Southern California Fires

Wildfire Engulfs Homes Above Malibu

AP | Posted 11.24.2007 | Home


A fast-moving wildfire pushed by Santa Ana winds raced through the canyons and mountains of this wealthy enclave for the second time in little more th...

Land Use in California: The Fire Next Time

Al Meyerhoff | Posted 11.20.2007 | Politics


Al Meyerhoff

Each fire or flood or other disaster is viewed by the media and politicians alike as an exceptional event, not the result of systemic failure by private capital, policymakers and government.

Could Fire Destruction Have Been Avoided?

AP | Aaron C. Davis | Posted 11.17.2007 | Home


Several aircraft were able to fly in strong winds on the first full day of last month's Southern California firestorms, contradicting officials' earli...

Giver's Greed: Charity's Worst Enemy

Justin Hudnall | Posted 11.01.2007 | Living


Justin Hudnall

Writing a check for medical supplies is so businesslike, while giving a teddy bear is warm and fuzzy. It makes the giver feel good, which is the problem: Giving is not supposed to be about the giver.

Why Aren't We Better Prepared for Inevitable Disasters?

Donald Cohen | Posted 10.31.2007 | Politics


Donald Cohen

Will the recent fires in Southern California be a wake-up call about the nation's need to better prepare for what are misleadingly called "natural" disasters?

FEMA's Show Biz Debut

Justin Hudnall | Posted 10.27.2007 | Politics


Justin Hudnall

Faced with an empty house, desperate for a good review, and holding a script too good to waste, it did the only logical thing: FEMA put on a show.

San Bernardino Forest Chief Blames DC; Was Told to Shred Earlier Report on Fire Threat

Steve Anderson | Posted 10.25.2007 | Politics


Steve Anderson

In what seems to be an oft repeated theme, the Bush administration again put politics over policy. And that has had an effect on the forests of Southern California.

Back Home After the Fires

Chantal Sicile- Kira | Posted 10.25.2007 | Living


Chantal Sicile- Kira

Everyone is commiserating and telling evacuation stories. We are the lucky ones. I feel guilty that my home is still intact when others have lost everything.

Global Warming Not Behind SoCal Fires

Chris McGowan | Posted 10.24.2007 | Politics


Chris McGowan

The blame for the conflagrations should be placed on chaparral, a growing population, and inadequate suburban planning.

Firestorms of New and Traditional Media

Candy Spelling | Posted 10.24.2007 | Media


Candy Spelling

In the past, I was cynical when local and cable TV stations asked the public for video of news events. Now, though, I see the need for viewer-contributed graphics to fully tell the story.

White House Pretends Probable Cause of California Wildfires Simply Doesn't Exist

Bob Harris | Posted 10.24.2007 | Politics


Bob Harris

Unseasonable heat and changing weather patterns have turned southern California into a tinderbox, precisely the way forecast by people warning us about global warming for years.

Disaster Baiting, or, Why Katrina Evacuees Love LA

Karen Dalton-Beninato | Posted 10.24.2007 | Living


Karen Dalton-Beninato

Cable news is also showing split screens comparing Gulf Coast evacuees to the current ones -- like we're going to get into a big fight over who had a harder time being homeless.

Malibu Fires

Kristen Reeves | Posted 10.23.2007 | Living


Kristen Reeves

On the television screen, landmarks from my childhood memories were going up in flames.

Videos: Southern California Wildfires

AP | Posted 10.22.2007 | Home


...