California wildfires

By the time it was contained, the Caldor fire had destroyed more than 1,000 structures, damaged 81, injured at least five people and forced some 50,000 people to evacuate from the Lake Tahoe area.

A father and son were arrested in connection with California's massive Caldor Fire

2:45pm December 09, 2021

by Rachel Treisman

David Scott Smith, 66, and Travis Shane Smith, 32, are accused of "reckless arson" in connection with the Caldor Fire, which burned more than 220,000 acres across three California counties this fall.

The 2020 Castle Fire burned the Alder Creek sequoia grove with extreme intensity, killing many of the 1,000-year-old trees there. Without any green foliage, the trees can't survive or resprout.

Environment

A Single Fire Killed Thousands Of Sequoias. Scientists Are Racing To Save The Rest

9:45pm September 17, 2021

by Lauren Sommer

The world's largest trees are adapted to wildfires. But with fires getting more extreme, scientists warn that giant sequoias are running out of time.

Prescribed burns, like this one in Humboldt County, Calif., reduce the underbrush without destroying trees.

Why The South Is Decades Ahead Of The West In Wildfire Prevention

12:02pm August 31, 2021

by Lauren Sommer

Another destructive fire season has Western states searching for ways to prevent it. The Southeast just might have the answers: setting controlled fires before the wildfires come.

Controlled burns, like this one in Lassen Volcanic National Park, reduce the risk of extreme fires by clearing flammable brush.

With Extreme Fires Burning, Forest Service Stops 'Good Fires' Too

9:54pm August 09, 2021

by Lauren Sommer

Controlled burns help reduce wildfire risk by clearing out overgrown vegetation. The U.S. Forest Service is suspending them, concerning fire scientists.

Following the Dixie Fire, flames burn in a tree in the Canyondam area of Plumas County, Calif., Friday, Aug. 6.

Environment

Dixie, Bootleg, Goose. How Wildfires Get Their Name

3:37pm August 09, 2021

by Josie Fischels

Across the United States,108 wildfires are burning, mainly in the west. What they're called is important, just as it is with hurricanes and other disasters.

Flames from the Dixie Fire consume a home on Highway 89 south of Greenville, Calif., on Thursday.

National

The Dixie Fire Explodes To Become The 3rd-Largest Wildfire In California's History

1:40pm August 06, 2021

by The Associated Press

The fire raging in Northern California was whipped up by high temperatures and strong winds. It incinerated much of the Gold Rush-era community of Greenville earlier this week.

Given The Choice Between Prison Life And Fighting Wildfires, These Women Chose Fire

5:24pm July 30, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with writer Jaime Lowe about her new book, Breathing Fire, which tells the stories of the incarcerated women who are part of California's wildfire crews.

Flames approach houses during the Tick Fire on Oct. 24, 2019 in Canyon Country, California.

Rebuilding After A Wildfire? Most States Don't Require Fire-Resistant Materials

1:23pm November 25, 2020

by Lauren Sommer

Homeowners are rebuilding after wildfires, but many won't be required by governments to use fire-resistant materials. Without such improvements, communities face harm again with the next fire.

Queue Listen Now

A new mobile voting center brings voting directly to residents in Santa Cruz County, Calif. Here, the VoteMobile is parked at Garfield Park Village, an apartment complex for seniors.

Politics & Government

VoteMobile Helps California Wildfire Victims And Seniors Cast Their Ballots

6:05pm October 31, 2020

by Erika Mahoney

A new mobile voting center is cruising through Santa Cruz, Calif., this election season. It's especially important for people who lost their homes in recent wildfires.

Queue Listen Now

A firefighter carries a hose while battling the Glass Fire in a Calistoga, Calif., vineyard, Oct. 1

National

Experts To Western States: Time To Finally Fight Wildfires With More Fire

5:00am October 27, 2020

by Eric Westervelt

Experts warn that Western states and the federal government need to radically increase the number and size of controlled burns to help reduce the ongoing risks of more catastrophic wildfire seasons.