A UCLA study finds stand‑replacing wildfires now scorch far more of California’s forests than in the 1980s, driven by warming and fuel buildup. Officials are expanding prescribed burns and thinning projects.

Officials warn Sonoma County faces an early, long fire season. Here’s what to know about evacuation tags, alerts and possible power shutoffs.

Cal Fire has suspended outdoor residential burning in Napa and six North Bay counties. Officials urge residents to check permit status and use chipping or green‑waste options.

A wildfire named the Whisper Fire was reported at 2:05 p.m. on May 17 in Napa County on private land. Cause and containment remain unknown as crews respond.

A 431‑acre fuel‑break on Hogback Ridge is being treated with mulching, pile burns and mechanical thinning to give firefighters safer lines and reduce wildfire risk above Napa Valley.

A wildfire named the Pepperwood Fire was reported in Mendocino County on May 11. Initial updates list it on private land with no containment or cause yet reported.

ShakeAlert activated early Thursday after a magnitude-4.2 quake near The Geysers. The geothermal field commonly produces small, production-linked tremors.

Violet surf washed onto Point Reyes beaches this weekend; experts say a phytoplankton bloom — not dye — likely caused the color. Officials urge caution around discolored water.

Managers at Lake Mendocino cut spring releases to preserve reservoir storage for drinking water and salmon after a drier-than-expected start to the season.

A new study finds wildfires are burning later into the night across North America, adding hundreds of potential burning hours to California seasons.

State fire officials say small debris burns have escaped recently; follow permit and pile‑size rules, keep water nearby and call 911 if a burn spreads.

Sausalito officials say sandbags and portable pumps kept key waterfront roads dry during a recent king-tide cycle. Leaders warn the measures are a stopgap as higher tides return.

A Spare the Air Alert bans wood burning across nine Bay Area counties this Thursday as officials warn of elevated fine-particle pollution. Exemptions and fines apply.