Behind California's January Wildfires: Dry Conditions, Stubborn Weather Pattern
The state is the driest it's been since the 1890s.
On the heels of California's driest calendar year on record, wildfires have charred almost 2,000 acres around the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, California.
Not exactly the way people want to stay warm during wintertime.
"This is not normal," said Mark Jackson, the meteorologist in charge for the National Weather Service's office near Los Angeles. The peak season for California wildfires runs from May to early December. (See "Why Big, Intense Wildfires Are the New Normal.")
The record dry conditions have contributed to an increased danger for wildfires in the Golden State, Jackson said.
California Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency for the state on Friday and called for the voluntary conservation of water by 20 percent.
These historic
