California has focused on fortifying communities against wildfires. But with growing threats, that may not be enough.

Wildfires in California have increased significantly in recent decades, a trend experts attribute to climate change. Between 1971 and 1995, the average annual burned area was 361 square kilometers. Since 1996, this figure has quintupled to 1,710 square kilometers annually.

Wildfires in Southern California have burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed thousands of buildings, and killed at least 10 people. Experts say global warming may have set the stage for the catastrophic blazes.