By Guy McCarthy, San Bernardino County Sun, Calif. Dec. 26--CALIMESA -- The black billboard stands above Interstate 10 less than 20 miles from where five firefighters died trying to protect a home in the Esperanza Fire.

By Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Nov. 15--FAR EASTERN Contra Costa County is one of the fastest-growing parts of the Bay Area. As a result, it continues to experience growing pains with population increases often outpacing essential services. Fire protection is one of those services.

By Erin Sherbert, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Nov. 11--Local leaders are thinking about contracting out far East County's fire protection services to the state, saying it's the best way to add needed personnel without raising taxes.

By By David Sneed, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Sep. 20--Demolition of naval flares at a firing range in Camp San Luis Obispo sparked a grassland fire that blackened about seven acres Tuesday afternoon.

By Kim Minugh, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Aug. 17--As a wildfire ripped through more than 400 acres of timber in Yuba County on Wednesday, fire officials encouraged rural residents to heed their warnings: Peak fire season is under way, and now is the time to protect homes.