An increase in catastrophic wildfires has reduced California tree cover by 6.7% since 1985, and researchers fear the lost trees will never grow back.
Wildfires
Posted inLatest News
The voices of CZU: Peter Gelblum’s new film tells survivors’ stories in their own words
It’s Santa Cruz’s version of “verbatim theater”: The drama comes solely from people telling their stories to an audience, and the script comes directly from first-hand accounts, as seen in Anna Deavere Smith’s “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” about the aftermath of the Rodney King riots, and “The Laramie Project” about the murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard. You can catch “The CZU Fire In Their Own Words” in August in Ben Lomond, at the Del Mar in downtown Santa Cruz and elsewhere around the county.
Posted inLatest News
‘Playing catch-up’: Cal Fire CZU chief Nate Armstrong prepares for hand-to-hand combat for fires to come
Nate Armstrong has gotten got a big increase in funding to prepare for what’s ahead. But with an unending fire season — and the logistical challenges and stresses — the head of the Cal Fire unit covering Santa Cruz County sees more questions than answers about the severity of the year ahead.
Posted inLatest News
Peter Fire in Shasta County destroys multiple structures, prompts evacuations
The Peter fire broke out Thursday afternoon near the city of Anderson, prompting evacuation orders, authorities said.
Posted inLatest News
Fire danger looking ‘grim as always’: Cal Fire CZU chief talks prevention efforts as warmer weather looms
Northern California and the state as a whole have so far avoided having a fire season similar to the past several years. But despite the encouraging trend, local Cal Fire chief Nate Armstrong told the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors last week that the next couple of months have above-normal fire potential.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Big Basin Redwoods State Park partially reopens to visitors July 22
For the first time since the CZU Complex fire devastated Big Basin Redwoods State Park in 2020, visitors can explore a limited part of the park again starting July 22. Officials will limit the number of visitors to ensure their safety in the forest and provide a good visitor experience.
Posted inLatest News
As wildfire season ramps up, PG&E expands instant power shutoff program
Some Californians received a test of the earthquake early-warning system seven hours before the appointed time, waking…
Posted inEnvironment
Did California learn anything from the last drought? ‘Gambling’ with water continues
While some of the promises made during the previous drought have been kept, conservation efforts are slipping as well-drilling threatens groundwater.
Posted inLatest News
Overworked California firefighters struggle with PTSD, suicide, fatigue, intensifying wildfires
Cal Fire faces a mental health crisis. As wildfires burn year-round, thousands of overworked California firefighters carry a heavy load of trauma, pain and grief. They leave a fire but the fire never leaves them.