Millions of trees have died from drought and infestations, leaving the Sierra Nevada at higher risk for wildfires.

Eric Sagara
Senior Data Reporter
Eric Sagara is a senior data reporter for Reveal. He joined Reveal following a news applications fellowship at ProPublica, where he worked on projects about pharmaceutical payments to doctors, deadly force in police agencies and the trail of guns in the United States. Prior to that, he was a reporter on The Newark Star-Ledger's data team. Sagara is originally from Arizona, where he reported on business, education, crime, wildfires and government. He is based in Reveal's Emeryville, California, office.
Remembering the Oakland Hills Firestorm: How weather fueled the flames
Twenty-five years ago, a fire in the Oakland Hills demonstrated the serious risks in areas where homes intersect with nature. We talked to the lead meteorologist on duty the night of the blaze.
What Mr. T and Smokey Bear have in common: 10 facts about wildfires
From Nixon to “firenadoes,” wildfires have touched many parts of American culture.
Wildfire season is getting longer, but varies by region
Wildfires are not just a Western states problem, and they are active at different times across the country.
America’s ring of fire
Wildfires are getting bigger, more expensive to fight and closer than ever to where people live. The consequences can be deadly. The next episode of Reveal examines how wildfires got so dangerous – and how some areas are fighting back.
When spark meets sprawl: Building in wildlands increases fire risk
Wildfires, long considered a problem exclusive to the West, now threaten many other parts of the country as extreme weather becomes more commonplace and more people live in areas at risk for wildfire.
Bad wiring at house sparked California’s deadly 2015 Valley Fire
The lethal Valley Fire that destroyed nearly 2,000 buildings and killed at least four people in 2015 was started by faulty wiring at a home outside the community of Cobb, California, an investigation found.
Summer heat in the West sparks fire concerns
High temperatures and drying vegetation may mean a volatile fire season this year across the western United States.
Winter snowpack won’t end California drought
The current water year has been the wettest since the drought began, and winter snow returned to the Sierra Nevada this year. But parts of the state still will see drought conditions.
How we used satellite data to track California wildfires
Satellite data is a new tool in newsrooms to examine changing patterns on the land. We used it to show how three destructive California wildfires spread so quickly.