Liam Moriarty

People who escaped the Carr fire near Redding, Calif., are living with uncertainty. Some know they lost their homes, others know their homes are standing but don't know when they can go back.

Prescribed burns are underway in several states right now to try to get an early handle on wildfires. But the deliberate fires carry their own risks, including widespread and persistent smoke.

High unemployment and the growing use of meth and other drugs have fueled an explosion of property crimes. Amid cuts to law enforcement, community watch groups are cropping up to fill the vacuum.