Multiple California Wildfires Burn 131,000 Acres, Destroy Homes

California continues to grapple with multiple active wildfires, including the large Gifford fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, burning over 131,000 acres and nearly fully contained, and the recently extinguished Coches Fire in San Diego County which destroyed several homes and injured one person. The state's wildfire season varies by region, with Northern California seeing peak activity from summer through late fall, and Southern California starting earlier in late spring. In response to increasing wildfire risks and the prevalence of older, more vulnerable homes, California has implemented new regulations requiring sellers of homes built before 2010 in wildfire-prone areas to disclose not only the fire risk but also any mitigation measures taken to protect the property. These measures include smaller-scale home hardening efforts like fire-resistant roofs and vegetation removal, aimed at helping buyers understand and reduce wildfire vulnerability. This disclosure requirement represents a pioneering step in disaster risk communication, as California becomes the first state to mandate home sellers reveal a property's ability to withstand natural catastrophes, potentially serving as a model for other states facing climate-related threats. The ongoing fires and new regulations highlight the critical challenges Californians face amid escalating wildfire dangers driven by climate change.