The topography and foliage common in southern California provide ideal conditions for rapidly spreading blazes, such as those that destroyed more than 2,000 homes and scorched roughly 500,000 acres in October.

Developers began clearing areas shortly after the blazes were controlled in preparation of the construction of hundreds of new homes.

Following the October blazes, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger commissioned a study to consider restricting construction in the highest-risk areas.

Strict regulations in Los Angeles County, for example, require homes in high-risk areas to including a "wet zone" and other fire-resistant measures, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Official estimates put the cost of controlling wildfires at $869 million in fiscal 2007-08, an 83 percent increase from a decade ago.