Nov 24, 2018

Reading guide: The causes and impact of California's wildfires

A house burns during the Camp fire in Paradise, California

A house burns during the Camp fire in Paradise, California on Nov. 8. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

November has become one of the most devastating months in history for California, with two major wildfires raging in the northern and southern parts of the state.

The big picture: It's worth a closer look at what the future holds in California and across the West, where a changing climate is leading to larger fires. Here's a roundup of our coverage and the best stories from other sources — including local media reports that can give us the best insight into possible causes, what it would take to reduce the risk, and how the disasters have affected people's lives.

What's going on

The Camp Fire in Butte County is still under investigation, but a lawsuit points to PG&E infrastructure and equipment failures as the likely cause.

The Woolsey Fire in Ventura County burned through Malibu and surrounding areas, though the cause is still unclear.

Scale of the fires
Californians through the fires
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