Amid devastating US fires, experts urge fire prevention rethink.
Tim Ingalsbee, a former wildland USFS and NPS firefighter who now runs the FUSEE think-tank told Al Jazeera huge wildfires could be prevented if there were a more robust state and national prescribed burn strategy. “There wouldn’t be the big catastrophic fires that burned small towns, it would not be the disaster we’re seeing today,” he said.
Tim Ingalsbee, a former wildland USFS and NPS firefighter who now runs the FUSEE think-tank told Al Jazeera huge wildfires could be prevented if there were a more robust state and national prescribed burn strategy. “There wouldn’t be the big catastrophic fires that burned small towns, it would not be the disaster we’re seeing today,” he said.
Trump reverses course, approving assistance for California wildfires
President Trump late Friday reversed course on providing assistance for California’s wildfires, granting the request just hours after denying it.
California has had its most devastating wildfire season in history, currently battling 12 major fires that have burned through more than 4 million acres, according to figures released by the state yesterday.
President Trump late Friday reversed course on providing assistance for California’s wildfires, granting the request just hours after denying it.
California has had its most devastating wildfire season in history, currently battling 12 major fires that have burned through more than 4 million acres, according to figures released by the state yesterday.
Trump rejects California request for major wildfire assistance
SACRAMENTO — President Donald Trump’s administration has rejected California’s request for a major disaster declaration tied to the Creek Fire and five other catastrophic blazes, a rare move considering the breadth and high-profile nature of the disaster.
SACRAMENTO — President Donald Trump’s administration has rejected California’s request for a major disaster declaration tied to the Creek Fire and five other catastrophic blazes, a rare move considering the breadth and high-profile nature of the disaster.
Thoughtful Forest Management and Better Building Practices Can Help Mitigate the Impact of Wildfires
More than five million acres have burned across the West Coast in this year’s unusually severe wildfire season. Billowing smoke has traveled across the country, degrading air quality as far east as Washington, DC, and amplifying health risks for a nation still grappling with COVID-19.
More than five million acres have burned across the West Coast in this year’s unusually severe wildfire season. Billowing smoke has traveled across the country, degrading air quality as far east as Washington, DC, and amplifying health risks for a nation still grappling with COVID-19.
Restoring California’s forests to reduce wildfire risks will take time, billions of dollars and a broad commitment
As California contends with its worst wildfire season in history, it’s more evident than ever that land management practices in the state’s forested mountains need major changes.
As California contends with its worst wildfire season in history, it’s more evident than ever that land management practices in the state’s forested mountains need major changes.
California tribe offered solution to wildfire management. Was U.S. Forest Service listening?
HAPPY CAMP, Siskiyou County — Leeon Hillman walked slowly, sadly, to a semicircle of piled rocks surrounded by blackened trees. He knelt there, turning away from the heap of ash, which was all the massive Slater Fire had left of his house.
HAPPY CAMP, Siskiyou County — Leeon Hillman walked slowly, sadly, to a semicircle of piled rocks surrounded by blackened trees. He knelt there, turning away from the heap of ash, which was all the massive Slater Fire had left of his house.
'The Big Burn' of 1910 transformed wildland firefighting. Will 2020 do the same?
ALAMEDA, Calif. — As California's record wildfires approached 4 million acres earlier this month, the state's top fire official compared the serial conflagrations to a pivotal event in American history — "The Big Burn" of 1910.
ALAMEDA, Calif. — As California's record wildfires approached 4 million acres earlier this month, the state's top fire official compared the serial conflagrations to a pivotal event in American history — "The Big Burn" of 1910.
PG&E Equipment Might Have Ignited Northern California Wildfire
PG&E Corp. told California regulators that its power equipment might have contributed to igniting a recent wildfire that has killed four people.
PG&E Corp. told California regulators that its power equipment might have contributed to igniting a recent wildfire that has killed four people.
Thinning forests no defence against fires
Having logging machines "thin" forest for fire reduction is largely ineffective, a new peer-reviewed, scientific study has found.
The study, led by researchers at The Australian National University and published in the journal Conservation Letters, compared fire severity in unthinned versus thinned forest burned in the 2009 wildfires. It covered two forest types—mixed species forest and ash forest.
Having logging machines "thin" forest for fire reduction is largely ineffective, a new peer-reviewed, scientific study has found.
The study, led by researchers at The Australian National University and published in the journal Conservation Letters, compared fire severity in unthinned versus thinned forest burned in the 2009 wildfires. It covered two forest types—mixed species forest and ash forest.
California Housing Policy Is Making Wildfires Worse
Monday morning, Sept. 28, California woke up sweaty, devastated, even shocked to find the state burning again. But if we’re honest, and to our great shame, no one was surprised. We’d seen this horror movie in this town. Three years ago, wildfire killed 25 people in Sonoma County. Now the Glass Fire was there, again, burning toward Santa Rosa.
Monday morning, Sept. 28, California woke up sweaty, devastated, even shocked to find the state burning again. But if we’re honest, and to our great shame, no one was surprised. We’d seen this horror movie in this town. Three years ago, wildfire killed 25 people in Sonoma County. Now the Glass Fire was there, again, burning toward Santa Rosa.
'Like a freight train': Firefighters describe what it's like riding out a wildfire in a fire shelter, their last resort for safety.
One of the most important parts of a firefighter's gear is a 5-pound piece of equipment they hope they never have to use.
On Sept. 27, firefighters battling the Glass Fire in Napa County found themselves in dire circumstances as gusty off-shore winds intensified the blaze, helping the inferno destroy some of wine country's most famous vineyards and bed and breakfasts.
One of the most important parts of a firefighter's gear is a 5-pound piece of equipment they hope they never have to use.
On Sept. 27, firefighters battling the Glass Fire in Napa County found themselves in dire circumstances as gusty off-shore winds intensified the blaze, helping the inferno destroy some of wine country's most famous vineyards and bed and breakfasts.
California wildfires shatter records, double in size from 2019
California’s wildfires surpassed a grim milestone Sunday, more than doubling the size of last year’s blazes — though the fire season is still far from over.
California’s wildfires surpassed a grim milestone Sunday, more than doubling the size of last year’s blazes — though the fire season is still far from over.
Why do California fires keep burning in the same places?
Shasta County burns every year, and blazes retracing their flames on landscape recently charred by wildfire isn't unusual.
So don't be surprised the Zogg Fire is burning within the footprint of the 2018 Carr Fire — even though in some areas the Carr Fire destroyed all trees, brush and grass in its path, experts say.
Shasta County burns every year, and blazes retracing their flames on landscape recently charred by wildfire isn't unusual.
So don't be surprised the Zogg Fire is burning within the footprint of the 2018 Carr Fire — even though in some areas the Carr Fire destroyed all trees, brush and grass in its path, experts say.
The West’s Infernos Are Melting Our Sense of How Fire Works
On the windy, hot day of July 26, 2018, as record 113-degree temperatures baked Redding, California, in the northern Sacramento Valley, Eric Knapp toiled in an air-conditioned government office. After work, he planned to meet his wife and 3-year-old daughter, and some family friends, for dinner. Slender and fair-skinned with a gentle smile, Knapp is a research ecologist for the US Forest Service. He was well aware that, three days earlier, in coastal mountains west of town, a wildfire had started when a trailer got a flat tire and the metal wheel rim scraped the asphalt, sending sparks into dry brush.
On the windy, hot day of July 26, 2018, as record 113-degree temperatures baked Redding, California, in the northern Sacramento Valley, Eric Knapp toiled in an air-conditioned government office. After work, he planned to meet his wife and 3-year-old daughter, and some family friends, for dinner. Slender and fair-skinned with a gentle smile, Knapp is a research ecologist for the US Forest Service. He was well aware that, three days earlier, in coastal mountains west of town, a wildfire had started when a trailer got a flat tire and the metal wheel rim scraped the asphalt, sending sparks into dry brush.
‘Horrifying’ Glass Fire burns homes, with 68,000 from Santa Rosa to Napa fleeing
A massive and chaotic wildfire that burned dozens of homes and threatened thousands more across Wine Country flared up on several fronts Monday, roaring across the northern Napa Valley and blazing toward dense residential neighborhoods in eastern Santa Rosa.
A massive and chaotic wildfire that burned dozens of homes and threatened thousands more across Wine Country flared up on several fronts Monday, roaring across the northern Napa Valley and blazing toward dense residential neighborhoods in eastern Santa Rosa.
We’re Living in a Fire Zone
The holiday Farm Fire that started Labor Day evening spread quickly, traveling 14 miles overnight and destroying most of the buildings in the community of Blue River. Now a Eugene-based ecology group has analyzed just how the fire spread.
The holiday Farm Fire that started Labor Day evening spread quickly, traveling 14 miles overnight and destroying most of the buildings in the community of Blue River. Now a Eugene-based ecology group has analyzed just how the fire spread.
West Coast Wildfires: “California Is Built To Burn"
The sky over California is reddish brown. An army of nearly 20,000 firefighters has been battling against wildfires that have already charred over 3 million acres, destroyed over 6,000 houses and driven thousands of residents to flee. How could this happen?
The sky over California is reddish brown. An army of nearly 20,000 firefighters has been battling against wildfires that have already charred over 3 million acres, destroyed over 6,000 houses and driven thousands of residents to flee. How could this happen?