safety
High-severity wildfires burn 30 times more area than in 1985, UCLA study finds
Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: David González , as published by ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC)
· June 24, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page David González, as published by ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) Original story Read at the source Source published Jun 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Further details on the study's methodology and findings can be found through UCLA or reported by ABC7 Los Angeles.
A recent study from UCLA has found that high-severity wildfires in California are burning significantly more area than they did in the past. The study's findings indicate a substantial increase in the acreage affected by these intense fires. The comparison to 1985 shows that high-severity wildfires are now burning 30 times more area.
This suggests a notable change in the state's wildfire landscape over the past four decades. Further details on the study's methodology and findings can be found through UCLA or reported by ABC7 Los Angeles .
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As published by ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A recent study from UCLA has found that high-severity wildfires in California are burning significantly more area than they did in the past. The study's findings indicate a substantial increase in…
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by David González at ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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