Latest news with #wildfirepreparedness
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cal Fire awards $5.9M in forest health research grants to tackle wildfires
(FOX 5/KUSI) — In a push to strengthen California's forest resilience and wildfire preparedness, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has awarded $5.9 million in grants to support 15 cutting-edge scientific research projects aimed at improving forest practices, land management, and public education. Announced on Friday, the funding comes from the Forest Health Research Program, a key component of the state's California Climate Investments initiative, supported by Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds and the Wildfire and Forest Resilience budget package. 'These grant awards from the Forest Health Research Program are filling critical gaps in our knowledge of fire, forest, and other vegetation management,' said Chris Keithley, Cal Fire's assistant deputy director of Fire and Resource Assessment. 'The researchers we support fill knowledge gaps, evaluate effectiveness of management practices, develop new tools, and create vital information as we continue to work towards a more resilient California.' NASA research planes to conduct low-altitude flights over Southern California According to Cal Fire, the funded studies will explore understudied vegetation types such as chaparral, mountain meadows and oak woodlands, all of which play vital roles in California's ecological landscape. Other projects will advance tools for prescribed fire planning, forest monitoring and the cost-benefit evaluation of fuel treatment strategies, offering science-backed guidance to forest landowners, public agencies, fire response teams, and policymakers across the state. Among the recipients are academic and research institutions including the University of California, California State University, Colorado State University, Desert Research Institute, the USDA Forest Service, and Resources for the Future. Notably, six of the projects will be led by graduate students, fostering a new generation of experts in fire science and forest ecology. The grant-funded projects are expected to yield scientific publications, educational events, and decision-making tools that will support communities and agencies in mitigating wildfire risks and managing forest health more effectively, said Cal Fire officials. The Forest Health Research Program was created to address pressing questions related to climate change impacts, wildfire behavior, carbon storage, and land-use practices. Its goal, according to Cal Fire, is to provide the scientific foundation needed to develop long-term, sustainable forest management strategies across California. A full list of awarded projects and an interactive map of past and current research is available on the Forest Health Research website at: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Forest fire season started early. Here's how to prepare in N.L.
Here's how to protect yourself and your home this fire season 18 hours ago Duration 1:53 Newfoundland and Labrador is facing an early and busy start to the forest fire season. It's because of the lack of snow over the winter, says forest services conservation officer Sarah Richards. "Spring grass fires are always a huge concern, especially on the Avalon," Richards told CBC News during a wildfire preparedness event held at Bowring Park in St. John's over the weekend. The provincial forestry department and the St. John's Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) teamed up to host the event on Sunday. Richards said they wanted to join forces to help homeowners get ready for the summer, and to promote ways to mitigate risk. "Something as simple as taking your quad out for a ride, cigarette butts, all that stuff can ignite fires when [the] forest is that dry," she said. Campfires and bonfires can be risky, too, at the start of fire season. "[People] don't realize how important it is to make sure those fires are put out," Richards said. "Soak it well, give it a good stir and then soak it again and just make sure they're actually out." The province's heavy winds can also contribute to the spread of those fires. Richards recommends considering how high the winds are and how dry the grass is before starting a fire. As for protecting your home, Richards says the first 30 meters around a property is the main hazard area. She said embers in the air could get into the mulch in your yard. She recommends keeping the eavestrough clean, lawns mowed and trees trimmed. More tips are available on the Fire Smart Canada website. Mindfulness SJRFD fire prevention officer Cara Pardy says it's likely to be a rough year for forest fires. She says it's important for people to be mindful when starting fires. "[A] very important thing is to make sure the fire is out before you go to bed for the night, or before you leave to go outside somewhere," Pardy said. For backyard fires, Pardy recommends having a fire extinguisher, garden hose, or pails of water nearby. She also recommends that residents keep an eye on the forest fire index, social media and the news for fire bans in their area. "The grass is starting to green up now, so we should be safe for a little while until it gets hot and dry, and then things will get more scary again," she said.
Reuters
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
California firefighters torch demo homes to show fire season safety
On Wednesday (May 7), various California fire agencies gathered for a fiery demonstration to show the importance of fireproofing homes as part of Wildfire Preparedness Week. Firefighting personnel said they are preparing for another potentially dangerous wildfire season after the Eaton and Palisades fires that destroyed thousands of properties.
