Weather

According to the United States Geological Survey, the temblor struck near San Lorenzo around 6:29 p.m. The earthquake was first reported as a magnitude 4.2 but downgraded to a 3.9.

Firefighters with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire say they've stopped forward progress on 40-acre brush fire that began Sunday afternoon near Bay Point.

The Earth is now trapping twice as much heat as it was in 2005. As a result, wildfires are burning larger areas for longer periods of time.

Santa Clara County has declared a local emergency because of extreme drought conditions and a water supply shortage.

Insurers have been taking a hard look at the millions of Californians who live in areas with a very high risk of wildfires, especially in recent years when a series of costly fires incinerated thousands of rural homes.

Firefighters have contained a quarter-acre wildfire in San Jose Wednesday evening, officials with Cal Fire say. 

The pre-holiday-season has already become a nightly illegal fireworks show all over California, sometimes with devastating consequences. 

Residents in San Jose, Campbell, Saratoga, and Los Gatos can expect some immediate changes in light of current drought conditions.

A Capital Public Radio investigation says California Gov. Gavin Newsom vastly overstated wildfire prevention work completed by his administration. 

The Bay Area may see another heat wave this weekend but that's just a maybe, as the National Weather Service stopped short of issuing a heat advisory.

Fireworks are likely the cause of a 10-acre fire in a Vallejo neighborhood, prompting evacuations. A homeowner says the fire came within feet of her backdoor.