Colorado Fire Near Yosemite and a Withdrawn Wildfire Liability Bill

A fast-growing fire outside Yosemite closed a main highway into the park on Wednesday. In Sacramento, the legislative session ended with a controversial utility wildfire bill pulled from the floor and several smoke-damage insurance bills sent to the governor. San Diego County also moved to fund a permanent fix for a neighborhood air pollution hot spot, and a group of House Democrats introduced a federal wildfire package.

Colorado Fire closes Highway 140 west of Yosemite

The Colorado Fire is burning at Highway 140 and Colorado Road, west of Yosemite National Park, and has closed Highway 140, SFGATE reports. Colorado Road is closed from Highway 140 to Rancheria Creek, and Cal Fire said 45 structures were threatened.

The fire was 30 acres and "rapidly expanding" upslope at 2:39 p.m., reached 171 acres by 3:12 p.m. as it moved toward the Merced River drainage, and had grown to 250 acres as of 5:51 p.m., according to Cal Fire. Anyone heading to the park from the west should check road conditions before leaving.

California pulls its last-minute utility liability bill

California's legislative session ended Tuesday with lawmakers withdrawing Senate Bill 492, a wildfire liability bill that had been introduced only the previous Saturday after weeks of closed-door talks between Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The bill dealt with who pays when fires sparked by equipment belonging to San Diego Gas & Electric, Pacific Gas & Electric, or Southern California Edison cause major damage.

After Democrats caucused for more than an hour, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Sen. Josh Becker told their chambers no votes would be cast. Rivas said the proposal "did not deliver the support, the accountability or the meaningful reform that wildfire victims deserve." Newsom said the bill had productive elements but did not address the underlying problems, and there is no word yet on whether it returns in a special session.

Smoke-damage insurance bills head to the governor

While the liability deal fell apart, lawmakers did pass bills requiring insurers to provide better coverage for smoke-damaged homes and financing for upgrades that protect homes from future fires, the Los Angeles Times reports. The measures respond to the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, which destroyed more than 16,000 structures and killed 31 people.

Two complementary bills approved Monday would ensure homes that survive a wildfire but are contaminated by smoke are properly cleaned before residents move back in. The Times reports the Eaton fire left thousands of homes contaminated with lead, some at levels hundreds of times what the EPA considers safe, and that homeowners routinely said insurers refused or delayed claims. All of the bills now go to Newsom for his consideration.

San Diego County funds a fix for a toxic air hot spot

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve a new phase of its fight against Tijuana River pollution, including a permanent fix at an air pollution hot spot in South County, the Spokesman-Review reports. A measure allocating $4 million for design, environmental review, and permitting of a box culvert at Saturn Boulevard passed unanimously. Hydrogen sulfide levels there have reached 16 times the state air quality standard.

That work will run alongside a $2.5 million interim pipe-extension project already underway, with construction expected in 2027. The board also voted 4-1 to fund an 18-month engineering analysis for a new system to capture sewage from the river itself.

House Democrats introduce a federal wildfire package

Rep. George Whitesides of California joined four other Democratic representatives to introduce the Wildfire Response and Readiness Act, the Santa Clarita Valley Signal reports from a news release. The release says wildfires have burned more than 5.5 million acres across the United States so far this year.

The package invests in wildfire prevention and post-fire restoration, requires federal agencies to develop a 10-year wildfire plan, and helps families make their homes more resistant to fire, according to the release. Whitesides said it would also bolster firefighter resources and pay.

Sources

Wildfire near Yosemite National Park closes Highway 140 — SFGATE
California Legislature withdraws a controversial wildfire liability bill. What now? — San Diego Union-Tribune
Coverage for smoke damage, money for protecting homes passed to help wildfire victims — Los Angeles Times
San Diego County supervisors greenlight plan to build own Tijuana River treatment plant — Spokane Spokesman-Review
Whitesides introduces package to combat wildfires, improve readiness — Santa Clarita Valley Signal

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.