August 17 Digest: This Week in Wildfire and 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.
Recent and Active Fires
California Fire Devastated Town Copes with Loss and Hope
AP via MSNews April 13, 20121
After California’s largest single wildfire in recorded history destroyed hundreds of homes in rural Greenville, residents are beginning to cope with the magnitude of the losses.
Greenville Fire Victim Plots Rebuilding Effort
NBC Bay Area News story by Joe Rosato, August 16, 2021
News video interviews Ken Donnell about his hope of rebuilding after losing it all in the Dixie Fire that devastated Greenville, CA
The Dixie Fire destroyed this small California town. A week later, its residents remain in limbo.
From The Washington Post by Marisa Iati, August 12, 2021
Fire survivors seeking safe shelter face immediate uncertainty when the fire that burned their home continues to grow.
Kent Porter: Capturing climate change on the front lines of the Dixie fire
From The Press Democrat by Kent Porter, August 14, 2021
Kent Porter is a veteran photo journalist who has covered NorCal fires since the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County. This article and photos are from his experience covering the Dixie Fire. Read the article.
Good news on fires: Bootleg Fire 100% contained, cooler weather coming
From OPB, By Kimberley Freda August 17, 2021
After 39 days, the Oregon Bootleg Fire is now 100% contained. Read about it.
Caldor Fire in El Dorado County swells overnight, prompting evacuations
From the SF Chronicle, by Dominic Fracassa, August 17, 2021
Predicted winds, steep, rugged terrain and already stretched emergency resources will make this growing fire in El Dorado County difficult to control Read the article, with links to evacuation information.
Before the Fire: Reducing Risk, Building Resilience
Prescribed Fire: Good for the Forest, Good for the Future
Storymap created by Withanee Milligan | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
In the Spring, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Fuels and Vegetation Management Program released a Prescribed Fire Story Map. The term Prescribed Fire is discussed often, but do you know what it really entails, what the planning looks like, and what all the benefits are? Take a look and learn more.
Helicopter Mulching Could Help Forests Recover After Severe Wildfires, But It’s Not Cheap
From Colorado Public Radio by Sam Brasch, August 16, 2021
Forest canopies provide a natural shield to filter heavy rain. But fire-scorched landscapes don’t have the protection these trees provide. Can aerial drops of mulch in these burn scars prevent mudslides and protect fragile watersheds? Read more.
Technology and Innovation
NASA Unveils New Interactive Website Ahead of Landsat 9 Launch
Press Release From NASA, August 16, 2021
This September Landsat 9, a joint NASA and U.S. Geological Survey satellite will launch. NASA’s Landsat satellites have offered a global perspective of our changing planet since 1972. This new website will offer a timeline view of changes in land and sea over time, including real time current conditions. These views are essential to our understanding and strategizing how to manage our natural resources in this time of climate change. Read more and explore the site.
Communities Navigating Recovery: Stories of Resilience and Hope
‘Where else will I go?’: California’s ‘climate migrants’ search for home a year after Santa Cruz Mountains lightning fires
One year after the CZU Fires in Santa Cruz, those who have experienced so much loss are still working hard to get back home. This article shares some personal stories and also describes how the current climate of fire in the west has created a wave of migrants fleeing fire. Read the article