Thousands of giant sequoias killed in California wildfires

Lightning-sparked wildfires killed thousands of giant sequoias this year, adding to a staggering two-year death toll that accounts for up to nearly a fifth of Earth’s largest trees, officials said Friday.

Alisal Fire: Crews near full containment as residents go home

More than 1,600 firefighters were battling the blaze in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara on land and by air. They were able to stop its forward growth, and the blaze was 78% contained, federal officials said.

National forests closed as California wildfires surge

The U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday that beginning on Aug. 22 it will close nine national forests from near Lake Tahoe at the Nevada border on the east all the way west to Six Rivers National Forest, which stretches north to the Oregon border and contains more than 1 million acres of land alone.

Orange skies blanket California again due to wildfires

The story of wildfires in California is tragic, but familiar. Homes and businesses get destroyed as people flee for survival. Even the strange sight of heavy smoke turning skies orange is becoming a recognizable part of the landscape.