Is the big one on the way?

After a 6.8-magnitude quake struck Japan on Monday following a 3.7-magnitude earthquake near San Francisco on Friday, some wonder if the intense wildfires in southern California triggered this shaking.

Weather & Radar has been covering the latest on the active deadly wildfires in southern California triggered by drought conditions, 100-mph Santa Ana winds and plenty of dry fuel to work with.

Earthquakes in both northern California and southern Japan have caused some questions about whether the wildfires are triggering the shaking, and the answer is no. Wildfires do not cause earthquakes. However, earthquakes often cause fires.

Earthquakes cause the ground to shake and move, which can crack gas pipes and damage power lines, electrical wiring, and household appliances. This damage can ignite fires.

While there is no evidence that wildfires cause earthquakes, that doesn't mean a large quake isn't on the horizon. The USGS estimates that within the next 30 years, there's about a 46% chance an earthquake of magnitude 7 or above will hit the Los Angeles area and a 51% chance it will happen in the Bay Area.