October 2007 California wildfires
An event that helped the fires is the drought hapenning in Southern California.  The fires have been strengthened by the strangely strong Santa Ana winds.  The winds are believed to have broken power lines, creating some of the fires. One fire was because of arson; one was started by an flipped-over semi-truck.  Why the other fires are happening it not yet known.  Winds are not expected to get better until October 25 2007.