Periods of prolonged droughts coupled with low humidity and high winds have created conditions that are more conducive to wildfires. During these periods of extreme fire weather, otherwise controllable ignitions have a high probability of becoming wildfires. The increased frequency of these conditions and the expanded times of year they are occurring have resulted in
Community wildfire protection planning plays a key role in protecting the millions of homes throughout California located on land designated as Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). The U.S. Forest Service defines the WUI as places where humans and their development come into contact with (within a half mile of) wildland fuel sources. With 32% of housing in
In 2024, more than 8.9 million acres burned because of 64,897 fires throughout the U.S. National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics 2024 Annual Report, “In 2024, the reported number of wildfires and acres burned nationwide was noticeably higher than the 5- and 10-year averages.” The cause of so many wildfires? Ignition sources,
The warming climate, a proliferation of uncleared vegetation, and development near wildlands all combine to fuel devastating fire seasons that begin earlier and earlier each year, especially across the American West. In 2020, 10.1 million acres burned nationwide. To address this crisis, in January of 2022, the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service)
Record-high temperatures and rainfall levels approaching the record low in California have fueled devastating fire seasons that begin earlier and earlier each year. In an effort to prevent increasingly catastrophic wildfires, California Governor Jerry Brown signed several bills in September that prioritize land management activities focused on forest health, fuel management, and fire prevention. Senate
A recent focus in San Diego County on assessing fire services based on the cumulative impacts of proposed large developments may start to be seen elsewhere in California. Development of large solar farms in San Diego’s rural eastern area prompted resource agencies to ask for more comprehensive fire service assessments, said Michael Huff, Dudek’s fire
A wildfire protection plan developed for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (Garden) improves safety for Garden workers, visitors and neighbors, and offers a safer area for firefighters to stage equipment in the event of a blaze. The 78-acre Garden is located in a high-fire-hazard zone with homes up-canyon and on one primary roadway. The new
With an estimated 11.8 million homes throughout California located on acres designated as Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), wildfire protection planning plays play a key role in community safety. The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council (SCFSC) developed two Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) for wildfire-prone areas of East Foothills, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and south and
