California California Wildfires | CalMatters

Cattle graze in Modoc County south of Alturas where cattle outnumber humans 4-1 on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Without Devil's Garden, fires will burn longer as firefighting crews will have to travel more than 100 miles to reach the area. Photo by Karl Mondon, Bay Area News Group

California’s final frontier faces firefighter shortage

by Elizabeth Castillo November 11, 2020November 10, 2020

When the state consolidates inmate fire camps next month, remote Modoc County is left with few resources to prevent and battle its lightning-sparked fires.

A firefighter hoses down a burning home to help stop the spread of the fire to nearby homes in the Skyhawk community as the Shady Fire burns in Santa Rosa, on Sept. 28, 2020. Photo by Dai Sugano, Bay Area News Group

California protects homeowners from having fire insurance dropped — again

by James Bikales November 5, 2020November 5, 2020

West Sacramento firefighters battle the Camp Fire on Honey Run Road in Paradise on Nov. 9, 2018. Photo by Ray Chavez, Bay Area News Group

Two years after Paradise burned, the focus is on prevention, rebuilding

by James Bikales October 21, 2020October 21, 2020

one of the 1,555 structures the Glass Fire left in its path of destruction. Photo by Marco Torrez

How to vote in a pandemic when you’ve lost your home in a wildfire

by Isabella Bloom and Marco Torrez October 21, 2020October 26, 2020

Saxon Stahl, a fourth year student at UC Santa Cruz, stands in the woods across from their residence hall on Oct. 14, 2020. The heavily wooded campus had a mandatory evacuation for more than a week during the CZN Lightening Complex fires in August. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Is your college in a severe wildfire zone?

by Mikhail Zinshteyn and Erica Yee October 15, 2020October 21, 2020

Taylor Craig stands for a portrait on the edge of his family’s property outside of Vacaville on Oct. 2, 2020. Charred trees and ground on the adjoining property were caused by the LNU Lightening Complex Fire in August; Craig was able to fight off the flames and protect his home from the fire after not receiving an evacuation warning. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

‘Totally inadequate’: Most Californians in wildfire-prone counties aren’t signed up for emergency alerts

by James Bikales October 7, 2020October 8, 2020

Homes destroyed by the LNU Lighting Complex Fire seen interspersed with untouched homes above Lake Berryessa, a resort area and water supply reservoir, on Sept. 21, 2020. Following the lighting complex fires in August, residents were advised not to drink or boil the tap water out of concerns for benzene and other contaminants. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Unsafe to drink: Wildfires threaten rural towns with tainted water

by Rachel Becker October 5, 2020October 7, 2020

Will Christianson and Jason Vincent clear away fallen brush from around the base of the Mother of the Forest redwood as hot spots from the CZU Complex fire continue burning in Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Aug., 28, 2020. Photo by Karl Mondon, Bay Area News Group

California’s ancient ‘asbestos’ forests no longer seem immune

by Julie Cart September 28, 2020September 28, 2020

A tree stump smolders in front of a burned cabin in the Camp Silver Fir area on the north side of Huntington Lake in the Sierra National Forest on Sept. 13, 2020. Fire officials said a fire tornado blew through the area at some point last week burning cabins and knocking down many trees. Photo by Craig Kohlruss/The Fresno Bee

Sierra Nevada reels as flames and smoke drive visitors away

by Julie Cart September 16, 2020September 15, 2020

Three fire fighters asses the damage and implement protective measures in order to protect surroundings homes near Boulder Creek on Aug. 21, 2020. Photo by David Rodriguez, The Salinas Californian

The West is burning, so California struggles to find help fighting its wildfires

by Julie Cart August 28, 2020August 27, 2020