Accessibility links

Southern California Wildfires A vicious firestorm has finally shown signs of weakening in Southern California, leaving exhausted firefighters a chance to rest and get some of the flames under control. Some evacuees are now returning to their neighborhoods, to learn the extent of the damage.
Special Series

Southern California Wildfires

Hopes for controlling the blazes now hinge on a change in the weather.

Driveway Moments

Photo Captures Firefighters Ensnarled by Blaze

California's recent wildfires produced many spectacular images, but perhaps none as dramatic and memorable as a Los Angeles Times photo of 12 firefighters trapped in a circle of smoke and flames.

Photo Captures Firefighters Ensnarled by Blaze

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15864703/15876189" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Border Agents See Signs of Migrants Caught in Fires

Across southern San Diego County, the wildfires have driven the Border Patrol out of the areas it normally monitors for illegal crossings. As the flames recede and border agents get back into those areas, they're getting a glimpse of how some immigrants got caught in the fires.

Border Agents See Signs of Migrants Caught in Fires

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15785041/15785010" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Poor Air Quality May Linger Long after Fire's Out

The massive fires in Southern California have made for murky skies hundreds of miles away. Even though most of the fires will likely be under control this week, the air will be filled with smoke for much longer.

Poor Air Quality May Linger Long after Fire's Out

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15739262/15739245" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Latest Fires Provide Lessons in Prevention, Control

As firefighters continue to rein in the many blazes that ravaged Southern California last week, officials take a cold, hard look at lessons learned from the disaster.

Latest Fires Provide Lessons in Prevention, Control

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15739259/15739244" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Critics Fault Response to San Diego Fires

A week after wildfires in southern California force a quarter-million residents to flee their homes, critics complain that mass evacuations were only necessary because San Diego's fire response wasn't up to the challenge. The fires are now largely under control.

Critics Fault Response to San Diego Fires

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15722477/15722424" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Technology Increasingly Tames Wildfires

Advances in technology have made prevention an increasingly crucial and feasible component in fighting large, long-lasting wildfires. Chris Dicus, associate professor of Fire and Fuels Management at California Polytechnic University, speaks with Liane Hansen.

Technology Increasingly Tames Wildfires

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15707836/15707796" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Recovery Begins at San Diego's Scorched Orchards

Wetter weather is in the forecast for San Diego — a relief to farmers. The California county is home to one of the nation's most expensive fruits — The Haas avocado — and some farmers are irritated that security prevented them from using their irrigation systems to save their orchards.

Recovery Begins at San Diego's Scorched Orchards

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15707833/15707795" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Fireproof Tents Save Crew Surrounded by Flames

Capt. Doug Dodge of the Orange County Fire Authority came very close to death this week fighting the Santiago wildfire in Southern California. Dodge and his crew had to hunker down under fireproof tents when they became surrounded by flames on the side of a steep hillside.

Fireproof Tents Save Crew Surrounded by Flames

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15695591/15695581" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wildfire Response Redemptive for Red Cross

The American Red Cross was widely criticized for its poor response to victims of Hurricane Katrina. But it's been a different story in Southern California, where supplies and assistance arrived in abundance early on.

Wildfire Response Redemptive for Red Cross

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15695588/15695580" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Diminished California Wildfires Still a Threat

The major fires in southern California continue to shrink due to less wind, more moisture, and firefighter's efforts. Still, two major fires — one northeast of San Diego and the other southeast — are going strong. They are at most 50 percent contained and burning away from the coast.

Diminished California Wildfires Still a Threat

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15691269/15691250" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Construction Boom to Follow California Wildfires

The devastation caused by those massive wildfires in San Diego could have a positive impact on the local construction industry and the real estate business. Both have been sagging lately as San Diego's once red-hot housing market cooled.

Construction Boom to Follow California Wildfires

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15691275/15691252" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Opinion

California Wildfire Victims Face Tallying Losses

Now that southern California residents are returning to what's left of their homes (if there is anything), the next step will be the grim task of calculating their losses. Phone calls are pouring in to insurers, who are faced with covering much of the estimated $1 billion in property damage.

California Wildfire Victims Face Tallying Losses

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15691272/15691251" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

2003 Fire Victims Reach Out to Help Others

The massive Cedar fire in 2003 destroyed hundreds of homes in the San Diego area. Now, people who lost their homes in 2003 are providing both practical advice and inspiration to the victims of this week's devastating fires.

2003 Fire Victims Reach Out to Help Others

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15673563/15673509" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Woman Forced to Leave Horse Returns to Ranch

Thousands of people who had evacuated their Southern California homes are now returning to see what, if anything, is left. Janet Sperber, who was forced to abandon a beloved horse, returns to her Ramona ranch and describes what she found.

Woman Forced to Leave Horse Returns to Ranch

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15673560/15673508" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

FEMA Apologizes for Phony Fire Briefing

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is apologizing for holding a phony news conference on the California wildfires earlier this week in Washington, D.C. FEMA Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson took questions from what seemed to be reporters, but it turns out they were FEMA staffers. Johnson now says FEMA made an "error in judgment."

FEMA Apologizes for Phony Fire Briefing

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15673519/15673500" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Qualcomm Stadium's Stint as Fire Shelter Ends

At the peak of San Diego's wildfires, Qualcomm Stadium served as a shelter for up to 10,000 evacuees. Now, the shelter is about to close, as people return to their homes — or what's left of them.

Qualcomm Stadium's Stint as Fire Shelter Ends

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15673515/15673499" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Homeowners Begin Tallying the Wildfire Damage

As wildfires in Southern California continue to burn, thousands of evacuees have been allowed to return home. San Diego damage assessment teams are fanning out across the county to calculate the costs to homeowners.

Tamara Keith of member station KQED reports on evacuees returning home for 'Day to Day'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15661154/15661111" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Border Fires Offer Migrants Deadly Opportunity

The second-largest wildfire in Southern California is still burning out of control along the U.S.-Mexico border. That's giving illegal immigrants a unique opportunity to cross the border at abandoned stations — but it could also mean death.

NPR's Alex Chadwick and 'Los Angeles Times' reporter Richard Marosi discuss immigrants using the fires as a diversion.

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15661142/15661109" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Bush Surveys California Wildfire Damage

President Bush promises swift action and assistance to those in fire-ravaged southern California. Joined by Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwazenegger, he toured the charred remains of neighborhoods and met with distraught residents.

Bush Surveys California Wildfire Damage

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15655301/15655281" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse the section archive or