Last summer's Rough Fire was finally declared contained on October 10. It began July 31 with a lightning strike and consumed 150k acres. Crews managed to keep it out of the Sequoia groves even as it reached their very boundaries.

The Sierra has had a couple of cold (not El Nino warm) storms that have dropped snow in the high country, so fire season is finally over at altitude. Fingers crossed for even a "normal" winter, or even a heavy one if we're really lucky. The forests could use the break.