July 26 Digest: This Week in Wildfire Recovery News

July 25, 2022

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 Fire News

Oak fire remains uncontained as Al Gore warns ‘civilization at stake’

From The Guardian, by Gabrielle Canon and Edward Helmore | July 24, 2022

The governor of California declares a state of emergency for the Oak Fire in Mariposa county that grew more than 15,600 acres and remained entirely uncontained

Wildfire Map: Here’s a look at some of the fires burning in California

From KCRA 3, by Hilda Flores | July 19, 2022

A map of fires currently burning in California, ones that have burned so far this year, and a look at air quality conditions in Northern California

California’s wildfires are causing more and more damage

From World Economic Forum, by Anna Fleck | July 19, 2022

An analysis on the growing danger of wildfires through a look at acres burned and the growing cost of mitigation

Wildfire near Yosemite National Park explodes in size, forces thousands of evacuations

From CBS News | July 25, 2022

The Oak Fire near Yosemite National Park has already grown into one of California's biggest blazes of the year, forcing thousands to evacuate, and firefighters battling amidst tough conditions

Before the Fire: Building Resilience

A new proposal to ensure fire protection for all

From High Country News, by Kylie Mohr | July 25, 2022

A proposed community firebreak plan in Paradise involves building-level strategies for homeowners, such as removing potentially flammable items and installing safer roofs using more fire-safe materials

Could Burying Power Save More Homes, Lives from Wildfires?

From Public News Service, by Roz Brown | July 25, 2022

Engineering Consultant with Resilient Analytics Paul Chinowsky points out how the problem of wildfires started by sparks from power lines could be eliminated if power lines were buried

The Audacious Plan That Could Save Lives From Wildfires

From Inverse, by Emily E. Schlickman, Brett Milligan, and Stephen M. Wheeler | July 24, 2022

Halting new construction and relocating from hazardous zones may be an answer to lower the losses from wildfires, but the plan involves the relocation of entire communities that have already been established in unsafe zones

Communities Navigating Recovery

Southern Oregon to welcome first resident-owned community in Talent

From ktvl news 10, by Ambar Rodriguez | July 24, 2022

Statewide nonprofit Manufactured Housing for the Community and Shelter Assistance Corporation teams with Rogue Valley community to assist in purchasing residential dwellings where the Almeda Fire burned hundreds of homes

Recovery navigators for Marshall Fire survivors available starting Monday

From Daily Camera, by Deborah Swearingen | July 22, 2022

Boulder County residents impacted by the Marshall Fire can begin meeting with recovery navigators through free service offered from Navigating Disaster for Boulder County program

Policy Update

In wake of Marshall Fire, insurance commissioner considers state insurance fund

From CBS Colorado, by Shaun Boyd | July 21, 2022

Colorado Insurance Commissioner Mike Conway has been asked by lawmakers to conduct a study on the availability and affordability of homeowners insurance and whether it is time Colorado had a state insurance fund.

Forest Service Taking Emergency Action to Protect Giant Sequoias

From USDA, by Press Office | July 22, 2022

In order to provide long term survival for giant sequoia groves, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is initiating emergency fuels reduction treatments before more severe wildfires occur

Climate

California fires are so severe some forests might vanish forever

From Los Angeles Times, by Alex Wigglesworth | July 20, 2022

With a pattern of wildfires increasing in California in size and severity, larger and larger patches of vegetation are being burned all throughout the state that may not grow back in many places

These maps show severe fires are morphing California forests into something we won’t recognize

From San Francisco Chronicle, by Yoohyun Jung | July 25, 2022

According to fire experts, the size of a wildfire alone is not an indicator of a fire's impact, but the burn severity as well, which includes forests' ability to bounce back after fires and withstand drought conditions and climate change

Alaska experiencing wildfires it’s never seen before

From AP News, by Mark Thiessen | July 25, 2022

After heat waves and droughts caused by the warming climate, Alaska has already seen more than 530 wildfires before the worst of the fire season has hit

Policy

US to plant 1 billion trees as climate change kills forests

From AP News, by Matthew Brown | July 26, 2022

In response to the destruction of wildfires and infestations across the nation and in particular the West, the Biden Administration has announced that it will plant 1 billion trees to replace those destroyed in recent years.

Posted in News Digest