California California Wildfires

Retired CalFire firefighter Todd Nelson in Nevada City on March 19, 2024. Nelson suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from trauma experienced during his firefighting career. Photo by Loren Elliott for CalMatters

Environment

‘Total system breakdown’: California firefighters with PTSD face a workers’ comp nightmare

Even when suicidal, California firefighters struggle to find medical help and navigate the workers’ comp morass to pay for it. A 2021 analysis showed their claims were more likely to involve PTSD — and were denied more often.

By

Julie Cart

• June 26, 2024

Todd Nelson and Jennifer Alexander conduct a brainspotting exercise that involves Nelsen wearing firefighting equipment at Alexander's office in Gold River on April 24, 2024. Photo by Cristian Gonzalez for CalMatters

Environment

‘Excruciatingly slow’: Delays in workers’ comp payments harm firefighters, frustrate therapists

Therapists wait years to be paid, and some won’t accept complex PTSD cases from firefighters and others because of workers' comp red tape.

By

Julie Cart

• June 26, 2024

Jose Villanueva carries siding while building a home in Paradise on Oct. 25, 2023. The project is partly funded by ReCoverCA, a state program providing money to rebuild homes in disaster areas. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

California Wildfires

California requires new homes to have solar panels. Should wildfire victims get a break?

A California Republican’s bill would exempt low and middle income wildfire victims from solar panels requirements on rebuilt homes that didn’t have them when they burned down.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• April 12, 2024

Sunset above the flood waters in farmland with submerged tractors and farming equipment in Hansen Ranches south of Corcoran on April 26, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Environment

Year in review: Climate change and flooding hit home in California

The state takes more action on climate change in rules and legislation as drought is replaced by flooding.

By

Rachel Becker

and

Alejandro Lazo

• December 20, 2023

An aerial view of fire damage to a neighborhood of multi-million dollar homes Laguna Niguel on June 1, 2022. Photo by Mike Blake, CalMatters

Politics

California lawmakers failed to fix the insurance market. So what comes next?

Legislators weren’t able to reach a compromise that helps insurers with wildfire risk while also protecting homeowners. Interest groups hope to find one in meetings this fall.

By

Alexei Koseff

• September 14, 2023

Environment

California’s wildfire smoke and climate change: 4 things to know

California wildfires every year emit as much carbon as almost 2 million cars, posing a threat to efforts to battle climate change.

By

Alejandro Lazo

• September 5, 2023

Cal Fire Division Chief Jon Heggie next to his truck at San Diego County Fire Station 44 in Pine Valley on June 29, 2023. Photo by Kristian Carreon for CalMatters

California Wildfires

Drones, satellites and AI: How California fights its unpredictable wildfires with analytics

As nights warm and droughts intensify, past models predicting fire behavior have become unreliable. So California is working with analysts and tapping into new technology to figure out how to attack wildfires. Gleaned from military satellites, drones and infrared mapping, the information is spat out in real time and triaged by a fire behavior analyst.

By

Julie Cart

• July 12, 2023

CalFire firefighter Bo Santiago lights a backfire as the Rocky fire burns near Clearlake in 2015. Photo by Josh Edelson, AP Photo

California Wildfires

California’s firefighter union is poised to get a rare perk: Guaranteed raises, forever

After several years of devastating wildfires, California lawmakers want to give hefty raises to Cal Fire firefighters. The deal could tie the governor's hands in contracts.

By

Anabel Sosa

• June 30, 2023

A house burns on Platina Road at the Zogg Fire near Ono in 2020. Photo by Ethan Swope, AP Photo

Housing

State Farm won’t sell new home insurance in California. Can the state shore up the market?

Wildfires and expensive rebuilding wiped out profits among California home insurers. State Farm isn't the first insurer to retreat from the state, and may not be the last.

By

Ben Christopher

and

Grace Gedye

• May 31, 2023

California Wildfires

Firefighters’ mental health is at risk. A California bill could help

After unanimously clearing the Senate, a bill expanding first responders' access to workers’ comp for PTSD moves to the Assembly.

By

Julie Cart

• May 24, 2023