Margaret Albaugh for NPR
Most evacuees have been allowed to return to their homes near burn zones in Spokane, despite concerns about lingering toxins.
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After a series of catastrophic blazes in the early 20th century, the U.S. Forest Service sought to show it was able to control and protect forests under its care. In 1933, the agency mandated the “10 a.m. rule,” declaring that any wildland fire should be extinguished by 10 a.m. the day after it was reported. -
California, which is having an unusually quiet fire summer, has deployed engines and crews to fight fires raging in Colorado and the Pacific Northwest — but even this well-resourced state continues to feel vulnerable. -
Downtown San Diego reached 86 degrees on Sunday, and was expected to climb to 88 by Thursday. In the county's desert area, Borrego Springs reached 112 on Sunday, and could hit 114 by Wednesday. -
The city council rejected residents' appeal to stop the development last month. A new lawsuit challenges that rejection. -
With a strong El Niño on the way, only 17% of San Diego's storm channels can handle a 100-year stormSan Diego has been doubling down on its efforts to clear miles of storm channels after the devastating floods in 2024. It’s also in preparation for what meteorologists say could be the strongest El Niño in at least 100 years. -
California’s law to slash plastic packaging is running into a fight over who pays — and how much. The nonprofit managing the fees answers to almost no one, critics said. -
The Trump administration has targeted protections for more than 4 million acres of California forests. opening them up to logging and road construction. Forest Service research shows roads are where many human-caused wildfires begin. -
The end of "roadless rule" protections would open millions of acres of pristine forests to commercial use. Supporters say it will lead to better managed forests. -
Since El Niño increases the likelihood of heavy rains, San Diego emergency services urge residents to know the risk of flooding depending on where they live, create an emergency plan and sign up for alerts from official sources. -
The water level at Lake Powell has fallen to a record low in another sign of crisis along the Colorado River. This alarming milestone, reached on Saturday, follows a record low set by Lake Mead. The two are the country's largest reservoirs and provide water and electricity for millions of people, as well as farms and wildlife.
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