Wildfires and Air Pollution the Hidden Health Hazards of Climate Change
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California Fire Siege 2007 an Overview Cover Photos from Top Clockwise: the Santiago Fire Threatens a Development on October 23, 2007
CALIFORNIA FIRE SIEGE 2007 AN OVERVIEW Cover photos from top clockwise: The Santiago Fire threatens a development on October 23, 2007. (Photo credit: Scott Vickers, istockphoto) Image of Harris Fire taken from Ikhana unmanned aircraft on October 24, 2007. (Photo credit: NASA/U.S. Forest Service) A firefighter tries in vain to cool the flames of a wind-whipped blaze. (Photo credit: Dan Elliot) The American Red Cross acted quickly to establish evacuation centers during the siege. (Photo credit: American Red Cross) Opposite Page: Painting of Harris Fire by Kate Dore, based on photo by Wes Schultz. 2 Introductory Statement In October of 2007, a series of large wildfires ignited and burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Southern California. The fires displaced nearly one million residents, destroyed thousands of homes, and sadly took the lives of 10 people. Shortly after the fire siege began, a team was commissioned by CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service and OES to gather data and measure the response from the numerous fire agencies involved. This report is the result of the team’s efforts and is based upon the best available information and all known facts that have been accumulated. In addition to outlining the fire conditions leading up to the 2007 siege, this report presents statistics —including availability of firefighting resources, acreage engaged, and weather conditions—alongside the strategies that were employed by fire commanders to create a complete day-by-day account of the firefighting effort. The ability to protect the lives, property, and natural resources of the residents of California is contingent upon the strength of cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local firefighting agencies. -
Air Quality Comic Book
Hi, I'm Dr. Knox Our Narrator, Dr. Knox, is on his way to Today we hope to view a pollution visit a site where air pollution is likely to source and visit with environmental occur and to visit with environmental specialists from the Oklahoma personnel in action. Department of Environmental Here we are in Quality. Oklahoma trying to understand air pollution. Its a complex problem with many factors. Come join us as we learn about air Dr. Knox stops at a pollution and how to possible pollution source. control it. A Pollution Critter Questions are often asked about air pollution. Sources of air pollution come in many forms. We see many sources Just then a truck starts. in our daily lives. Some are colorless or odorless. Cough . others are more apparent, cough . If you breathe these fumes inside a building, like your garage, they could be very harmful. Dr. Knox goes to a monitoring site and waits for the Join us as specialists to arrive. we explore how pollution sources are monitored and visit At this site and with some of the others air is people involved in collected and tested the monitoring for pollutants. Lets process. find out more. Looks like no one is home. Ust then a van pulls up and two environmental specialists step out. Hi, Im Monica Hi, Im Excuse me! Aaron I want to Hi, Im Dr. Knox. ask you about how air pollution is monitored. The specialists invite us in to Youve come to show us some pollution charts. the right place. We You see, we would be glad monitor several to discuss it. -
Is It a Red Flag Day?
Is it a Red Flag Day? A Special Section on the Social Aspects of Wildfire Presented by the National Park Service in cooperation with Project Learning Tree, the Fire Prevention Officers of Marin County, and the Marin Independent Journal Advertising Department 2 Fire Recycles ildland fire is an plant particles while the larger material AIR SUN W ecological remains as ash. process affecting almost Ash returns nutrients from plants back all of the earth's vegeta- into the soil, especially calcium, potassi- tion. Underwater plants um and phosphorous. Nitrogen is are generally an returned by the nitrogen-fixing plants that PLANTS excpetion, although flourish after a fire and begin the process FIRE when seaweed or algae of regrowth. Without nitrogen, proteins are left onshore to dry, cannot be made, and DNA cannot be SOIL they too, can become fuel. reproduced. In some places, wildland fire occurs regularly enough that Most of the earth's nitrogen is in the species depend on it. air, but can’t be breathed in. Nitrogen-fix- What's Inside ers host bacteria in their roots which The length of a fire return interval, or convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form Fire Recycles . 2 "fire cycle" varies based on the climate, plants and animals can use. Defensible Space vegetation, and ignition frequency of a Like many hardwood trees, shrubs and other Perspectives. 3 particular location. Ignitions are mainly Plants in the pea family (legumes) are flowering plants, this California bay survived caused by lightning, volcanic ash, lava, notorious for their nitrogen fixing abilities. a wildfire by resprouting at the base. -
Cal Fire: Creek Fire Now the Largest Single Wildfire in California History
Cal Fire: Creek Fire now the largest single wildfire in California history By Joe Jacquez Visalia Times-Delta, Wednesday, September 23, 2020 The Creek Fire is now the largest single, non-complex wildfire in California history, according to an update from Cal Fire. The fire has burned 286,519 acres as of Monday night and is 32 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. The Creek Fire, which began Sept. 4, is located in Big Creek, Huntington Lake, Shaver Lake, Mammoth Pool and San Joaquin River Canyon. Creek Fire damage realized There were approximately 82 Madera County structures destroyed in the blaze. Six of those structures were homes, according to Commander Bill Ward. There are still more damage assessments to be made as evacuation orders are lifted and converted to warnings. Madera County sheriff's deputies notified the residents whose homes were lost in the fire. The Fresno County side of the fire sustained significantly more damage, according to Truax. "We are working with (Fresno County) to come up with away to get that information out," Incident Commander Nick Truax said. California wildfires:Firefighters battle more than 25 major blazes, Bobcat Fire grows Of the 4,900 structures under assessment, 30% have been validated using Fresno and Madera counties assessor records. Related: 'It's just too dangerous': Firefighters make slow progress assessing Creek Fire damage So far, damage inspection teams have counted more than 300 destroyed structures and 32 damaged structures. "These are the areas we can safely get to," Truax said. "There are a lot of areas that trees have fallen across the roads. -
Geologic Hazards
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Assessment FINAL Specialist Report – GEOLOGIC HAZARDS Thomas Fire –Los Padres N.F. December, 2017 Jonathan Yonni Schwartz – Geomorphologist/geologist, Los Padres NF Introduction The Thomas Fire started on December 4, 2017, near the Thomas Aquinas College (east end of Sulphur Mountain), Ventura County, California. The fire is still burning and as of December 13, 2017, is estimated to have burned 237,500 acres and is 25% contained. Since the fire is still active, the BAER Team analysis is separated into two phases. This report/analysis covers a very small area of the fire above the community of Ojai, California and is considered phase 1 (of 2). Under phase 1 of this BAER assessment, 40,271 acres are being analyzed (within the fire parameter) out of which 22,971 acres are on National Forest Service Lands. The remaining 17,300 acres are divided between County, City and private lands. Out of a total of 40,271 acres that were analyzed, 99 acres were determined to have burned at a high soil burn severity, 19,243 acres at moderate soil burn severity, 12,044 acres at low soil burn severity and 8,885 acres were unburned. All of the above acres including the unburned acres are within the fire parameter. This report describes and assesses the increase in risk from geologic hazards within the Thomas Fire burned area. When evaluating Geologic Hazards, the focus of the “Geology” function on a BAER Team is on identifying the geologic conditions and geomorphic processes that have helped shape and alter the watersheds and landscapes, and assessing the impacts from the fire on those conditions and processes which will affect downstream values at risk. -
Fuels, Fire Suppression, and the California Conundrum
Fuels, fire suppression, and the California conundrum Eric Knapp U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Redding, CA Bald and Eiler Fires - 2014; Photo: T. Erdody How did we get here? 2018: Most destructive wildfire (Camp Fire) Largest wildfire (Mendocino Complex) Most acres burned in modern CA history 2017: 2nd most destructive wildfire (Tubbs Fire) 2nd largest wildfire (Thomas Fire) Mediterranean climate = fire climate Redding, CA (Elev. 500 ft) 8 100 7 6 80 F) o 5 Wildfire season 4 60 3 Precipitation (in) 2 40 Ave Max.Temp. ( 1 0 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Precipitation Month Temperature • Very productive – grows fuel • Fuel critically dry every summer • Hot/dry = slow decomposition Fire activity through time Shasta-Trinity National Forest (W of Trinity Lake) 1750 1850 1897 Fire return interval 3 years 12 years No fire since 1897 Fuel limited fire regime | Ignition limited fire regime • Fire was historically a combination of indigenous burning and lightning ignitions • Aided travel, hunting, and improved the qualities of culturally important plants • Many early Euro-American settlers initially continued to burn • Forage for grazing animals • Lessened the danger from summer wildfires • Foresters advocated for Halls Flat, A. Wieslander, 1925 suppressing fire • “The virgin forest is certainly less than half stocked, chiefly as one result of centuries of repeated fires” – Show and Kotok 1925 • Believed keeping fire out would be cheaper than treating fuels with fire Burney area, A. Wieslander, 1925 Change in structural variability (trees > 4 in.) 1929 2008 Methods of Cutting Study – Stanislaus National Forest Lack of fire also changed non-forests A. -
AN ANALYSIS of WILDFIRE IMPACTS on CLIMATE CHANGE By
AN ANALYSIS OF WILDFIRE IMPACTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE By: Taylor Gilson Mentor: Dr. Elaine Fagner 1 Abstract Abstract: The western United States (U.S.). has recently seen an increase in wildfires that destroyed communities and lives. This researcher seeks to examine the impact of wildfires on climate change by examining recent studies on air quality and air emissions produced by wildfires, and their impact on climate change. Wildfires cause temporary large increases in outdoor airborne particles, such as particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) and particulate matter 10(PM 10). Large wildfires can increase air pollution over thousands of square kilometers (Berkley University, 2021). The researcher will be conducting this research by analyzing PM found in the atmosphere, as well as analyzing air quality reports in the Southwestern portion of the U.S. The focus of this study is to examine the air emissions after wildfires have occurred in Yosemite National Park; and the research analysis will help provide the scientific community with additional data to understand the severity of wildfires and their impacts on climate change. Project Overview and Hypothesis This study examines the air quality from prior wildfires in Yosemite National Park. This research effort will help provide additional data for the scientific community and local, state, and federal agencies to better mitigate harmful levels of PM in the atmosphere caused by forest fires. The researcher hypothesizes that elevated PM levels in the Yosemite National Park region correlate with wildfires that are caused by natural sources such as lightning strikes and droughts. Introduction The researcher will seek to prove the linkage between wildfires and PM. -
Particulate Pollution and the Productivity of Pear Packers
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES PARTICULATE POLLUTION AND THE PRODUCTIVITY OF PEAR PACKERS Tom Chang Joshua Graff Zivin Tal Gross Matthew Neidell Working Paper 19944 http://www.nber.org/papers/w19944 NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 February 2014 We thank numerous individuals and seminar participants at MIT, UC Santa Barbara, Northwestern University, the University of Connecticut, University of Ottawa, UC San Diego, Georgia State University, Environmental Protection Agency, and the IZA Workshop on Labor Market Effects of Environmental Policies for valuable feedback. Graff Zivin and Neidell gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (1R21ES019670-01). Chang and Gross are grateful for financial support from the George and Obie Shultz Fund. Hyunsoo Chang, Janice Crew, and Jamie Mullins provided superb research assistance. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research. At least one co-author has disclosed a financial relationship of potential relevance for this research. Further information is available online at http://www.nber.org/papers/w19944.ack NBER working papers are circulated for discussion and comment purposes. They have not been peer- reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications. © 2014 by Tom Chang, Joshua Graff Zivin, Tal Gross, and Matthew Neidell. All rights reserved. Short sections of text, not to exceed two paragraphs, may be quoted without explicit permission provided that full credit, including © notice, is given to the source. Particulate Pollution and the Productivity of Pear Packers Tom Chang, Joshua Graff Zivin, Tal Gross, and Matthew Neidell NBER Working Paper No. -
Disaster Declarations in California
Disaster Declarations in California (BOLD=Major Disaster) (Wildfires are Highlighted) 2018 DR-4353 Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows Declared on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - 06:00 FM-5244 Pawnee Fire Declared on Sunday, June 24, 2018 - 07:11 FM-5245 Creek Fire Declared on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 07:11 2017 DR-4301 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides Declared on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 13:15 EM-3381 Potential Failure of the Emergency Spillway at Lake Oroville Dam Declared on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 14:20 DR-4302 Severe Winter Storm Declared on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 14:30 DR-4305 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides Declared on Thursday, March 16, 2017 - 04:48 DR-4308 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Mudslides Declared on Saturday, April 1, 2017 - 16:55 DR-4312 Flooding Declared on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 - 14:00 FM-5189 Wall Fire Declared on Sunday, July 9, 2017 - 14:18 FM-5192 Detwiler Fire Declared on Monday, July 17, 2017 - 19:23 DR-4344 Wildfires Declared on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 - 08:40 2016 FM-5124 Old Fire Declared on Saturday, June 4, 2016 - 21:55 FM-5128 Border 3 Fire Declared on Sunday, June 19, 2016 - 19:03 FM-5129 Fish Fire Declared on Monday, June 20, 2016 - 20:35 FM-5131 Erskine Fire Declared on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 20:57 FM-5132 Sage Fire Declared on Saturday, July 9, 2016 - 18:15 FM-5135 Sand Fire Declared on Saturday, July 23, 2016 - 17:34 FM-5137 Soberanes Fire Declared on Thursday, July 28, 2016 - 16:38 FM-5140 Goose Fire Declared on Saturday, July 30, 2016 - 20:48 -
The View from Here
The View from Here Figure 1 -- The iconic image of the South Canyon Fire blow-up that will claim the lives of 14 wildland firefighters. Acknowledging our current culture and its shortcomings while using its strengths to lead change. December 2018 The View from Here 1 This collection represents collective insight into how we operate and why we must alter some of our most ingrained practices and perspectives. Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3 I Risk ................................................................................................................................................ 4 1. The Illusion of Control ............................................................................................................. 5 2. It’s Going to Happen Again ................................................................................................... 14 3. The Big Lie – Honor the Fallen .............................................................................................. 19 4. The Problem with Zero ......................................................................................................... 26 5. RISK, GAIN, and LOSS – What are We Willing to Accept? .................................................... 29 6. How Do We Know This Job is Dangerous? ............................................................................ 39 II Culture ....................................................................................................................................... -
2013 Rim Fire Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Summary
United States Department of Agriculture 2013 Rim Fire Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Summary Forest Pacific Southwest R5-MR-060 April 2015 Service Region 2013 Rim Fire Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Summary Shelly Crook, Carol Ewell, Becky Estes, Frankie Romero, Lynn Goolsby and Neil Sugihara USDA Forest Service Dec. 1, 2014 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................. 5 Conditions Leading to August 17 ......................................................................5 Chronology of the Rim Fire ..............................................................................8 Sidebar 1. Fight fire with fire ................................................................... 12 Ecological Setting Prior to the Rim Fire .........................................................13 Fire History and Fire Return Interval Departure (FRID) ................................15 Severity patterns within the Rim Fire ..............................................................17 Fuel Treatments ......................................................................................... 20 Fuel Treatment Objectives ...............................................................................20 Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring (FTEM) .........................................20 Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Case Studies ............................................ 23 Combined Mechanical and Prescribed Fire Treatment....................................25 Combined Mechanical and -
Wildfire Resilience Insurance
WILDFIRE RESILIENCE INSURANCE: Quantifying the Risk Reduction of Ecological Forestry with Insurance WILDFIRE RESILIENCE INSURANCE: Quantifying the Risk Reduction of Ecological Forestry with Insurance Authors Willis Towers Watson The Nature Conservancy Nidia Martínez Dave Jones Simon Young Sarah Heard Desmond Carroll Bradley Franklin David Williams Ed Smith Jamie Pollard Dan Porter Martin Christopher Felicity Carus This project and paper were funded in part through an Innovative Finance in National Forests Grant (IFNF) from the United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities, with funding from the United States Forest Service (USFS). The United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc. (the “Endowment”) is a not-for-profit corporation that works collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. We want to thank and acknowledge Placer County and the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) for their leadership and partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the US Forest Service on the French Meadows ecological forest project and their assistance with the Wildfire Resilience Insurance Project and this paper. We would like in particular to acknowledge the assistance of Peter Cheney, Risk and Safety Manager, PCWA and Marie L.E. Davis, PG, Consultant to PCWA. Cover photo: Increasing severity of wildfires in California results in more deaths, injuries, and destruction of