As fire season takes hold, California is managing fuels and fire on federal lands. Can the Golden State keep it up?
Wildfires
Timber fire in Big Sur eclipses 6,000 acres; containment up to 29%
Crews are making progress on the Timber fire, which continues to burn in Big Sur in Monterey County. It had scorched more than 6,000 acres as of Thursday night, but containment was 29%. Several state parks remain closed as firefighting efforts continue.
Forest fires follow roads. The Trump administration wants to build more
The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is rolling back a rule prohibiting logging and road construction in undeveloped parts of national forests, including more than 4 million acres of federally managed forest lands in California.
Timber fire update: Big Sur blaze grows to 4,445 acres; now 7% contained
The Timber fire in Monterey County continues to spread through Big Sur, having scorched more than 4,000 acres as of Thursday night. The fire has prompted the closures of state parks and nearby facilities, and has forced more than 500 people to evacuate from five different zones.
California is making progress on fire prevention. Federal retreat, shaky funding put it at risk
California set an ambitious target to reduce wildfire hazards each year and is making real progress, write Bradley Franklin and Kyle Greenspan of the PPIC Water Policy Center. Preserving that momentum as federal partnerships fade and state funding declines is crucial.
Timber fire eclipses 4,000 acres in Big Sur; containment up to 7%
Containment improved to 7% on the Timber fire in Big Sur on Wednesday night, with Cal Fire reporting that the blaze had consumed more than 4,000 acres.
Newsom makes last-minute push to help California utilities facing wildfire bills
One of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s final political fights in California is a revival of an old one. As wildfire costs threaten utilities’ financial models, the governor wants to help them pay less for fires.
California can’t replant its forests fast enough to keep up with wildfires
California’s wildfires are destroying forests faster than the state can replant them, and federal cuts are making the gap worse.
California restricts utility shutoffs as dangerous heat ripples across state
State regulators have rejected a proposal by utilities and ordered broader protections against power shutoffs during dangerous heat.
Built for the next fire: How Glenwood hand crews are preparing for wildfire season
At Glenwood Fire Center, Cal Fire hand crews prepare for the next wildfire season in Santa Cruz County.

