Fire Aftermath in Sylmar

Fire officials in Southern California are asking the public to help figure out what sparked the Southland Fires that destroyed hundreds of homes and burned thousands of acres this past week. The Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar took the hardest hit, with nearly 500 homes destroyed. Many residents are pledging to rebuild their homes, but they're not sure their community will ever feel the same. Reporter: Sarah Varney

Fire-Safe Houses

Losing your home in a wildfire teaches hard lessons about what makes a house vulnerable to fire. The good news for anyone rebuilding or remodeling in a fire zone is that there are steps you can take to minimize the danger. We visit one San Diego homeowner who did a lot of research before building her new house. Reporter: Alison St. John

Butchery 101

Thanksgiving cooks will be brining, stuffing and roasting their way into next week's turkey feast. Foodies looking for a bigger culinary challenge can find it at a San Francisco market where home cooks can learn to be their own butcher. Reporter: Lisa Morehouse

• More: Avedano's Holly Park Market - official site

Pick Your Own Chestnuts

If you're into eating locally grown food and plan on including roasted chestnuts with your holiday meals, we have good news for you. California is one of the few places in the U.S. where you can still find American chestnut trees. Four types of them grow on Skyline Chestnut Orchard -- a grove perched above the Northern California town of Woodside.

• More: SkylineChestnuts.com - official site

Sea of Plastic

After you're done with that double latte from the corner cafe, the empty cup and lid may end up in a giant pit of ocean litter off the California coast. It's called the North Pacific Gyre, and it's a floating collection of trash the size of Texas. This week, the state Ocean Protection Council took steps aimed at limiting the amount of plastic we use. Reporter: David Gorn

• More: Photos