California sets a grim record with more than two million acres burned, with several weeks remaining in  the middle of fire season. / USA Today

One backpacking party’s frightening story of escaping the Creek Fire. / Twitter

In Los Angeles, a pyrotechnic device that was part of a gender-reveal party started a fire that has burned more than 7,000 acres, recalling Arizona’s Sawmill Fire. / The Los Angeles Times, Twitter

See also: “How Decades of Racist Housing Policy Left Neighborhoods Sweltering.” / The New York Times

India's increasing coronavirus count makes it the world's second-worst-hit country behind the United States. / The Associated Press

Researchers find cardiac damage can happen even among people who never displayed symptoms of coronavirus infection. / Scientific American

In New Orleans, hospitals sent infected patients back into their communities to die at home, and be cared for by untrained family members without proper protective equipment. / ProPublica

Roughly five months after top US health officials launched Operation Warp Speed, an assessment of how it’s doing. / STAT

President Trump says a vaccine may be ready before the election, then insists he didn’t say that, then proceeds to say it again. / The Associated Press

The US Senate returns, facing only days before lawmakers leave again to campaign, with “a path to nowhere” on coronavirus aid. / Politico

See also: “My Winter Dread Has Never Been Worse.” / The Cut

Footage of this year’s protests against police brutality have turned social media into “a unique kind of cinematic experience.” / The Verge

John Boyega: “I’m the only cast member whose experience of Star Wars was based on their race.” / GQ

Ai Weiwei releases Coronation, about China’s response to the pandemic and the strange normalcy of Wuhan under lockdown. / Hyperallergic

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic is defaulted from the US Open after a tennis ball he struck in anger hits a line judge in the neck. / ESPN

Eater publishes a package of stories around the future of restaurants. / Eater

Related: “We cooked food with love and our families received that love and everyone is happy and that’s all that matters.” / Bon Appétit

How to make moon cakes: an over-the-top baking demonstration. / TikTok