Southern California wildfires: Homeowners defend themselves

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Oct 21, 2014

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Southern California wildfires: Homeowners defend themselves

Firefighters are often unable to prevent fire from reaching neighborhoods, so homes without suitable defenses are left to burn. The problem is especially bad in Southern California.

A firefighter with the Gabilan Camp crew hoses down hot spots during a controlled burn to fight the King Fire on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, near Placerville, Calif. Crews scrambled Monday to extend control lines around a massive Northern California wildfire threatening thousands of homes as they braced for strong, erratic winds similar to when the blaze doubled in size a week ago. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Firefighters are often unable to prevent fire from reaching neighborhoods, so homes without suitable defenses are left to burn. The problem is especially bad in Southern California.

Wildfire is a part of California life, the downside to living in the Golden State.

According to experts, strong Santa Anas and a unique ecology make wildfires in the southland behave differently from northern forests.

Firefighters are often unable to prevent fire from reaching neighborhoods, so homes without suitable defenses are left to burn.

Amy Quinton explains it's a problem with no easy solution, and some homeowners are taking matters into their own hands.