Federal Scientists to Study Fire Damage in California

A team of 25 scientists will study nearly 1 million acres in Northern California that were charred by a series of wildfires over the last month.

The study is the beginning of restoration efforts after lighting strikes in June sparked hundreds of wildfires.

The team will be led by a U.S. Forest Service soils expert. It first will examine areas that could pose a danger, such as where trees are teetering and about to collapse.

They also will study land that was torn up by firefighting vehicles that could be prone to erosion.

The scientists were set to begin a ground and air review of the 1,500 square miles of destruction on Monday.

Mike Odle, a spokesman for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, said the scientists hope to draft a restoration plan within 10 days.