Wildfire Coverage

We're just a few weeks into the new fiscal year, and the firefighting costs are adding up quickly. From Sacramento Jenny O'Mara reports.

Seated behind the wheel of a fire engine, Dave Breglia follows a map dotted with expensive homes threatened by wildfires. His job: protect high-end real estate and save an insurance company millions of dollars.

A power line "faulted" more than three hours before sparking the largest of Southern California's devastating wildfires last fall, state investigators reported Wednesday.

A detailed report on the origin and causes of three devastating wildfires that swept across San Diego County in October is being released online.

 Wildfires Destroying California Pastures

The California wildfires are yet another blow to the state's livestock industry…which is grappling with a drought. So far, the fires have scorched more than 630,000 acres -- much of it pasture and rangeland. That means the plants that ranchers were relying on to provide food for their animals has been destroyed.

 Hundreds of San Diego Firefighters Battling Nothern Calif. Wildfires

Several hundred San Diego firefighters are helping wage the battle against wildfires in Central and Northern California. CAL FIRE officials say nearly 19,000 firefighters are working to contain the flames from some 1,400 fires. CAL FIRE's Roxanne Provoznik says it is not unheard of for this area to be quite while fires rage in the rest of the state.

San Diego County's board of supervisors has unanimously approved $15.5 million to consolidate a dozen small firefighting agencies into a single entity responsible for protecting more than a million rural acres.

 Weekend Forecast Worries Firefighters in Northern California

California's US Forest Service manager says the number may seem overwhelming but firefighters do have the 800 wildfires in the state in check, at least for now.

 San Diego Officials Looking for Ways to Raise Millions for Fire Protection

San Diego County and City officials are considering different ways to raise millions of dollars to bring the region's fire protection up to scratch. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

 Campaign Will Urge San Diego Homeowners to Clear Brush

San Diego's Office of Emergency Services will fund a campaign this summer to urge residents to create defensible space to protect their homes from wildfires. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

 Migrants Trapped in October Wildfires Tell Their Stories

Many migrants heading north into the US from Mexico last fall were caught in the devastating wildfires that swept through San Diego County. Local journalist Laura Castaneda captured the stories of three groups of migrants in her new documentary. We talk with the filmmaker about the impact the fires had on these people.

 Health Outreach Workers Provide Emotional Support for Fire Survivors

For some people, rebuilding their lives after last October's wildfires has been tough. A group of outreach workers from San Diego County Mental Health Services is trying to help survivors get through the process. KPBS Health Reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.

 Officials Reconsidering Policy that Bans Aerial Firefighting at Night

Officials at the California agency that coordinates fire projection in San Diego's back country are reconsidering their long standing policy that bans aerial fire fighting at night. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

 S.D. Supervisors Agree to Spend $3 Million to Lease Firefighting Air Tankers

San Diego County Supervisors have voted to spend $3 million to lease two air tankers and one air command plane to help fight wildfires this fall. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

There were plenty of heroes in last October’s wildfires in San Diego County. One fire fighter in particular helped save a teenager’s life, even though she was badly burned herself. KPBS Health Reporter Kenny Goldberg catches up with the firefighter, who six months later is back on the job.

 Insurance Commissioner States Homeowners Rights for Fire Victims

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says insurance companies cannot force owners who lost their homes to rebuild on the same site. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

Overcoming an overnight flare-up, fire officials made headway Monday against a stubborn wildfire east of Los Angeles.

 Native Plants Recovering from October Wildfires

Last October's wildfires ravaged much of San Diego County's native plants and animals. The fires burned nearly 600 undeveloped acres that are part of the Wild Animal Park near Escondido. This week a team of ecologists are taking stock of how the burned area is recovering. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

 Most S.D. Wildfire Victims Still in Struggle with Insurance Companies to Rebuild

Even though it's been six months since wildfires ravaged more than 1,600 homes in the San Diego area, only a handful have begun to rebuild. That's because for many wildfire survivors, dealing with their insurance companies was like a second disaster. Reporter David Nogueras has more.

 Wildfire Recovery: Rising from the Ashes in San Diego County

For one victim of last October's wildfires in San Diego County, losing her home has been a blessing of sorts. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce first introduced us to Linda Laird at her sifting party last year. Six months later, here's an update on her recovery.