California Wildfires

Two decades ago, the U.S. Forest Service warned that a wildfire mirroring the Caldor Fire’s progression could easily wipe Grizzly Flats off the map. The Forest Service took steps to prevent such a catastrophe, but an investigation found the plan fell short.

The fire started July 21 at 3 p.m. and is now 85% contained at 104 acres as of July 25.

With California suffering a drought emergency, this year's fire season could be intense. A Cal Fire battalion chief tells us how to stay informed and prepared.

Winemakers in California are facing another hot summer of drought and potential wildfire. When forests burn near California’s wine country, it’s not just the flames that threaten vineyards — it’s also the smoke, which can sully grapes on the vine that then produce ashy, bitter wine.Now, scientists in Santa Cruz are helping them confront that dilemma, with a unique approach that can sniff out the smoke in grapes. They say the results will allow winemakers to better predict whether grapes are worth harvesting or better left to rot.

In late 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new program to dramatically speed up the state’s wildfire prevention work. But an investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom found the program hasn’t resulted in a single completed project.

Follow along for updates on the Colorado Fire that is burning in Big Sur.

County may ease rebuilding requirement for CZU Fire Survivors

Welcome to KAZU's weekly news roundup for 5/14/21. Here you'll find the top local stories of the week and a few national stories from NPR.For over a year…

New reporting by NPR’s California Newsroom has revealed just how dangerous PG&E’s power lines are heading into this year’s wildfire season. The…

Welcome to KAZU's weekly news roundup for 5/7/21. Here you'll find the top local stories of the week and a few national stories from NPR.Monterey County…