California legislators on Tuesday called for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement tighter regulations on air pollution without interfering with controlled wildfire burns, in a letter to EPA (pdf). Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was joined by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) to support the EPA’s proposed ambient air quality standard, which would lower the allowable…

Insurance company State Farm is halting new property insurance policies in the state of California as the firm battles inflationary pressures and increasing exposure to wildfire risks. In California, State Farm will “cease accepting new applications including all business and personal lines property and casualty insurance, effective May 27, 2023,” the firm said in a…

Southern California Edison (SCE), the primary electricity supply company in the region, is facing another lawsuit from families affected by the Fairview Fire last month in Riverside County, alleging the utility’s “negligence” sparked the fire. The blaze—which burned over 28,000 acres—broke out Sept. 5 in Hemet during a severe heatwave, killing two and forcing thousands…

After eight days of the Fairview Fire sweeping through Southern California’s desert communities, firefighters said the fire is now at 53 percent containment as of the afternoon of Sept. 12, with more than 28,300 acres burned. More than 1,100 structures were threatened, 36 were destroyed, and 6 were damaged. The fire—which broke out on Labor Day—began…

After eight days of the Fairview Fire sweeping through Southern California’s desert communities, firefighters said the fire is now at 53 percent containment as of the afternoon of Sept. 12, with more than 28,300 acres burned. More than 1,100 structures were threatened, 36 were destroyed, and 6 were damaged. The fire—which broke out on Labor Day—began…

Officials are urging residents to evacuate as the Fairview Fire in Hemet, California, is still fiercely expanding, with 9,846 acres burned and only 5 percent containment as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7. “Unfortunately, the fire continued to outpace our efforts,” Josh Janssen, battalion chief of Riverside County Fire Department, said during a press conference…

Officials are urging residents to evacuate as the Fairview Fire in Hemet, California, is still fiercely expanding, with 9,846 acres burned and only 5 percent containment as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7. “Unfortunately, the fire continued to outpace our efforts,” Josh Janssen, battalion chief of Riverside County Fire Department, said during a press conference…

The Fairview Fire is rapidly spreading across several Southern California communities as 4,500 acres have burned with 5 percent contained as of the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 6. As of 5:00 p.m., the fire was 5 percent contained. Evacuation orders remain in place and extend to communities further east, including Thomas Mountain Ridge South, Cactus…

The Fairview Fire is rapidly spreading across several Southern California communities as 4,500 acres have burned with 5 percent contained as of the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 6. As of 5:00 p.m., the fire was 5 percent contained. Evacuation orders remain in place and extend to communities further east, including Thomas Mountain Ridge South, Cactus…

HEMET, Calif.—Two civilian fatalities have been reported in a blazing wildfire in Hemet, California, as several structures and more than 700 acres have burned.  As of 7:51 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5, the fire was 5 percent contained.  The fire began at approximately 3:37 p.m. according to local fire authorities and spread rapidly at Fairview…