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Fire Returned: Fire is for everyone

Sarah Bohannon

June 13, 2022 |

North State Public Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Butte County, California

The Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) brings people together to learn how to conduct controlled and prescribed burns to prevent explosive wildfires. The organization also works with local prescribed burning associations to enhance their capacity to conduct trainings in local communities and strengthen collaboration with local landowners. Part of the group’s curriculum includes lessons on ecology more broadly as well as the cultural importance of prescribed burning in indigenous communities.

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Fire Returned: Neighbors helping neighbors

Sarah Bohannon

June 10, 2022 |

North State Public Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, California

To help reduce hazardous fuels that make forestland more susceptible to dangerous megafires, a group of volunteers in Butte County, Calif. helps private landowners manage prescribed burns on their properties. Since launching in 2021, the Butte County Prescribed Burn Association has conducted 11 burns on roughly 58 acres of property, drawing on land management techniques that have been in use in Indigenous communities for thousands of years.

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Eco-friendly firefighting foam is based on soap

Yui Sawada

May 11, 2022 |

J-Stories |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Japan, Fukuoka

Shabondama Soap, a company based in Japan, manufactures an eco-friendly foam extinguishing agent that can be used to fight wildfires. After an experiment showed that the shop can put out a fire quickly and with less water, the company started introducing it to other regions of the world including Indonesia and Thailand.

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Indigenous practices are the future — and past — of wildfire prevention

Aaron Hemens

March 02, 2022 |

The Discourse |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Okanogan, British Columbia

When the Mount Law wildfire ripped through the Westbank Community Forest, traditional mitigation work based on centuries-old methods practiced by Westbank First Nation stopped flames from spreading beyond. The methods, which have been practiced for close to 1,000 years, include "removing ladder fuels and surface fuels to help space out mature trees. Each tree is pruned at least two to three metres above its base so fire can’t carry flames up the branches and spread to surrounding trees."

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On wildfire patrol: Volunteers gauge success by blazes that don't start

Roy Rivenburg

December 06, 2021 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In Orange County, a group of more than 300 volunteers patrol public spaces and remote highways when there's the threat of a fire. They are called the Orange County Fire Watch. Some of the things they do include educating the public, preventing blazes from growing into larger fires, and discouraging arsonists. The group patrols the area up to 20 days a year.

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The U.S. Government Is Wasting Billions on Ineffective Wildfire Policy

Aaron Labaree

November 30, 2021 |

Slate |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The U.S. Forest Service and the state of California's Cal Fire pour billions of dollars into waging all-out war on massive wildfires. Huge camps for firefighters, heavy equipment, and elaborate airborne resources make up the arsenal thrown at a problem that is growing thanks in part to climate change. But the efforts are largely wasteful and ineffective because of the scope of the problem and the lack of focus on aspects of the problem that can be controlled better, such as fires at the "wildland-urban interface" where human habitation meets the forest.

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After prison, the fight to be a firefighter

Lizzie Johnson

November 10, 2021 |

San Francisco Chronicle |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

One year after California legislators created a legal opening for formerly incarcerated firefighters to use their prison training to land firefighter jobs on the outside, the system envisioned by the law's supporters has failed to materialize. Felony criminal records serve as a barrier to employment in such jobs ordinarily. The law was intended to create a pathway through expunging those records for people trained to fight wildfires while in prison. A slow, poorly planned rollout and lack of tracking data means no one knows how many have benefited, though it appears few have thanks to a daunting process.

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Pueblos in New Mexico turn to goats for fire management

Wufei Yu

October 29, 2021 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Sandia Pueblo, New Mexico

Tribes in New Mexico have enlisted over 70 goats to help clear dry brush, branches, and invasive plants, which can otherwise become fuel for potential fires. The program, which has been running for almost a whole year has proven successful and it serves a dual purpose--the goats eat, and the chances of potential fires are greatly reduced. "Sandia Pueblo’s goat experiment has garnered interest from other tribes that see goats as a more natural way to tend the land than heavy machinery and chemicals."

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Technology gives critical assist to firefighting efforts

Victoria Franco

October 28, 2021 |

Local News Matters |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In California, first responders have implemented technology to assist with wildfires and evacuations. The two tools are ALERTWildfire and Zonehaven. ALERTWildfire is a system of cameras that help firefighters locate, confirm, and detect the size of the wildfire before they even leave the station. There are 900 cameras installed throughout the state. Zonehaven is a tool that allows first responders to communicate evacuation plans to residents. The program has been used in multiple counties and jurisdictions.

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From Felon to Fighter: The Redemption of Jose Santana

Tyler Hayden

October 14, 2021 |

Santa Barbara Independent |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Barbara, California

When California adopted a new law in 2020 allowing formerly incarcerated firefighters to petition to have their criminal records expunged and parole waived, the law excluded people with the most serious, violent offenses. But it left others with violent offenses in a gray area, subject to objections that could deny them a chance to become professional firefighters, using the skills they learned at one of the state's 43 prison fire camps. This story profiles the first man from Santa Barbara County to win this right, and the obstacles he faced in the process.

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