overnight, some of her potential buyers changed their minds from passing on a home to buying it.

"They woke up this morning, saw the Amazon announcement and they decided they wanted to move forward with a contract," she said. "They said, 'We’re going to get priced out if we don’t do this now.'"

Getting priced out is what Alex Howe fears will happen to low-income families in Northern Virginia. Howe is a member of the D.C. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. The group runs the website NoVa Says No to Amazon.

“We’re going to see, I think, an explosion in rents and housing prices. And folks in these communities, like up the street in the Chirilagua neighborhood — developers have been eyeing that area for a really long time," Howe said. "They’ve been able to hold them off, but honestly I think the pressure's going to get higher."

Chirilagua is the predominantly Latino neighborhood on the Arlington-Alexandria line.

Amazon says the tech giant is moving to an area they're calling National Landing, which is comprised of parts of Crystal City and Pentagon City in Arlington, and Potomac Yard in Alexandria.

But Howe says the fight isn't over. He hopes that activists and residents still can shape how much Amazon gets in tax incentives.

"We’re still giving away taxpayer money to one of the largest corporations on the planet and run by one of the richest men on the planet," Howe said.

In remarks Tuesday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam promised Amazon's new headquarters would benefit all communities.

"To be able to invest in our education system, infrastructure and affordable housing, this is an exciting day in Virginia," he said.

Walker, who has sold homes in Northern Virginia for more than two decades, said Amazon's move will make a lot of local homeowners happy. She said she wonders how much higher the already-booming local housing market can go.

"We are at the top of the market, but I’ve said that for two years, and the top just keeps continuing to go up," she said.

Jason Coffman didn't plan out what he was going to say when he spoke Tuesday night at a vigil for his son Cody, who was killed last week when a shooter opened fire in the Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks.

But the 12 red roses the mourning father clutched in his hand filled the spaces where words failed to express his grief and the compassion for those who shared his agony. After saying a few words between sobs to the more than 1,000 people who gathered on a chilly and windy night in Newbury Park, Coffman handed a rose to each family of the 12 victims in last Wednesday's mass shooting.

"I have 12 roses, and I would absolutely be honored to meet the families, right now, one by one," Coffman said.

Wearing his blue Dodgers hat and a hooded sweatshirt, Coffman then handed each family a rose and shared tearful embraces and memories of those they had lost.

The size of the crowd, many bundled in jackets, touched friends and family. The gathering was at a park where 22-year-old Cody Coffman umpired for little league baseball teams.

"When he was here, he didn't think he had an impact on anybody," said friend Brandon Garza. "He thought he was just an average guy. Look at what he did. He brought all these people together."

Like many of the shooting victims, Cody Coffman had been making plans for what he wanted to do with his life. He was talking with Army recruiters and preparing to fulfill his dream of serving his country, his father said. He loved his three brothers, ages 6 to 9, and was eager for the birth of a baby sister -- due Nov. 29.

Before his son left for the Borderline Bar last Wednesday night, Coffman told him not to drink and drive, and that he loved him. Hours later, he was at a family unification center waiting in depseration to hear whether his son had made it out of the Thousand Oaks bar.

He then shared the horrible news with those gathered outside the unification center that his son was among those killed.

A memorial service Wednesday at 7 p.m. for Cody Coffman will be open to the public at Perez Family Chapel in Camarillo.

Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, Pillow Pets and Nerf guns may all seem like good holiday gifts for children, but one group is warning otherwise.

World Against Toys Causing Harm, also known as WATCH, released the 2018 top 10 list of "worst" holiday toys and featured all of the above. The nonprofit organization says the toys included in its list pose choking hazards, risk blunt injuries and have the potential to cause facial injuries.

For more than four decades, WATCH has released these lists to warn parents of the potential dangers that come with their children’s selection of toys on their holiday wish lists.

This year’s list includes:

• Nickelodeon Nella Princess Knight Pillow Pets Sleeptime Lites for its "potential for ingestion and battery-related injuries"
• Nerf Vortex VTX Praxis Blaster for its "potential for eye injuries"
• Marvel Black Panther Slash Claw for its "potential for eye and facial injuries"
• Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel Superstar Blade for its "potential for blunt force and eye injuries"
• Cabbage Patch Kids Dance Time Doll for its "potential for choking injuries"
• Zoo Jamz Xylophone for its "potential for ingestion and choking injuries"
• Nici Wonderland Doll: Miniclara the Ballerina for its "potential for choking injuries"
• Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket for its "potential for eye, face and other impact injuries"
• Cutting Fruit for its "potential for puncture and blunt force injuries"
• Chien Á Promener Pull Along Dog for its "potential for entanglement and strangulation injuries"

WATCH presented its list on Tuesday at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Boston.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports an estimated 240,000 toy-related injuries happened in the U.S. in 2016. Between January 2017 and October 2018, an estimated 3.5 million units of toys were recalled in the U.S. and in Canada, according to WATCH.

The Toy Association disagrees with the non-profit's claims.

"Each year, WATCH's dangerous toys list needlessly frightens parents and caregivers," the Toy Association said in a statement. "By law, all toys sold in the United States must meet 100+ rigorous safety tests and standards."

Wicked Cool Toys, which manufactures the Cabbage Patch doll that was named in WATCH's list, said safety is their priority.

"We take safety very seriously, and all of the products we bring to market have been through and passed all required safety testing," their statement said. 

The manufacturer reminds consumers that all toys sold in the U.S. are required to exceed safety testing before hitting store shelves.

Hasbro, which manufactures the Nerf Vortex and the Black Panther claw, also said their top priority is safety.

"Our products comply with all applicable global safety laws, regulations and standards, including those enforced by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission," Hasbro said in a statement. 

PlayMonster manufactures the Cutting Fruit set and also said they take consumer safety seriously and that it is their priority.

"Toymakers and The Toy Association are committed to toy safety year-round," the Toy Association said. "These efforts include providing useful tips for families and caregivers to help them choose age-appropriate toys and ensure safe play."

Toy manufacturers CJ Products, Vtech, NICI, D & L Company and Janod; Juratoys did not immediately comment on the list.

Toys that were featured in 2017’s list included a Wonder Woman sword, fidget spinners, a Spider-Man drone and more.

Count 'em up: How many shops or eateries or libraries or civic offices or churches or plazas have you zipped by, in a car or in a bus or on a bicycle, vowing to return later, on foot, to see just what that building was all about?

Do you go back? And poke your head into all of the head-poke-able places, to get to know our massive-o-polis of a city even better?

If so, high fives. If not, high fives, because you have the impulse, and, yes, a way-busy schedule.

But there's a Saturday to-do just ahead, that's totally free to join, and it is all about making good on your whole desire to track-back and check out some of the local sights you've seen through your windshield.

And, yes: To pay affectionate and grateful homage to iconic food writer Jonathan Gold, who passed away earlier this year.

That Saturday is Nov. 17, the event is the 13th annual Great Los Angeles Walk, and, once again, a group of local-loving Southern Californians will set off on a long stroll from DTLA to the Pacific Ocean.

The 2018 route? It'll wend along 6th Street, into and through Koreatown, as an homage to Mr. Gold, a champion of many of the cafés along the food-amazing thoroughfare.

Some other streets'll be on the map, like Santa Monica Boulevard, yes. You can find the whole route here.

Created by longtime Franklin Avenue blogger and pop culture smartie Mike Schneider, as a way to sate his curiosity about our city's deeper, out-of-the-car pockets, The Great Los Angeles Walk has become the pre-Thanksgiving Saturday-fun must-do for those regional explorers who want to get to know a well-known street, block by block.

Start time? Gather at Pershing Square at 9 in the morning on the 17th. 

Distance? It's 16. 5 miles, all told, and, nope, no one is expected to walk the whole way. Or you can. Just arrange your transportation ahead of time, or have plans in place. This page is helpful.

Expected group? About 300, which means you may see pals you already know or meet a new friend who digs dining, our big city's little secrets, and connecting in an authentic, on-the-move, we-love-LA kind of way.

Many things to know?

Know them after perusing the Great Walk LA HQ, but keep in mind a biggie: This is absolutely free. Snack cash? Drink funds? Yours to show with, but, otherwise, just show, and connect with where you live, and the people who live here, too.

The death toll in California's devastating November wildfires continued to grow with the discovery of a body in a burned house in Southern California's Woolsey Fire zone.

Law enforcement officers found the body Tuesday in a house in the 32000 block of Lobo Canyon Road in Agoura Hills, according to the county coroner's office. Details were not immediately available, but the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said it is apparently related to the 97,600-acre Woolsey Fire.

Aerial video showed blackened hillsides, burned vehicles at at least two destroyed residences in the canyon area northwest of Los Angeles.

The deaths are part of a historic month of wildfires in California. At least 48 people have died in the Camp Fire that all but destroyed the Northern California town of Paradise, making it the deadliest fire in state history. 

On Friday, the remains of two people were found inside a burned vehicle in a long driveway in the 33000 block of Mulholland Highway. The Woolsey Fire burned through the area's mountains after it started Thursday in Ventura County. 

The Woolsey Fire was nearly 50-percent contained Wednesday morning. It has destroyed an estimated 435 structures and led to tens of thousands of evacuations.

Some evacuations were lifted Wednesday in Malibu, but firefighters are watching for hot spots that might be whipped up by Santa Ana winds. Gusts were expected to peak Wednesday morning before diminishing around midday.

Fall is historically one of the most dangerous times of the year for wildfires in California. Seven of the state's 10-most destructive wildfires occurred in October -- many fueled by monster winds, including Santa Ana gusts.

Through early November, Cal Fire has reported about 5,600 fires that burned more than 621,700 acres. During that same period last year, the agency reported 5,800 fire that burned 316,600 acres. Over the last five years, California has averaged 5,293 fires that burned 231,400 acres during that interval.

Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz is facing new charges after officials say he attacked a detention deputy inside the Broward County Jail, where he is awaiting trial for allegedly killing 17 people in February.

Officials with the Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed to NBC 6 that the 20-year-old Cruz attacked a detention deputy inside the facility Tuesday evening just before 6 p.m. The deputy refused medical treatment and Cruz was evaluated by medical staff but had minor injuries that didn't require medical treatment, officials said.

According to an arrest report, Cruz struck the deputy in the face following a verbal disagreement before grabbing hold of the deputy's stun gun — which went off during the fight.

The verbal disagreement started when the deputy told Cruz to stop dragging his sandals on the ground and Cruz gave him the middle finger, the report said.

Surveillance video showed Cruz striking the deputy several more times, according to the report, before the deputy grabbed the stun gun back and hit Cruz with it. Cruz eventually got off the deputy and was placed under arrest.

According to BSO jail records, Cruz faces three preliminary charges: aggravated assault on a correctional officer, battery on a law enforcement officer and use of a chemical or electrical weapon on an officer. All are felony charges. The charges are listed on the jail's website in addition to the 34 charges he faces for the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Cruz's attorneys had no immediate comment. Cruz made a brief court appearance Wednesday afternoon, where his attorneys were granted authorization to take photos of any injuries he may have. Another hearing was scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Cruz has been held without bond since his arrest shortly after the shooting.

The incident comes at the same time as the MSD commission is meeting in Sunrise, with Broward schools superintendent Robert Runcie, Sheriff Scott Israel and Scot Peterson — the school resource officer who has been criticized for his response during the shooting — scheduled to speak.

On Feb. 14, Cruz allegedly entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas, where he was once a student, and opened fire, killing 14 students and three staff members before being arrested shortly after. He's pleaded not guilty in the shooting but his lawyers say he would plead guilty in exchange for a life prison sentence.

The Woolsey Fire began Thursday in the hills of eastern Ventura County and burned into Los Angeles County, destroying homes and other buildings on its way toward the ocean.

Use the maps below to see where the fire has burned more than 91,500 acres. You also can see a smoke forecast and view photos and videos from the fire zone. 

PROGRESSION

The Woolsey Fire began Thursday Nov. 8 in eastern Ventura County before jumping the 101 Freeway and spreading south toward Malibu. 

PERIMETER

The fire doubled in size after the first day, expanding into communities as it spread toward the ocean.

SMOKE FORECAST

Smoke drifted across Southern California as the fire spread, reducing air quality levels for a widespread part of the region.

Air Quality

Depending on which way the winds are blowing, fires can have a significant health impact on air quality in Southern California.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

The fire burned some houses to the ground while leaving sometimes leaving neighboring residences relatively untouched. Below, a look at the Woolsey Fire in photos and video.

The United States faces a "crisis of national security" because its historic military supremacy has eroded drastically, leaving it likely unable to fight more than a single war at a time, according to a congressionally chartered report released Wednesday.

"U.S. military superiority is no longer assured and the implications for American interests and American security are severe," said the report, which was issued by the National Defense Strategy Commission, an independent agency whose board is appointed by the House and Senate Armed Services committees.

The report concludes that the Defense Department isn't financially or strategically set up to wage two wars at once and could even lose a war against China or Russia individually, NBC News reported.

"The U.S. military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict," it said.

A House committee will hear testimony Thursday from Department of Veterans Affairs officials over delayed GI Bill payments potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of veterans.

NBC News reported Sunday that IT glitches at VA have caused GI Bill benefit payments covering education and housing to be delayed for months or never be delivered, forcing some veterans to face debt or even homelessness.

NBC News learned on Wednesday that one of the key witnesses called to testify from VA was reassigned by the federal agency to a regional office in Houston.

Robert Worley, executive director of Education Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), based in Washington, D.C., has been appointed to serve as the executive director of the VBA’s Houston Regional Office, according to two sources close to the VA and an email reviewed by NBC News.

Higher-ups at VA decided to reassign Worley due to the delayed GI Bill payments, as well as other issues within his office, sources said.

After a tough week in Southern California, the Los Angeles Lakers are joining the relief efforts.

One week after a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks claimed the lives of 13 people, and wildfires ravaged the southland destroying hundreds of homes and claiming lives, the Lakers are doing their part.

The team announced on Wednesday, that they will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross to directly help victims of the Woosley Fire, and an additional $50,000 to the Conejo Valley Victims Fund for the families of the 12 victims whose lives were taken in the shooting.

However, the $50,000 donation is not the only thing the Lakers have done to bring awareness and help the victims of the shooting. On Sunday, ahead of their win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Lakers were pregame t-shirts that said "Enough" across the chest, and had all 12 of the victims names on the back.

The team also announced that they will set up a blood drive at all home games for those that were injured in the Thousand Oaks shooting.