National Guard Firefighters

An army of firefighters is working around the clock to contain 300 raging wildfires that have forced thousands of evacuations. Four hundred California National Guard troops have been called to the firelines, while another 2,000 have been ordered to complete firefighter training. It's the first time the National Guard is being used to put out fires. Reporter: Christina Aanestad

Northern California Wildfires -- A Reporter's Notebook

Reporter Lorraine Dechter is covering the story of the fires in her Northern California community -- but she's also living with the uncertainty. Her own house is on the border of the fire area, and she's been staying at the radio station so as not to get trapped at home. Reporter: Lorraine Dechter

Fire Preparedness

Longer fire seasons are the new reality for California. But is the state prepared? Reporter: Amy Standen

Crank Ensemble

Cat food cans, old brooms and meat bones are considered garbage for most people. For one San Francisco musician, they're essential components of his handmade instruments. Reporter: Mina Kim

• More: Photo slideshow

Synchronized Swimming

The Beijing Olympics are just a month away, and athletes throughout California are training hard. Over the next few weeks, The California Report will hear from some of the state's Olympic contenders. We kick off the series poolside, at the capital of synchronized swimming in the United States.Reporter: Rori Gallagher