wildfires

Commentary

Candidate comment: After disasters, California should ensure people recover, not be forced out

Legislators passed a law making insurers pay more upfront for the loss of personal property, rather than force disaster victims to itemize possessions. But more can be done.

By Benjamin Allen • January 8, 2026

A person stands on a cinderblock wall at dusk, pouring water downward as smoke or ash drifts through the air. Palm trees, rooftops, and silhouetted foliage are visible behind them, all bathed in an orange haze from the smoky sky.

Environment

L.A. wildfires: With no clear cleanup standards, how to test for toxic soil

Ash rained down and smoke blanketed Los Angeles during the 2025 wildfires, leaving behind a toxic legacy in soil and homes. Without a federal or California mandate, nonprofit, academic and local groups offer testing for homeowners.

By

CalMatters Staff

• January 8, 2026

Flames from a wildfire devour the inside of a home as the air fills with fire smog and darkens the sky.

Commentary

Candidate comment: California is too easy on insurers and strangles competition

Strong regulation can hold insurance companies accountable and empower customers, while ample choice and competition prevent price gouging.

By Patrick Wolff • January 7, 2026

Economy

Many L.A. fire survivors face insurance delays and can’t return home a year later

Despite billions in dollars of claims paid out, fires exposed problems in California’s beleaguered insurance market. All policyholders are likely to see premiums rise.

By

Levi Sumagaysay

• January 7, 2026

An aerial view shows a neighborhood undergoing rebuilding after a wildfire, with multiple wooden house frames under construction amid cleared, dirt-covered lots. Burned or sparse vegetation surrounds the area, while roads and scattered vehicles run between properties. Low mountains rise in the background under a clear sky.

Housing

After devastating fires, L.A. made one part of rebuilding easy. There’s much more to do

While few victims of last year’s fires are back in their homes, that’s not unusual following natural disasters; permitting changes appear to be helping.

By

Ben Christopher

• January 7, 2026

Two people, both wearing blue sweaters, stand behind red tape, watching as a bulldozer scoops up debris from a burned-down home and dumps it into a truck. Two construction workers wearing hard hats and yellow safety vests are on both sides of the people.

Commentary

Politicians failed LA’s wildfire survivors. Voters must hold them accountable

Most people who lost homes to the LA-area wildfires haven’t broken ground or found new homes. State and local officials are part of the delay.

By Max Lubin • January 7, 2026

The silhouette of a firefighter holding a tool can be seen as a fiery red fire rages behind them in an area with vegatation and bushes.

Commentary

Fighting LA wildfires broke my heart but prepared me for life outside prison

During the LA-area fires, Jose Angel Amezcua, an inmate firefighter, was where he was supposed to be — helping save the communities he had harmed.

By Jose Angel Amezcua • January 6, 2026

Solar panels sit on rooftops at a housing development in Folsom on Feb. 12, 2020. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

Economy

California homeowners could qualify for grants for new roofs and fire safety

New Safe Homes grants program, taking effect on Jan. 1, 2026, could begin taking applications in the spring, CA insurance department says.

By

Levi Sumagaysay

• January 1, 2026

A person wearing a navy suit points to a monitor with a line chart on it during a press conference. The California state seal, state flag and the American flag can be seen behind them.

Politics

California’s budget outlook is grim. Here’s what you need to know

How did we get here? Where do we go from here? Spend one minute to catch up on everything you need to know about California’s budget health this year.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• December 31, 2025

Gov. Gavin Newsom sits at a table surrounded by three lawmakers behind him as he signs several documents.

Politics

Newsom’s 2025: Wildfire crisis, budget cuts and bombastic opposition to Trump

Gavin Newsom's year: LA fires, budget cuts, Trump battles and a Prop 50 win. What's next for California's governor in his final year?

By

Jeanne Kuang

• December 31, 2025

Wildfires