Among the people still reluctant to get vaccinated — and pushing against mandates — are firefighters, many of whom also respond to medical calls as paramedics and EMTs and have witnessed the ravages of the pandemic firsthand.
Wildfires
Posted inLatest News
Lightning could spark more California fires as world warms
Fire officials are bracing for the worst as scientists predict that climate change could cause more lightning strikes, which often ignite deadly, unpredictable and remote wildfires in Northern California.
Posted inLatest News
A ‘thirsty’ atmosphere is propelling Northern California’s drought into the record books
Increasing evaporative demand is escalating summertime drought severity in California and the West, according to climate researchers.
Posted inLatest News
A crowded park, worsening fire danger sparks battle: ‘I don’t feel safe there anymore’
A wildfire-prone state park has been inundated with visitors as people flee urban areas. Now, California wants to build campsites there, infuriating nearby residents who say the plan puts them at risk.
Posted inLatest News
As fires threaten the Ancient Ones, sequoia lovers wonder what else will no longer endure
In California and beyond, some people are deeply in grief, stunned that flames could again imperil some of Earth’s oldest living things.
Posted inLatest News
PG&E charged with manslaughter in Shasta County fire that killed four
The charges include 11 felonies and 20 misdemeanors, as well as multiple enhancements, District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett said, stemming from the 2020 Zogg fire, which killed four people and destroyed more than 200 buildings.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
‘Art and science’: In aftermath of the CZU fire, restoring our beloved trail systems is no easy task
Of the 175 miles of trails in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties affected by last summer’s blaze, only 7.5 miles have reopened so far. As the public anxiously waits to regain access to places like Big Basin and parts of Henry Cowell, crews from around the state and county are hard at work removing hazards and making trails safe for use.
Posted inEnvironment
Hikers shut out as climate change, fires kept California forests off-limits
A temporary closure of California’s national forests canceled long-planned trips and local hikes. Will it become the new normal?
Posted inEnvironment
As California’s drought deepens, water use drops only 1.8%
Officials warn that next year’s cuts in water supply could go even deeper as severe drought grips nearly 90% of California. Residents of the North Coast and Bay Area conserved more than Southern Californians did.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘We’re here to talk about it’: PG&E addresses community concerns over increased, prolonged outages across county
After an increasing number of both unplanned and planned outages countywide over the past few months, PG&E representatives hosted two virtual community forums to address customer concerns. With the new “fast trip” setting, some outages have been sparked by birds, squirrels and vegetation, leading to hours of no power and no explanation for customers.