California Teaming Up With Native American Tribes To Prevent Wildfires
For more than a century, California's Native American tribes were largely banned from doing traditional burning of the landscape. Now, they're restoring that practice to help prevent fires.
For more than a century, California's Native American tribes were largely banned from doing traditional burning of the landscape. Now, they're restoring that practice to help prevent fires.
Four Wildfires Engulf More Than 125,000 Acres In A Hot And Dry Colorado. And There’s No Relief In Sight
More than 125,000 acres of Colorado have burned as four different wildfires continue to rage in different parts of the state. All the fires are fueled by the heat, the low humidity and the wind. Not to mention the drought that Colorado is experiencing
More than 125,000 acres of Colorado have burned as four different wildfires continue to rage in different parts of the state. All the fires are fueled by the heat, the low humidity and the wind. Not to mention the drought that Colorado is experiencing
Watching mushroom clouds from the beach in LA. Apocalypse...maybe not now, but soon!
There’s a heatwave in Los Angeles and much of California — something about a high-pressure system trapping the air and not letting it circulate. That, on top of global warming, means that heat records are being broken all over the place. Our crappy privatized electrical grid is having trouble handling the AC demand — and companies are rolling out targeted blackouts to dampen the load. And it’s only gonna get worse next week.
There’s a heatwave in Los Angeles and much of California — something about a high-pressure system trapping the air and not letting it circulate. That, on top of global warming, means that heat records are being broken all over the place. Our crappy privatized electrical grid is having trouble handling the AC demand — and companies are rolling out targeted blackouts to dampen the load. And it’s only gonna get worse next week.
It’s Still Unclear When I-70, Closed By The Grizzly Creek Fire, Will Reopen. That’s Wreaking Havoc On Businesses
At a press conference on Thursday, Aug. 20, Colorado Department of Transportation executive director Shoshana Lew said they are looking at "days, not weeks" to reopen Interstate 70 at Glenwood Canyon.
At a press conference on Thursday, Aug. 20, Colorado Department of Transportation executive director Shoshana Lew said they are looking at "days, not weeks" to reopen Interstate 70 at Glenwood Canyon.
The women battling wildfires and breaking barriers in the American wilderness
One hot and dry midsummer day in Utah, Hannah Gross went to her first fire. A brand new wildland firefighter in 2015, she had no idea where this assignment would take her and her crew as they approached the hill where fire was ripping through the trees.
One hot and dry midsummer day in Utah, Hannah Gross went to her first fire. A brand new wildland firefighter in 2015, she had no idea where this assignment would take her and her crew as they approached the hill where fire was ripping through the trees.
Freakish Arctic Fires Alarmingly Intensify
NASA satellite images of fires in eastern Siberia depict an inferno of monstrous proportions, nothing in modern history compares. And, as of July, it’s intensifying. Should people be concerned? Answer: Yes, and double yes.
NASA satellite images of fires in eastern Siberia depict an inferno of monstrous proportions, nothing in modern history compares. And, as of July, it’s intensifying. Should people be concerned? Answer: Yes, and double yes.
Climate Apartheid Is the Coming Police Violence Crisis
In a 2019 report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights warned about the possibility of climate apartheid: a world in which only elites are able to access basic forms of social protection while everyone else faces the devastating effects of climate crises.
In a 2019 report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights warned about the possibility of climate apartheid: a world in which only elites are able to access basic forms of social protection while everyone else faces the devastating effects of climate crises.
Reformers Aim to End Prison Firefighters’ ‘Indentured Servitude’ in California
Brandon Smith was incarcerated in Wasco State Prison in 2012 when a correctional officer approached him about becoming a firefighter—not after prison, but during his time inside. Smith would, if he said “yes,” serve in what the state calls its Conservation Camp Program.
Brandon Smith was incarcerated in Wasco State Prison in 2012 when a correctional officer approached him about becoming a firefighter—not after prison, but during his time inside. Smith would, if he said “yes,” serve in what the state calls its Conservation Camp Program.
Apple Fire in California spreads to over 25,000 acres, 8,000 evacuated
A massive wildfire burning in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in California has scorched more than 26,000 acres and was at 5% containment as of Monday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The "Apple Fire," which is believed to have started as three separate blazes, broke out Friday afternoon and continues to burn three days later.
A massive wildfire burning in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in California has scorched more than 26,000 acres and was at 5% containment as of Monday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The "Apple Fire," which is believed to have started as three separate blazes, broke out Friday afternoon and continues to burn three days later.
How many wildland firefighters have COVID-19? Some agencies won’t, or can’t, say.
Wildland firefighter Alexandru Oarcea fought fires in Arizona with his 20-person crew for four months this season. He faced three of the biggest wildfires in the state’s history, all of which required hundreds of firefighting personnel to contain, and fought fires on the Navajo Nation, which had the highest per-capita coronavirus infection rate in the U.S. in May. Last week, his unit traveled to northern California, where peak fire season is just getting started. He’s now at a fire camp — makeshift cities that serve as bases for hundreds or even thousands of firefighters working to contain large blazes — on a fire that spans more than 80,000 acres. “Insanely crowded camp even for a normal season,” he texted me earlier this week. “This place is gonna turn into a covid nightmare!”
Wildland firefighter Alexandru Oarcea fought fires in Arizona with his 20-person crew for four months this season. He faced three of the biggest wildfires in the state’s history, all of which required hundreds of firefighting personnel to contain, and fought fires on the Navajo Nation, which had the highest per-capita coronavirus infection rate in the U.S. in May. Last week, his unit traveled to northern California, where peak fire season is just getting started. He’s now at a fire camp — makeshift cities that serve as bases for hundreds or even thousands of firefighters working to contain large blazes — on a fire that spans more than 80,000 acres. “Insanely crowded camp even for a normal season,” he texted me earlier this week. “This place is gonna turn into a covid nightmare!”
Forest Service firefighters face COVID-19 risks
GREENWIRE | Forest Service fire and aviation crews are seeing an uptick in coronavirus cases as the wildfire season progresses, according to agency officials.
The latest tally is around 200 positive test results, Fire and Aviation Director Patty Grantham told Forest Service retirees this week. Just under half of those are directly involved in firefighting, she said.
GREENWIRE | Forest Service fire and aviation crews are seeing an uptick in coronavirus cases as the wildfire season progresses, according to agency officials.
The latest tally is around 200 positive test results, Fire and Aviation Director Patty Grantham told Forest Service retirees this week. Just under half of those are directly involved in firefighting, she said.
Wildland Firefighters are Getting Covid. Many Don’t Have Health Insurance.
For four years, I worked as a hotshot, an elite wildland firefighter. Hotshots are crews of 18–22 initial attack firefighters, often the first to arrive on fires and charged with working closest to the flames. They typically work over a thousand hours of overtime each summer. Training is rigorous, and the job is grueling.
For four years, I worked as a hotshot, an elite wildland firefighter. Hotshots are crews of 18–22 initial attack firefighters, often the first to arrive on fires and charged with working closest to the flames. They typically work over a thousand hours of overtime each summer. Training is rigorous, and the job is grueling.
These California inmates risked death to fight wildfires. After prison, they’re left behind
When he was 17, Fernando Herrera saw a bleak future for himself. A life of gangs, violence, arrests and confinement trailed behind him. He wanted something more. While in prison, the Yuba County teen joined a program that would put him on a firefighting inmate crew at the Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp in Amador County. As an inmate, he helped fight the Thomas Fire that destroyed more than 1,000 buildings in Southern California in 2017.
When he was 17, Fernando Herrera saw a bleak future for himself. A life of gangs, violence, arrests and confinement trailed behind him. He wanted something more. While in prison, the Yuba County teen joined a program that would put him on a firefighting inmate crew at the Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp in Amador County. As an inmate, he helped fight the Thomas Fire that destroyed more than 1,000 buildings in Southern California in 2017.
Arizona wildfires and COVID-19: Firefighters are fighting two battles
For the men and women fighting Arizona wildfires this summer, amidst a pandemic, almost every aspect of day-to-day life has changed drastically.
For the men and women fighting Arizona wildfires this summer, amidst a pandemic, almost every aspect of day-to-day life has changed drastically.
CAL FIRE to hire more than 1,000 additional firefighters
With the COVID-19 pandemic reducing the number of inmate firefighters, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is scrambling to find enough personnel to handle the all important job of cutting fireline and mopping up wildfires.
With the COVID-19 pandemic reducing the number of inmate firefighters, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is scrambling to find enough personnel to handle the all important job of cutting fireline and mopping up wildfires.
Pandemic sidelines more than 1,000 incarcerated wildfire fighters in California. Low-paid inmates have become a vital part of state’s firefighting efforts, sparking concern over exploitation
A dozen California firefighting camps that house incarcerated firefighters have been quarantined and taken out of commission after a coronavirus outbreak at a state prison, highlighting the precarious situation for these crews.
A dozen California firefighting camps that house incarcerated firefighters have been quarantined and taken out of commission after a coronavirus outbreak at a state prison, highlighting the precarious situation for these crews.
Navajo Nation faces twin threats as wildfires spread during pandemic
The Wood Springs 2 fire arrived at Michelle Johnson’s home a week ago. Ash from the 13,000-acre wildfire that burned five miles away rained on her land, with thick smoke billowing above the house she shares with her husband and children.
The Wood Springs 2 fire arrived at Michelle Johnson’s home a week ago. Ash from the 13,000-acre wildfire that burned five miles away rained on her land, with thick smoke billowing above the house she shares with her husband and children.