California California Wildfires

The August Complex Fire burns near Lake Pillsbury in the Mendocino National Forest on Sept. 16, 2020. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

Environment

California’s 2020 fire siege: wildfires by the numbers

In a year of superlatives, some statistics stand out for California’s 2020 fire year: Four million acres, 112 million tons of greenhouse gases, thousands of lightning strikes, 11 million gallons of fire retardant. And 31 lost lives.

By

Julie Cart

• July 29, 2021

Economy

Should homeowners pay for climate change?

Insurance companies want to factor climate change in calculating wildfire coverage, but consumer watchdogs worry California homeowners will end up with higher premiums. Lawmakers from fire-damaged districts say they are open to change because their constituents are already losing coverage.

By

Miranda Green

• June 30, 2021

A view of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek on April 22, 2021. Most of the park burned in 2020's CZU Complex wildfire. Photo by Max Whittaker courtesy of Save the Redwoods League

Environment

Battered, burned but alive: Time will heal park’s wounds, but it needs big money, too

Ravaged by wildfire last summer, a state park — and all its redwood forests, creatures and trails — will undergo a transformation. Big Basin Redwoods will be back after a massive rebuilding project. But what will it look like?

By

Julie Cart

• April 23, 2021

An explanation of nine new California laws taking effect in 2021. Illustration by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters; iStock

California Wildfires

Nine new California laws explained — each in 1 minute

1. California widens mental health conditions insurers must cover In the past, state law only required treatment for nine serious mental illnesses. Even before the pandemic, more than half of Californians said most people with mental health conditions couldn’t get the help they needed. Some families even dropped private insurance to qualify for treatment in […]

By

CalMatters Staff

• December 31, 2020

The Anderson’s address spray painted on the end of a log in a timber deck of Douglas Firs cut down by PG&E following the CZU Lightening Complex Fires in August of this year. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

California Wildfires

Whack and stack: PG&E’s toppling of trees creates new hazards

In an attempt to prevent wildfires, the utility is removing vegetation from around power lines. But it’s leaving downed trees on people’s property that are “little fire bombs waiting to ignite,” one expert says.

By

Julie Cart

• December 18, 2020

Lucy Smallreed at her home in Inverness on Dec. 6, 2020. Smallreed’s neighborhood, which borders on the Tomales Bay State Park, is a heavily wooded area. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

California Wildfires

Can ‘fire hardening’ solve California’s home insurance crisis?

A program that incentivizes homeowners to mitigate wildfire risk through insurance discounts would be a win-win for insurers and consumers. Creating one is the hard part.

By

James Bikales

• December 7, 2020

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 Wildfires

California’s final frontier faces firefighter shortage

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.

By

Elizabeth Castillo

• November 11, 2020

California Wildfires

Fixing Creek Fire damage is hazardous and expensive. Can FEMA help these families?

By

Manuela Tobias

• November 6, 2020

California Wildfires

Creek Fire update, Nov. 5: Snow and rain are coming. Why firefighters are worried

By

Manuela Tobias

• November 6, 2020

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 Wildfires

California protects homeowners from having fire insurance dropped — again

The state extends temporary protection from insurance cancellations to 2.1 million Californians living in wildfire-prone regions, but long-term solutions to stabilize the market remain elusive.

By

James Bikales

• November 5, 2020