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.
Environment
Posted inHealth & Wellness
COVID renews interest in radiation, but docs caution against pilgrimages to radon-filled mines
Each year, people in pain travel to Montana and pay to sit amid radon gas, which is pitched as therapy for a long list of health issues. While low-dose radiation therapy is getting another look amid the pandemic, experts say that treatment is different than sitting in a tunnel of radioactive gas.
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 inCoast Life
A bucket list trip: Pedal through a Northern California forest on old railroad tracks
Skunk Train Railbikes, part of a nationwide trend, takes riders past redwoods and river waters in Mendocino County.
Posted inEnvironment
Good luck getting a state rebate on your new electric car
California’s electric car rebate program is designed to steer consumers toward clean, environmentally friendly vehicles. Unfortunately for buyers, it’s confusing, unpredictable and underfunded.
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.