The 5+ year drought in California dried out the forests. This was followed by wildfires last year which started at night in multiple locations almost simultaneously. There was no lightning in the area reported. Forty-six people died and over 10,000 structures were destroyed. Soon after the fires were put out, torrential rains and mudslides heaped insult onto injury, causing more death and destruction.
Do you think this sequence of events (drought, fires, rain) was a coincidence? Do you believe in the tooth fairy? The government has the capability to make it rain or not rain in a given region. It also has airborne laser systems. Get the picture? IMO, it wanted the people to get off the land and stay off, no rebuilding. The question is why.
Now that's a DUMB question!