14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 25-31, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Endless Season Winter is here, but fire season never ends. A look back at a devastating year for California. By Julie Cart FORUM As climate change warms the planet, wildfires have become so unpredictable and extreme that new words were invented: firenado, gigafire, fire siege, even fire pandemic. California has 78 more annual “fire days”—when conditions are ripe for fires to spark—than 50 years ago. When is California’s wildfire season? With recurring droughts, it is now year-round. Arson and power lines are the major triggers. Scientists say to expect more lightning as the planet warms. And, aided and abetted by drought, more than 163 million trees have been killed by drought or insects. The three largest utilities— Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric—all have plans to spend billions clearing brush and trees away from transmission lines, insulate or underground power lines, install or maintain a network of remote cameras and weather stations to detect wind, smoke and other dangers. But a state audit found that some of the wildfire plans were “seriously deficient” and concluded that state officials are failing to hold California’s electric utilities accountable for preventing fires caused by their equipment. Hundreds of thousands of miles of transmission lines and other electrical equipment are strung across California, drawing little attention—until authorities name utility equipment as the cause of a wildfire. One in 10 California wildfires is related to energy equipment, according to the state’s chief utility regulator. Lawmakers have ordered that utility companies put safety measures in place, hoping to ensure that their equipment won’t spark future fires. None of these or other fire-mitigation efforts will come cheaply. Early estimates place the cumulative economic cost of Pacific Gas & Electric’s huge 2019 blackout in Northern California at up to $2.5 billion. And consumers can be expected to foot much of the fire-mitigation bill as utility companies pass costs along to them. Not surprisingly, California’s wildfire tab is growing. The state routinely exceeds projected fire suppression costs. In 2018, the state spent nearly $1 billion on fire suppression and emergency response, surpassing the budgeted $450 million. Put another way: Cal Fire’s total funding for fire protection, resource management and fire prevention has grown from $800 million in 2005-06 to an estimated $3.7 billion in 2021-22. The job of battling larger, more stubborn California wildfires has become more costly, complicated, fearsome and deadly, straining the state’s already overworked firefighters. Insurers keep raising premiums and canceling policies, even if homes have been fire-hardened. California’s landscape evolved with fire. What remains is for its inhabitants to adapt to the new reality. And that requires yet another new term: Welcome to the “Pyrocene,” coined by fire scientist Stephen J. Pyne. The age of fire. Julie Cart is a reporter on the environment team at CalMatters, where this story first appeared. OPINION Welcome to the “Pyrocene.” Voted Monterey County’s Best Antique Shop ’25 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • GEAR-000383, GEAR-000376, GEAR-000375 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
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