Photo of a firefighter spraying the remains of a vehicle

What Happens When the Next Big Wildfire Hits?

Don’t be fooled by the precipitation, the snowpack, the wildflowers. When winter ends, it’s unlikely that California’s iconic landscape will sustain the moisture to withstand the 100-degree summer and fall. Judy Lin CALmatters State fire officia...
Photo of flames burning near power lines in Sycamore Canyon

PG&E Vows to Improve Wildfire Prevention

SAN FRANCISCO — Up to 5 million California customers could temporarily lose power this year in the name of wildfire prevention if regulators approve Pacific Gas & Electric's $2.3 billion safety proposal sub...
Photo of structures burning in Fountaingrove, CA in 2017

CalFire: Homeowner Equipment Caused Deadly Blaze

SACRAMENTO — In a long-awaited report, state investigators said Thursday that a 2017 wildfire that killed 22 people in Northern California wine country was caused by a private electrical system, not equipment of embattled Pacific Gas & Electric Co. The ...
Photo of the Soberanes Fires

Report Rips Expensive Decisions in California Wildfire Fight

LOS ANGELES — When a wildfire burned across Big Sur two years ago and threatened hundreds of homes scattered on the scenic hills, thousands of firefighters responded with overwhelming force, attacking flames from the air and ground. "They just kept going cr...
Photo of a wildfire victim wiping his eyes as he walks by a burned car

Rain Could Hamper Search for Victims of California Wildfire

CHICO — It's been 12 days since Christina Taft started the frantic search for her mother Victoria, who refused to evacuate their Paradise home as flames neared, and six days since she gave authorities a cheek swab to identify remains that are likely her mother...