California Wildfires

A tattered American flag flies atop the remains of a structure severely damaged by fire. The foreground is filled with twisted metal debris and charred materials, while the clear blue sky forms the backdrop.

No single failure caused LA fires, report finds. Who fixes the system?

A 723-page review ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsom finds LA fires overwhelmed a system never designed for a wind-driven conflagration.

By Rachel Becker • October 2, 2026

Water splashes as a red remote hydrant on the banks of a lake sucks up water through an industrial-sized hose.

California Wildfires

He knows his community is going to burn again. Now he’s making sure they’re ready

As climate-fueled wildfires test water systems in new and devastating ways, this Lake County fire chief is racing to adapt

By Rachel Becker • September 25, 2026

A person in a white suit looks down while standing among colleagues inside a legislative chamber, as others around them also stand and look down. The scene is framed by tall columns, red drapes, and warm interior lighting, with several people partially visible in the foreground and background.

Politics

How the most powerful woman in California government is making her mark on the Legislature

While Sen. Monique Limón doesn’t have a blockbuster legislative victory to show for her first year as pro tem, her biggest win so far is her popularity with Senate colleagues. Unlike her predecessor, who was known as a micromanager, Limón’s egalitarian, “govern by consensus” approach has kept her caucus in lockstep.

By Kate Wolffe and Maya C. Miller • September 16, 2026

A hillside neighborhood with scattered houses and trees is illuminated by an orange glow, as thick smoke fills the sky. Mountains are visible in the background under a hazy, pale sky. A road with a few parked cars runs along the edge of the hill.

Economy

New California law sets first-in-nation standards for smoke damage in homes

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed laws that detail insurers' responsibilities in addressing smoke damage in homes. Some survivors from the Los Angeles County fires have yet to return home because of insurance disputes.

By Levi Sumagaysay • September 15, 2026

An electrical substation and power lines stand beneath a sky filled with orange and gray wildfire smoke.

Economy

Wildfire liability bill dies without a vote on final day of session

The measure, which was opposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state's public utilities, never came to a vote in the Assembly.

By Levi Sumagaysay • September 1, 2026

An aerial view of a break carved into the ridgeline of a mountain peak overlooking clouds of fog that cover a coastline, where a nuclear power plant with two dome structures sits near the shore.

California Wildfires

Federal wildfire crews are stretched thin. California is stepping in to help

As fire season takes hold, California is managing fuels and fire on federal lands. Can California keep it up?

By Rachel Becker • August 25, 2026

A helicopter drops water over a smoky wildfire burning across a hillside.

California Wildfires

The Trump administration upended how the West fights wildfires. California is bracing too

California, which is having an unusually quiet fire summer, has deployed engines and crews to fight fires raging in Colorado and the Pacific Northwest — but even this well-resourced state continues to feel vulnerable.

By CalMatters Staff • August 24, 2026