How prescribed burns help save forests
One method to help protect forests from wildfires is what are known as prescribed burns, in which certain areas are intentionally set ablaze. Dave Malkoff explains how they work.
Watch CBS News
One method to help protect forests from wildfires is what are known as prescribed burns, in which certain areas are intentionally set ablaze. Dave Malkoff explains how they work.
Each spring, everyone who's anyone in the world of aerial firefighting converges on an open field just outside Redding for one of the biggest drills of the year.
California's oldest state park has reached a milestone in its recovery from a wildfire that destroyed nearly all its historic buildings and facilities, shutting down the park for nearly two years.
Northern California wildfires may have killed hundreds of giant sequoias as they swept through groves of the majestic monarchs in the Sierra Nevada, an official said Wednesday.
Cal Fire is using new technology and better positioning of resources in a bid to keep small blazes from erupting into mega-fires like the ones that torched a record 4 percent of the state last year.
Wildfires across California have burned "well over" 4 million acres so far this year with about two months remaining in the fire season.
The SQF Complex Fire, smoldering since late August in the Sequoia Nat'l Forest in the southern Sierra Nevada, blew up Saturday, sending a huge plume of smoke into the Central Valley and southern Bay Area. Darren Peck analyzes its potential impact on our unhealthy air.
A volunteer fire department in Cresson Texas near Fort Worth said Monday one of its firefighters died battling West Coast wildfire and, later, the Forest Service said one firefighter was killed and another injured battling a Northern California blaze.
A new study from a team of climate scientists and forest experts suggests that an endless fire season is our new reality in the Golden State.
Finland's president isn't sure where President Trump got the idea that raking is part of his country's routine for managing its substantial forests.
The Ferguson fire burning just west of Yosemite National Park is steadily growing Saturday after two more firefighters were injured while battling the flames in blazing summer heat.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed an executive order on Thursday that aims to reduce the dangers of wildfires following some of the most destructive blazes in state history.
About 6.3 billion dead trees are still standing in 11 Western states, up from 5.8 billion five years ago
Officials in California say they're preparing to use large air-blasting incinerators to burn up trees killed by drought and a beetle epidemic ravaging Sierra Nevada forests
The effort to fight wildfires in California may be making future wildfires even worse, according to a new report.
The U.S. Forest Service says a firefighter from South Dakota has been killed battling one of more than a dozen wildfires burning across California.
What started out as a shortcut turned into a four day ordeal for a woman who was nine months pregnant and eventually gave birth while lost in the Plumas National Forest.
Summer arrived in California on Sunday with fire season in full swing, as crews knocked down dozens of small blazes throughout the state and slowed the spread of a huge forest fire in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Fire officials say a lightning-sparked wildfire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest remained at 1,480 acres overnight, with containment at 20 percent as of Sunday morning.
Fire officials Saturday said a lightning-sparked blaze in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest has grown to 1,331 acres and is about 5 percent contained.
A U.S. Forest Service spokesman said more rain and high humidity on Saturday aided firefighters battling the King Fire.
A 400-acre wildfire in Yosemite National Park has prompted the evacuation of about 100 campers, officials said.
Two wildfires sparked by lightning nearly three weeks ago were still growing on Saturday while threatening as many as 250 homes in far Northern California.
Two fires that started within a day of each other in Lassen National Forest expanded into private property and scorched 95 square miles as of Sunday morning, up from 39 square miles a day earlier.
Lightning sparked dozens of fires in Northern California, including one in rural Modoc County that spurred some 120 people to evacuate, and the threat of more strikes along with winds from looming thunderstorms could aggravate the firefight.
The video shows a lone coyote swimming in the Bay, its head bobbing above the water as it makes its way to Alcatraz Island.
"Piper Lane Preserve" in Fairfax is officially a home for wildlife after a group of homeowners raised money to buy an acre of land from a housing developer.
The sound of the drums filled Caltrain's Celebration Train on Monday.
Two suspects were arrested following a shooting that followed a carjacking in Oakley and a police chase that ended in Oakley early Monday morning, authorities said.
Do you ever feel like someone's watching you? Well, you might be right, and it might be your boss.
The video shows a lone coyote swimming in the Bay, its head bobbing above the water as it makes its way to Alcatraz Island.
"Piper Lane Preserve" in Fairfax is officially a home for wildlife after a group of homeowners raised money to buy an acre of land from a housing developer.
The sound of the drums filled Caltrain's Celebration Train on Monday.
Two suspects were arrested following a shooting that followed a carjacking in Oakley and a police chase that ended in Oakley early Monday morning, authorities said.
The San Francisco 49ers packed up their belongings and headed home as work was being done around their home venue to get Levi's Stadium ready to host the Super Bowl next month.
The video shows a lone coyote swimming in the Bay, its head bobbing above the water as it makes its way to Alcatraz Island.
The sound of the drums filled Caltrain's Celebration Train on Monday.
SFO said the employee worked for the Dubai National Air Travel Agency, DNATA, and that OSHA was at the scene Sunday night interviewing his employer.
During that time, PG&E will complete its final tests of the Mission Substation equipment that was damaged in the fire on Dec. 20.
An investigation is ongoing after a man died days after an assault in San Francisco, authorities said.
Two suspects were arrested following a shooting that followed a carjacking in Oakley and a police chase that ended in Oakley early Monday morning, authorities said.
A three-alarm fire broke out at a multi-story apartment building in downtown Oakland Monday morning, officials said.
A train hit and killed a pedestrian on the tracks in Berkeley on Monday, authorities said.
Police in San Leandro said an officer shot at a man who was allegedly armed with a rifle following a vehicle pursuit early Monday morning.
An investigation is underway after a man died in custody at a Contra Costa detention facility on Sunday, authorities said.
Authorities in Santa Cruz County said they would increase patrols at schools, after a firearm and ammunition were found on a high school campus over the weekend.
Police in Monterey County fatally shot a driver during a traffic stop over the weekend, according to authorities.
A man suspected in a crime spree involving more than 100 auto break-ins at four housing complexes in San Jose has been arrested, police said Friday.
The suspect in the kidnapping and sexual assault of a teenage girl in San Jose was identified as a registered sex offender, police announced on Friday.
From the California coast, you can see a lot of surfers. It's not so easy to see a blue whale. However, at UC Santa Cruz, you can walk right up to a legendary blue whale, or at least its skeleton.
"Piper Lane Preserve" in Fairfax is officially a home for wildlife after a group of homeowners raised money to buy an acre of land from a housing developer.
A group of protesters and faith leaders held vigil in front of the Sonoma County Adult Detention Facility to draw attention to something that is becoming rare among Bay Area communities.
The Bay Area's Spare the Air alert has been extended to at least Saturday as a high-pressure system is expected to hang around and impact air quality.
A man serving life in prison for a deadly gang shooting in Southern California has died following an altercation with another inmate at a prison in Solano County, officials said.
One Clearlake family said, considering how long it took to stop the leak, they don't have a lot of faith in the district, and that when the cleanup is completed, they will be hiring an independent company to test the neighborhood wells before using the water again.
The San Francisco 49ers packed up their belongings and headed home as work was being done around their home venue to get Levi's Stadium ready to host the Super Bowl next month.
The National Football League will kick off Super Bowl LX with an opening ceremony performance by hometown rock legends Green Day as part of the festivities at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the league announced Sunday.
The San Jose Sharks have acquired one of the most sought-after trade candidates of the NHL season by getting winger Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks.
The Baltimore Ravens have interviewed San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady for their head coaching vacancy.
De'Anthony Melton scored 24 points as Golden State had eight players reach double figures in the Warriors' 136-116 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
Two suspects were arrested following a shooting that followed a carjacking in Oakley and a police chase that ended in Oakley early Monday morning, authorities said.
Authorities in Santa Cruz County said they would increase patrols at schools, after a firearm and ammunition were found on a high school campus over the weekend.
The video shows burglars slicing into display cases under the eyes of several Louvre Museum staff members who do not intervene.
Police in Monterey County fatally shot a driver during a traffic stop over the weekend, according to authorities.
Police in San Leandro said an officer shot at a man who was allegedly armed with a rifle following a vehicle pursuit early Monday morning.
Verizon says it's giving a $20 credit to customers affected an outage that disrupted service across the U.S.
Grok faces mounting scrutiny from government officials and advocacy groups after people used the AI chatbot to create sexualized images of minors and women.
Mother of Colorado man who committed suicide in 2025 alleges that OpenAI's AI chatbot told him death was a "beautiful place."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon will start using Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok. The word comes days after Grok drew global outcry for generating highly sexualized deepfake images.
Kaiser Permanente has reached a lawsuit settlement over alleged patient data breaches involving Kaiser websites and mobile applications, with members eligible to receive a payment from a $46 million settlement fund, the health care giant announced.
Officials in San Mateo County are the latest in the Bay Area to warn residents to not forage for wild mushrooms, amid a rise in mushroom poisonings that have led to illnesses and even deaths.
The Bay Area's Spare the Air alert has been extended to at least Saturday as a high-pressure system is expected to hang around and impact air quality.
Kaiser Permanente has reached a lawsuit settlement over alleged patient data breaches involving Kaiser websites and mobile applications, with members eligible to receive a payment from a $46 million settlement fund, the health care giant announced.
Several East Bay hospitals that serve Alameda County's most vulnerable residents have issued layoff notices to staff, citing major federal cuts to Medicaid that administrators say will significantly affect their finances.
Officials said there were 35 cases of wild mushroom poisoning across California between Nov. 18 and Jan. 4. In an average year, fewer than five cases of wild mushroom poisoning occur statewide, according to Sonoma County health officials.
As his standoff with America's closest allies escalates, President Trump says not getting the Nobel Peace Prize means he's no longer obligated "to think purely of Peace."
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended ongoing immigration operations in Minnesota, and said a federal judge's order limiting the tactics federal agents can use "didn't change anything."
Looking overseas, there is wide opposition to the idea of taking Greenland by force.
Mr. Trump previously threatened to impose tariffs against countries that do not support his plans to acquire the territory.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to placate President Trump and build a strong relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.
The billionaire and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $45 million to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention and advocacy for LGBTQ young people.
Oasis nightclub announced plans to close six months ago. New Year's Eve was slated for the final performance. A last-minute, multi-million dollar donation turned the final curtain call into an encore performance.
A 16-year FBI employee has filed a lawsuit alleging he was fired last month because he had a Pride flag displayed near his desk.
A group of transgender members of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force forced to leave active duty under the Trump administration's policies say their benefits were revoked in a rare move.
California state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco announced Wednesday that he is running for Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat next year.
The National Football League will kick off Super Bowl LX with an opening ceremony performance by hometown rock legends Green Day as part of the festivities at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the league announced Sunday.
The original member of the Grateful Dead had tirelessly carried on the band's music for three decades, and on Saturday, the City of San Francisco said goodbye in a public memorial called The Homecoming.
The livestream unfolded with his team from LaRussell's garage, where he connected with fans through Instagram Live. During the broadcast, one woman shared that she was facing eviction. LaRussell covered the exact amount she needed to remain in her home.
Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created the "Dilbert" comic strip, has died at the age of 68, his first ex-wife revealed on Tuesday.
From historic wins to powerful speeches, here are the highlights and most memorable moments from the 2026 Golden Globes.
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oakland Unified School District has seen an alarming spike in the number of unhoused students in the school system who deal with a host of challenges far beyond what most children face.
Meteorologist and CBS News Bay Area's resident pilot Lt. Jessica Burch got a treat during Fleet Week, taking to the skies with one of the Blue Angels.
A Bay Area man discovered his devastating loss left him with a new opportunity to rethink how he lives -- follow his journey in virtual reality, 360-degree video.
A groundbreaking medical study involving the UCSF Medical Center has shown some colorectal cancer patients can safely skip radiation treatment and enjoy a potentially higher quality of life.
Every day, San Francisco bar pilot Captain Zach Kellerman goes through what might just be the world's most dangerous commute.
Amanda Hari reports on a coyote making a journey to Alcatraz Island. Website: http://kpix.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpixtv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KPIXtv
Kara St. Cyr reports on Terry Francois, a civil rights leader in San Francisco. Website: http://kpix.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpixtv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KPIXtv
Kelsi Thorud reports Niners fans showing up to support players. Website: http://kpix.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpixtv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KPIXtv
John Ramos reports on a new nature preserve in Fairfax that was created to prevent housing from being built. Website: http://kpix.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpixtv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KPIXtv
Kevin Ko reports on the Martin Luther King Jr. march in San Francisco. Website: http://kpix.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpixtv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KPIXtv
In 2025, KPIX is moving to a new community service award: the CBS News Bay Area Icon Award. Submit nominations for an outstanding community hero at kpix.com/icon.
It's the most wonderful time of the year for a South Bay woman who has played Mrs. Claus for more than 40 years for the children of North San Jose's Alviso District.
For residents of the Oakland Hills, the prospect of another wildfire always remains a concern. This week's Jefferson Awards winner has made it his mission to make the hills and other high-risk areas safer.
In East Palo Alto -- where state education numbers show more than nine in ten public school students are low income and more than half are English learners -- many are finding hope and connection at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula.
This week's Jefferson Award winner is Army veteran who continues to live a life of service into his 80s, by feeding hundreds of San Francisco families a week.
A Bay Area man who overcame tremendous obstacles to excel in school has made it his mission to gear up other students for success in the classroom and in life.
For Students Rising Above scholar Josh Collins it took moving across the country to realize the value of his Bay Area family.
Samir Hooker had to grow up fast after his stepfather was shot dead 12 years ago. Now he is watching over his mom and sister while attending UC Berkeley.
It's hard enough to graduate from one of the most prestigious schools in the country when you're the first in your family to go to college. Imagine doing that while you're also trying to protect your parents from being deported?
Some students who are the first in their families to go to college face the challenge of balancing a rigorous academic load while still working to help support their family back home.