Growing Firewood in the 'burbs ?

You may be thinking of Paulownia?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia

Poplar especially will grow back like that. I've watched people try for years to get rid of poplar trees with little luck by cutting them down over and over again. Another fast grower is pin oak. I'm not certain how that would fare in CA, but it is considered a fast grower here in PA. There is another tree that I've seen in Allentown, PA that I think they said came from China or Japan. I'm not sure what it's called, but it is a deciduous tree that grows at an alarming rate. The main tree is about 50-60 years old and probably is 3-4 feet in diameter. It tends to grow seedlings on its own all over the place which may be 8 feet tall by summer's end. It does drop seed pods, however, which explains its rapid propagation. I just wish I knew what it was called.[/quote]

You may be thinking of Paulownia?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia