California

Destined to Burn: What must be done to avoid the next California wildfire disaster

The Camp Fire burns as it lights up the sky under bright stars on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 near Pentz Rd. Paradise was evacuated and many home were destroyed by the fire.
The Camp Fire burns as it lights up the sky under bright stars on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 near Pentz Rd. Paradise was evacuated and many home were destroyed by the fire. Sacramento Bee file

Destined
to burn

April 11, 2019

From the Oregon border to the hills of San Diego County, California is a state that is destined to burn. Every summer brings new evidence of that in places like Paradise, Malibu and Santa Rosa.

Millions of us live surrounded by our state’s natural beauty and rugged landscape; it’s what draws so many people here. But that also means we’re facing severe risk. Our homes and our families could lie in the path of California’s next devastating wildfire.

Californians will continue to live in areas where the threat of wildfire is the highest. These stories explore the perils of living in those regions, and the steps that must be taken as we try to avoid another catastrophe.

Map of very high risk wildfire hazard areas in California

This story was originally published April 11, 2019 at 2:40 AM with the headline "Destined to Burn: What must be done to avoid the next California wildfire disaster."

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