November 30 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. 

Wildfire survivors form support group to help each other recover

From KGW8, by Christine Pitawanich | November 16, 2021

The Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund's Deana Freres, along with members of the Santiam Integration Team and the Long Term Recovery Group welcomed California based nonprofit After the Fire as they toured the wildfire recovery region and met with local recovery leaders.

It Will Be Beautiful Again': Caldor Fire Survivors Reflect on Loss and the Long Road Ahead

From KCRA News, by Stephanie Lin | November 17, 2021

Jodi Lauther admits there are times where she would get lost driving through her small town of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County. That would change once a wildfire would tear through her town, leveling much of the area. After the Caldor Fire, nothing really looks the same, after it burned 2/3 of Grizzly Flats.

County Provides ROE and Debris Removal Update and Next Steps

From Plumas News | November 22, 2021

Plumas County Administrator shares important information for those who have been impacted by the Dixie Fire, stressing deadline for Right-of-Entry (ROE) submissions for debris removal in order to minimize costs to property owners, allow owners to quickly rebuild, and help community recover from the effects of the 2021 fires.

Recover, Rebuild, Rise: The Santiam Canyon Long Term Recovery Group

From KMUZ Community Radio's Willamette Wake Up | November 23, 2021

Radio interview with Kevin Dial, manager of the Santiam Canyon Long Term Recovery Group, on the collaboration between the Santiam Integration Team and the LTRG, to support community recovery after the fires of 2020.

From Greensburg to Greenville: A Small Town Disaster Path to Learn From

From Plumas News, by Meg Upon | November 22, 2021

Indian Valley residents Sue Weber, Moorea Stout, and Tyler Pew head to Greensburg, Kansas in order to get information that will help Greenville, CA recover from the Dixie Fire.

Christmas tree farmer discusses the process of trying to save christmas tree growth for this holiday season after challenge from Caldor Fire

From CBS Sacramento, by Madisen Keavy | November 26, 2021

Third-generation Christmas tree farmer discusses the process of trying to save tree growth for this holiday season after challenges from drought and losses from the Caldor Fire.

Forest Management Software Market is Expected to Experience Tremendous Growth by 2028: Forest Metrix, Fountains Forestry, INFLOR, Mason Bruce and Girard, Plan-It Geo

From The Manomet Current | November 26, 2021

Latest report from The Forest Management Software Market will provide details and analysis on market share and insights, and key players in the Forest Management Software Market, as well as developments in the software market.

Snow Cover Critical for Revegetation Following Forest Fires

From Science Daily | November 22, 2021

With wildfires devastating mountain ecosystems across the western United States, their successful forest revegetation recovery hinges on, among other factors, an adequate lasting snowpack, according to new research.

Multi-Decadal Increase of Forest Burned Area in Australia is Linked to Climate Change

From Nature Communications, by Josep G. Canadell, C. P. (Mick) Meyer, Garry D. Cook, Andrew Dowdy, Peter R. Briggs, Jürgen Knauer, Acacia Pepler & Vanessa Haverd | November 26, 2021

The increase in forest burned area in Australia is consistent with increasingly dangerous fire weather conditions that are associated with varying degrees with anthropogenic climate change.

Snow Cover Critical After Wildfires

From Portland Local News, by Brad Newgard | November 27, 2021

Research by Oregon State University and the University of Nevada, Reno shows that severely burned Pacific Northwest mountain landscape must stay blanketed under certain level of snow in order for vegetation to return.

Cal Fire Helping Restore Forests At Its Davis Seed Bank

From CBS Sacramento, by Elizabeth Klinge | November 22, 2021

Cal Fire's services not only encompass the fighting of wildfires, but also the cultivation of new seedlings and replanting of native trees to replenish the forest.

'A New Vision for Forestry' Created Through Compromise Between Timber Industy, Environmentalists

From The News-Review, by Carisa Cegavske | November 26, 2021

Private Forest Accord between timber industry and environmentalists includes agreement of expanding buffer zones, creating a wider area where timber can not be cut, and better managing unstable slopes to protect waterways.

Study: Human-Caused Fires in San Juan Forest Often Occur Near Roads, Trails

From The Journal, by Grant Stringer | November 26, 2021

Study from University of North Alabama researchers shows that humans started more than a quarter of all wildfires from 2000 to 2018 in San Juan National Forest, and those fires tended to be closer to campgrounds, trails and roads.

The True Cost of Wildfires: Analyzing the Impact of Wildfires on the California Economy

From Bay Area Council Economic Institute

With wildfires posing a major threat to the California and Bay Area economies, this report analyzes the full economic and health costs of previous wildfire seasons, along with recommendations for how federal and state spending can target forest resilience and fire mitigation investments.

Tough Time for Trees: Old Logging Lands Need Lots of Work

From Missoulian, by Rob Chaney | November 28, 2021

The rolling hillsides flanking Gold and Belmont creeks once rumbled with industrial logging, and the destruction of the Douglas Fir trees has brought a crowd of stakeholders to the table for an exercise in restoration forestry.

Lake County Board of Supervisors Approve Letter of Opposition to Proposed 4.9-Percent Increase Requested by Pacific Gas & Electric for Wildfire, Other Costs

From Lake County Record-Bee by Bernadette Hefflefinger | November 24, 2021

Lake County joins list of protesters opposing PG&E's application for proposition that could result in a 4.9-percent rate increase for most of the company’s residential customers.