Sept. 14 Digest: This Week in Wildfire Recovery News
This is a digest of selected news and media that emerged over the last week related to wildfire emergencies, recovery efforts, and resilience building efforts in the American West.
Greater Understanding of Wildfire Leads to Better Solutions(opens in new tab)
From The William + Flora Hewlett Foundation, by Jennee Kuang | September 8, 2021
This post offers ten suggested readings to get a better understanding of the issues surrounding wildfire.
To view above map, click to accept terms first. Interactive maps from CALFIRE show property damage status. The embedded map above is for the Dixie Fire. View the Caldor Fire map at this link.
Do you qualify for federal wildfire relief assistance? It depends on where you are from(opens in new tab)
From KCRA-3 by Stephanie Lin | September 9, 2021
For those who just experienced loss from a wildfire disaster, your relief resources are dependent on the type of disaster declaration for the fire that destroyed your property. Sometimes these declarations take time.
Dixie Fire Still on Pace to Become 'Gigafire'(opens in new tab)
From CBS Sacramento by Paiching Wei | Sept. 13, 2021
Out West, Biden points to wildfires to push for big rebuild(opens in new tab)
From The Associated Press International, By Alexandra Jaffe and Darlene Superville | September 13, 2021
Returning Home After a Wildfire(opens in new tab)
From CALFIRE's Ready for Wildfire website
Coming home after a wildfire can be difficult. The damage is often unknown until the homeowner returns days or weeks later. Before returning home ALWAYS check with officials before attempting to return to your home. This site offers important guidance for your safety.
Returning Home After Wildfire: Advice from CALFIRE
Wildfire Took These Families' Homes. Here's Why They Stay.(opens in new tab)
Interactive Feature From The New York Times Photographs by Rachel Bujalski Article by Aidan Gardiner \ September 9, 2021
The Almeda Fire destroyed their homes in Oregon a year ago. This feature shows the diverse mix of people who still are drawn to this place called home, despite the challenges.
Santiam Canyon: From 'collective trauma' to 'positive change'(opens in new tab)
From KOIN by Travis Teich \ September 10, 2021
Community collaboration and innovative solutions for weathering a long and costly recovery ahead has kept the community of Santiam Canyon hopeful, even after experiencing severe trauma.
News Release from Governor Kate Brown, One Year After Oregon's Fires(opens in new tab)
NEWS RELEASE from The Office of Governor Kate Brown | Sept. 7, 2021
Official statement from Oregon Governor Kate Brown one year after the historic fires of Labor Day 2020.
The Almeda Fire: One Year Later(opens in new tab)
From Jefferson Public Radio by the JPR News Team | September 8, 2021
Reflecting on the year, where so much was lost, yet a community came together to help one another get through the worst.
Woolsey sparked passion for fire preparedness(opens in new tab)
From the Thousand Oaks Acorn, by Ian Bradley | August 19, 2021
How the experience of the Woolsey Fire motivated community members to organize for a local Fire Safe Councils
Worsening California blazes prompt new calls for innovations to fight fires smarter(opens in new tab)
From ABC News Article by Catherine Thorbecke, Video by Ginger Zee | September 9, 2021
"The technology for monitoring mapping and modeling wildfires is like a technological renaissance. What we have as a problem is under-utilization of all this investment in technology for fire management."
Close to Home: High-risk fire areas need broadband access(opens in new tab)
OPINION From The Press Democrat, By Scott Milller | September 10, 2021
Rural communities with no broadband need to be first priority in new infrastructure investments for internet access; its a matter of safety since these areas are often at the highest risk for wildfire.
Managing Family Forests Is Key to Managing Wildfire(opens in new tab)
From The Public Policy Institute of California | no date posted
Key issues with managing private forest lands in the Sierra-Cascades region and what help is needed.
‘Firefighting without firefighters’: SRJC wildfire resiliency program aims to build key workforce(opens in new tab)
From The Press Democrat by Alana Minkler | Sept. 7, 2021
Santa Rosa Junior College has launched a new Wildfire Resilience program with hands on training in wildfire prevention practices. The Wildfire Resilience Program is the first program of its kind among California’s 116 community colleges.
Tree planting efforts aren’t replacing burned U.S. forests — not even close(opens in new tab)
From Reuters, by By Adria Malcolm and Andrew Hay, Andrea Januta | September 9, 2021
Systems are overwhelmed and not able to keep up with replanting needs after wildfire in federal forests, even though replacing trees can fight erosion, help with watershed, and improve climate.
Life after Caldor: Experts say cultural, political change needed to stop Sierra megafires(opens in new tab)
From The Reno Gazette Journal by Amy Alonzo | September 10, 2021
This era of megafires call not just for large scale solutions in forest management, but for cultural and household action for home hardening and defensible space.
Here Are The Major Bills Passed By California Lawmakers In 2021(opens in new tab)
From CAPRadio, by Scott Rodd, Nichole Nixon and Manola Secaira | September 10, 2021
Of special note: AB 9 would create a new state workforce to handle wildfire prevention responsibilities, including forest-thinning, prescribed burns and home-hardening.
Here’s how Upland and Rancho Cucamonga could gain influence over neighboring forest lands(opens in new tab)
How an effort to redraw congressional districts might help the communities in San Bernardino County share the responsibility of forest management problems including trail access, water management, wildfires, traffic and vandalism.
Budget Package Guarantees $1B In Fire Prevention Funding This Year, At Least $200M Annually Moving Forward(opens in new tab)
From CAPRadio, by Scott Rodd | September 10, 2021
After months of contentious negotiations, California lawmakers passed a budget guaranteeing one billion in fire prevention this year, with funds set aside for the next six years.