California’s Heat Wave Exposes Failures in Wildfire Preparedness and Climate Policy

The relentless grip of a severe heat wave is bearing down on California and much of the U.S. Southwest, bringing triple-digit temperatures that inevitably escalate wildfire risks. Yet as residents swelter under this blistering sun, serious questions arise: How effectively are state leaders protecting citizens? And why does this cycle of extreme weather and wildfire devastation persist in the world’s richest nation?Has California Learned from Past Fire Disasters?Southern California faces red flag warnings through Saturday, with some areas expecting temperatures as high as 108 degrees Fahrenheit, while deserts approach near-lethal highs of 120 degrees. Meanwhile, drought-stressed forests remain tinderboxes waiting...