NPR

Unanswered Questions Leave Californians Worried About Fire Season

Warm temperatures have Californians again bracing for wildfires. But to better prepare, the residents of Ventura say they need a clearer picture of what went wrong in the destructive 2017 Thomas Fire.
Residents in Ventura, Calif., believed large hilltop water tanks would provide ample water during a wildfire. But the water stopped flowing for some residents trying to protect their homes during 2017's Thomas Fire.

Native Californian Leslie Ogden has seen her share of wildfires, but never did the retired schoolteacher dream one would roar into her own neighborhood as happened on the night of Dec. 4, 2017.

"On the curve of this street as you come in, one of the houses was in full flame," she recalled while standing on the front deck of her home recently. "And it was sending a river — probably 10 yards wide — of embers across the street. It was this river of

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
Venus And Earth Used To Look Like 'Twin' Planets. What Happened?
Earth, Mars and Venus all looked pretty similar when they first formed. Today, Mars is dry, cold, and dusty; Venus has a hot, crushing atmosphere. Why did these sibling planets turn out so different?
NPR3 min readLGBTQIA+ Studies
Activists Flood Utah Tip Line With Hoax Reports To Block Bathroom Law Enforcement
Activists have flooded the tip line with thousands of hoax reports in an effort to shield trans residents and their allies from any legitimate complaints that could lead to an investigation.
NPR5 min read
Oil Industry Could Help The Biden Administration Tap 'Invisible' Green Energy
The White House wants a twenty-fold increase in geothermal energy production to fight climate change and it's counting on the oil and gas industry for help.

Related Books & Audiobooks