In a year of superlatives, some statistics stand out for California’s 2020 fire year: Four million acres, 112 million tons of greenhouse gases, thousands of lightning strikes, 11 million gallons of fire retardant. And 31 lost lives.
Climate
Posted inEnvironment
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County hires new executive director
With former executive director Stephen Slade retiring, Felton resident Sarah Newkirk will assume the role for the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Satellite images of wildfires are saving lives. The Pentagon might let the program expire
FireGuard, a pilot program that uses military satellite information to tackle California’s wildfires, faces expiration in September.
Posted inEnvironment
Dixie fire scorches nearly 200,000 acres, doubling in size in days
Gusty winds and thunderstorms could exacerbate the conditions that are fueling the Dixie and Tamarack fires in Northern California. More than 5,400 personnel — including crews from Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Cal Fire’s local CZU unit, among others — are attacking the blaze around the clock.
Posted inEnvironment
Dixie fire, nearing 150K acres, now largest of the year in California
The Dixie fire, burning in Plumas and Butte counties, swelled beyond 140,000 acres Friday, while some began questioning management strategies on the 58,000-acre Tamarack fire along the California-Nevada state line.
Posted inEnvironment
One of America’s hottest cities is down to one water well. What happens if the taps go dry?
Taps could go dry for Needles’ 5,000 residents, who each drink as much as two gallons of water daily to cope with 120-degree temperatures.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
With metals and maybe even coronavirus, wildfire smoke is more dangerous than you think
As wildfires ravage hundreds of thousands of acres across California, more is being learned about the damaging effects of their smoke.
Posted inEnvironment
Dixie fire burns more than 100,000 acres while Tamarack fire crosses state lines
The Dixie fire, burning in Butte and Plumas counties, is now the second fire in California to surpass 100,000 acres this year, after the Sugar fire. That came as the Tamarack fire swelled across the California-Nevada state line for the first time.
Posted inEnvironment
‘The sponge is completely dry’: Drone photos reveal the shocking truth of California’s parched landscape
Lake Orville, Lake Folsom and Lake Trinity give a glimpse into the state’s dry spell. “The reservoir levels we’re looking at are near-record low, with all the prospects that they will actually be record low by the end of the summer,” he said. “The mountains are dried out. The sponge is completely dry.”
Posted inEnvironment
Northern California fire explodes, burns structures amid heat, dry conditions
The Dixie fire in Butte and Plumas counties has destroyed two structures since its July 14 ignition and is threatening at least 800 others.