Santa Cruz Mountains Fire Recovery

06/13/2025

Why wildfire fuels matter more in a warming climate
Study examines how increasing prescribed burns can impact future wildfire intensity

"We implemented a policy of fire exclusion," climate analyst and study co-author Dr. Patrick Brown said. "So that worked, and so we have a century of buildup of fuels that is just sitting on the landscape. Then we have warming coming in on top of that, which means that when we do have fires, they can be much more catastrophic because there’s so much more fuel to burn. They produce much more smoke. And they are harder to contain, more likely to break into adjacent communities."

A warming climate has made it more challenging to deal with wildfires by extending the number of days they can occur and leading to faster-growing larger fires that can have major impacts on air quality.

04/22/2025

A consumer advocacy group sued the California Insurance Department last week because the state agency allowed private insurers to pass a $500 million surcharge to their customers.
https://calmatters.org/newsletter/california-lobbying-2024-half-a-billion-newsletter/ -story-2

04/09/2025

The Power of Stories: a keynote address titled 'Telling Better Stories Around the Camp Fire' at California State University, Chico's 'This Way To Resilience' Symposium. The stories we choose to tell and amplify shape our relationship with the places they are about.

"Most of the stories we hear or tell about the 2018 Camp Fire revolve around victimhood and loss. In the aftermath of the fire, there remains widespread trauma and a general fear of fire, the villain of the collective memory. But fire doesn't exist in a vacuum.

This story describes the landscape attributes which set Paradise and Concow up for rare but inevitable episodes of extreme wildfire hazard. Many of the factors which influence this are knowable; becoming versed in the ways of fire is essential if people hope to flourish in these places."

Working directly with fire is helping many people reframe their relationship with fire and heal from their Camp Fire trauma. This video tells some of their stories.

I was invited to give a keynote address at Chico State's 'This Way To Resilience' Symposium. My talk was titled 'Telling Better Stories Around the Camp Fire'...

03/31/2025

On March 26, 2025, Dr. Daniel Swain, a renowned climate scientist from the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA presented his research on climate and wildfire, with a special emphasis on lessons learned from the recent Los Angeles fires.

This impactful presentation took place in San Rafael, in conjunction with the Climate Wildfire Initiative meetings held on March 25-26, and the California State Wildfire Task Force Regional Meeting on March 27-28, 2025. The event with Dr. Swain was made possible through the generous support of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), the Climate and Wildfire Institute (CWI), and the Marin Community Foundation.

About the Speaker: Popularly known as "Weather West," Dr. Daniel Swain currently holds joint appointments as a climate scientist within University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and as a research fellow in the Capacity Center for Climate and Weather Extremes at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. You can find him on Bluesky, Twitter/X, YouTube, and the Weather West blog.

On March 26, 2025, Dr. Daniel Swain, a renowned climate scientist from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), presented his research on climate an...

01/11/2025

The Scientific Benefits of Prescribed Fire and Forest Stewardship | Timely article from the San Lorenzo Valley Post

https://slvpost.com/the-scientific-benefits-of-prescribed-fire/

06/07/2024

In May, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved to extend recovery services for families affected by the CZU Fire.

The extension is worth $600,000 with 4-Leaf Inc. which will allow the recovery permit center to give wildfire survivors an additional six months of service.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON MAY 14, 2024 AT 4:23 PM: The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved to extend recovery services for families affected by the CZU Fire. The extension is worth $600,000 with 4-Leaf Inc. which will allow the recovery permit center to g...

10/03/2022

New projects demonstrate how house designers in California respond to increased fire risks

In California, the escalating frequency and intensity of wildfires has spurred an increase in the design of fire-ready buildings and communities.

08/16/2022

CZU Remembrance Gathering on Thursday, August 18 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Brookdale Lodge.

The event will inspire and educate with insightful presentations, interactive art installations, and resource support for those who are rebuilding and those who are interested in being part of the ongoing recovery process.

Remembering the CZU Fire Two Years Later

By Julie Horner It has been two years since the CZU Lightning Complex Fire unleashed its fury in the Santa Cruz Mountains, destroying 1,490 buildings including a number of historic structures and 911 residential homes. The fire wiped out entire communities, displaced hundreds of families, and blacke...

03/22/2022

Wildfire survivors face another threat: PTSD

As disasters become more frequent, acute stress can turn chronic.

11/02/2021

Why fire experts are hopeful -
Wildfire scientists dispel common misconceptions about forest management, detailing what needs to change and why it’s urgent.

Wildfire scientists dispel common misconceptions about forest management, detailing what needs to change and why it’s urgent.

09/28/2021

Petition to Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to halt building obstacles to victims of the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire.

County planning department and Office of Recovery have been errant in their handling of fire recovery.

Tell SC County NOW to let CZU fire victims REBUILD FAIRLY. Waive geological requirements!

09/15/2021

Article and title indicate a lack of understanding of the impact of the county's resolution. The resolution itself is written in such a manner that it does no more to "ease fire rebuild requirements" than what was in place before. That and the covenant are the main issues.

CZU Complex fire survivors could see a more streamlined path to rebuild, but will likely need to sign an agreement taking on liability for foregoing a geologic investigation.