April 5 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. 

Local School Districts Get Some Much Needed Funding Following 2020 Wildfires

From KDRV, by Ariel Iacobazzi | April 2, 2022

New state funding for school districts in Oregon, including Santiam County, will help to keep much needed services for students and families

Report: Marshall Fire Victims File Lawsuit Against Xcel Energy

From KKTV, by Megan Hiler | March 31, 2022

On Thursday, a class-action lawsuit filed against Xcel Energy in relation to the devastating wildfire that started this past December, even though the cause of the Marshall Fire is yet to be determined.

Where Did the Marshall Fire Relief Money Go?

From KDRV, by Carly Moore | March 28, 2022

66,000 people donated to the Community Foundation Boulder County after the Marshall Fire, coming out to more than $38 million, but only $8.1 million has been distributed

Marshall Fire Debris Cleanup Schedule Released

From KDVR, by Colleen Flynn | April 1, 2022

Boulder County announced the first neighborhoods scheduled for debris removal are Marshall in unincorporated Boulder County, Eldorado in Louisville, and Sagamore and Original Town in Superior

Three Months After a Wildfire Swept Through, Displaced Colorado Residents Struggle to Rebuild

From The Guardian, by Nina Lakhani | March 29, 2022

Inadequate insurance, delayed payments and complex building codes have slowed the return to two Colorado towns

CHIP Prepares for Project to Build New Homes in Paradise

From Oroville Mercury-Register, by Jake Hutchison | March 31, 2022

While the series of dirt lots along Young Avenue in Paradise might not look like much now, within about a year and a half they will house multiple families, all of whom are taking part in the construction process.

CHIP Prepares for Project to Build New Homes in Paradise

From Oroville Mercury-Register, by Jake Hutchison | March 31, 2022

While the series of dirt lots along Young Avenue in Paradise might not look like much now, within about a year and a half they will house multiple families, all of whom are taking part in the construction process.

Wildfire Recovery: Evaluating Issues Around Rebuilding After a Natural Disaster

From AARP Research, by Amanda Frail, Aisha Bonner Cozad | January 2022

A survey on wildfire recovery among Jackson County, Oregon residents & rormer Residents age 45+ revealed many lack insurance and need better access to emergency information and services, preferably delivered by radio and local news.

California once prohibited Native American fire practices. Now, it's asking tribes to use them to help prevent wildfires

From CNN, by Alaa Elassar | April 3, 2022

California's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force is prioritizing indigenous practices and cultural burning techniques to mitigate wildfire and repair ecosystems.

Your Guide to Preparing Your Home and Emergency Kit for California Wildfire Season

From The Sacramento Bee, by Hanh Truong | April 3, 2022

Tips on how to prepare and stay safe during this wildfire season

Prepare Your Yard for Wildfire Season by Creating a Low-Flammable Landscaping Plan, Finding Fire-Resistant Plants With New Database

From The Oregonian, by Janet Eastman | March 31, 2022

Oregon-based wildfire mitigation specialist Charisse Sydoriak suggests low-flammable landscape methods to adapt to inevitable wildfires

CA Fire Prevention Initiative Expands Controlled Burns

From msn, by Gideon Rubin | April 1, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced an ambitious forest management plan, a key element of which is the expansion of prescribed fires and cultural burning

Forest Management Handbook For Small-Parcel Landowners Released

From YubaNet.com, by Cal Fire | March 31, 2022

A resource for landowners to develop a forest management strategy for forest health

Indigenous Activists Protest Plans to Log Redwoods in a Northern California Forest

From capradio, by Manola Secaira | April 1, 2022

Late last month, hundreds of activists and environmental groups rallied at California’s state capitol. Indigenous performers danced while others chanted to protest the logging of redwoods in the Jackson Demonstration State Forest.

Communities Are Embracing ‘Controlled Burns’ to Protect Themselves

From PBS, by Christopher Booker and Sam Weber | March 27, 2022

Report on community-led efforts to preemptively set controlled fires, reducing the risk from large out-of-control fires while also restoring the ecological health of the forest.

Fire and Rain: West to Get More One-Two Extreme Climate Hits

From The Colorado Sun, by Seth Borenstein | April 2, 2022

A study in Friday’s Science Advances predicts that as human-caused climate change intensifies, 90% of extreme fire events will be followed by at least three extraordinary downpours.

Wildfires, and then, flooding rains will get worse, says a new study

From Digital Journal, by Karen Graham | April 3, 2022

New study highlights the need for better preparations for hazards, like mudslides and flash floods, that can cause devastation long after the flames from severe blazes are out

Precipitation January Through March Was Record Lowest in Some Western Areas

From Wildfire Today, by Bill Gabbert | April 3, 2022

100-year records were set in areas of Northern California, Southern Oregon, Central Idaho, and Northern Nevada

Northern California Could Face Dire Wildfire Danger in 2022. How High is the Risk?

From The Sacramento Bee, by Michael McGough | April 4, 2022

With climate change growing more extreme each year, the upcoming fire season is looking to be more extreme as well

A Recipe for Climate Disaster

From The Atlantic, by Kendra Pierre-Louis | March 29, 2022

Extreme rain, rising sea levels, and more frequent wildfires are all making landslides more likely.