Why a top California fire expert is so worried about Caldor fire as it approaches Tahoe

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Scott Stephens, a professor of fire science at the University of California, Berkeley, has been watching the Caldor fire with worry as it heads toward Lake Tahoe, one of California’s most important natural landscapes and home to thousands of people. Stephens, one of the top scientists in his field, spoke to The Sacramento Bee on Monday about why he’s concerned, what firefighters are likely to experience and what needs to be done to make California’s fires safer and more manageable. This interview has been condensed for length and clarity. Q: How concerned should we be that...