With California moving into peak fire season, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has partnered with the University of California San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia program to use artificial intelligence for early detection of wildfires. CAL FIRE stated in a news release on July 10 that its goal in the collaboration is to…

CAL FIRE announced the arrest of Edward Wackerman of Mariposa County for allegedly starting last year’s Oak Fire that ravaged California’s Yosemite National Park area. “This fire has become the most devastating fire in Mariposa’s history. And as a community, we stay engaged to support one another,” said Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese at a…

The 43-acre Garbani Fire in Menifee is now 90 percent contained and all evacuation orders have been lifted, according to a 7:29 a.m. report on June 21 from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). CAL FIRE reported at 6:31 p.m. on June 20, Garbani Road between Bradley Road and Garlington Street,…

A fire has erupted in the hills of Menifee, California, on June 20 forcing evacuations of surrounding residents, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The fire is 43 acres with 5 percent containment as of 3:14 p.m. on Tuesday, CAL FIRE reported. Officials reported the fire’s forward advancement has stopped…

More than 2 million homes in California are considered in high or extreme fire risks, according to industry analysts, and with insurers responding by deeming certain areas and properties uninsurable—and increasing premium costs for others—some homeowners say they are left with few options. Verisk Analytics, an organization providing risk assessment data based in New Jersey,…

Officers investigating wildfires in California made 160 arson arrests last year—up from 149 in 2021—the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) recently reported. The number of people arrested for intentionally setting fires in the Golden State has steadily increased in the past four years as officers more diligently investigate arsons and the…

A proposed new fire hazard map from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) could soon designate more of the state’s rural and unincorporated areas as “very high” fire hazard severity zones—a nearly 15-percent increase since when the map was last updated in 2007. The growing fire hazard areas show how much more…

SAN DIEGO—Two Poway residents were sentenced to federal prison terms Dec. 2 for supplying the fentanyl that led to a local firefighter’s fatal overdose. Justin Gale Mata, 41, and Everett Justin Curtis, 48, pleaded guilty to providing the drugs that killed Brian M. Parrish, a firefighter with Cal Fire in San Diego County. Mata received…

RAMONA, Calif.—A woman described as “elderly” died in a house fire in Ramona Nov. 15, and three deputies who tried repeatedly to get the woman out of the home were treated for minor injuries. Deputies found a house engulfed in flames around 2:50 a.m. in the 500 block of Telford Lane after responding to a…

Critics are lashing out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom following a report that claims he misled the public about his wildfire prevention accomplishments. “Governor Newsom’s deceitfulness and half steps don’t cut it. He is a self-serving hypocrite who needs to get his priorities straight,” Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff) said in a press release in response…