Willow Fire in Monterey County wilderness grows to 2,000 acres

A blaze in the rugged, hot and dry Ventana Wilderness south of Monterey that already has led to evacuation of the Tassajara Zen Center and Hot Springs was expected to spread on Saturday, according to a federal fire coordination agency.

Vallejo wildfire stokes fears of fire season's severity

As the sheer number of California wildfires, so far this year, dwarfs last year's record year, are we becoming traumatized by all the destruction and disaster? Millions of Californians are worried about wildfires.

Southern California brush fire prompts evacuations

Authorities say a brush fire has prompted mandatory evacuation orders for residents of the eastern Riverside County community of Pinyon Crest. U.S. Forest Service firefighters said the fire broke out Sunday morning and charred 150 acres, prompting the evacuation of the neighborhood. Rob Roseen, a spokesman for CAL Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, said it was not immediately clear how many homes were affected. Fire officials said the blaze prompted the closure of Highway 74 between Highway 371 and Palowet Drive in Palm Desert.

Report: California encourages rebuilding in fire-prone areas

State and local policies emphasize retrofitting existing homes, ensuring homes have defensible space and communities have evacuation plans. This encourages wildfire victims to rebuild in fire-prone areas, found a UC Berkeley study.