The Star was unable to deliver newspapers to customers Tuesday morning because of high winds and heat that lowered the humidity in the press room and caused newsprint to break and tear on the press, according to Ernie Reyes, The Star's director of operations.

"In the six years I've been here, we've had other problems," Reyes said, "but not this particular problem."

Star Publisher George H. Cogswell III said he's not convinced the problem was simply the humidity levels, saying that multiple factors might have contributed, including power outages and the loss of air conditioning over the weekend. He also suggested the paper that The Star uses could have been a factor.

If it's determined that humidity was the problem, Cogswell said, he would take the necessary steps to prevent a similar mishap in the future.

"My first concern is that we get all of our newspapers delivered today (Tuesday)," he said, adding that "ultimately, I want to apologize to all of our readers."

Newspapers were expected to be delivered to subscribers by 7 p.m. Tuesday, said Steve Smith, The Star's vice president of circulation.

Press operators were using hoses to spray the rolls of paper down after the humidity level dropped to about 35 percent in the press room Monday, Reyes said.

"It needs to be a minimum of 45 to 50 percent," he said. The moisture keeps the paper from becoming brittle and susceptible to breakage.

Cogswell said Reyes would be looking into the cost of a humidifier, if it's determined that would solve the problem.

In San Diego, where the Southern California wildfires have hit the hardest, the San Diego Union-Tribune has not experienced problems with its humidity levels, according to Press Room Manager Rob Witherspoon.

"What we did was put a humidifier in and it helped," he said. "We put it in about four to five months ago because of the Santa Ana conditions. We had problems last year and it's something new we're trying, and so far it's working pretty well."

Before the company made the investment, Witherspoon said he took a trip to see the humidifiers used by the Los Angeles Daily News.

The Union-Tribune ultimately purchased two humidifiers, one for its paper supply, or "reel" room, that cost $15,000, he said, adding that "we also have it piped into the press room upstairs."

Despite the fact that its press operations are humidified, the Daily News had its own press problems this week.

"There were a couple of mechanical breakdowns in the press room, not the problem that The Star had last night with the humidity ... these were some other mechanical problems," Assistant Managing Editor George Foulsham said. "And it was compounded by the fact that there were so many road closures out in the area where we print."

The Daily News is printed in Valencia.