News

October 25, 2019:
New laws reflect key recommendations made by Governor’s Strike Force Report on Wildfires & build on $1 billion wildfire and emergency investment in the budget.
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August 26, 2019:
Berkeley Lab study finds evergreen conifer trees will decline and deciduous broadleaf trees dominate in a warmer climate with more wildfires.
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August 14, 2019:
Save the Date for two upcoming workshops on using prescribed fire on private lands:

October 8th, 2019: Ambulance, Fire and EOC Facility, 18440 Striker Court, Sonora, CA; October 10th, 2019: American Legion Ambulance, 11350 American Legion Drive, Sutter Creek, CA.

View the FLYER.

May 10, 2019:
Environmental scientists and engineers came together at a workshop to share research taking place across Berkeley relevant to “Fire in the Environment.” The workshop covered a range of key topics, including the expected impact of climate change on future fires; wildfire as a natural part of California’s environment; and cutting-edge technologies that can assist with detecting, modeling, and mapping fires, and enhancing our ability to co-exist with future fires. Event was held on Thursday, May 9, 2019 (Berkeley Fire Research Workshop Webpage and Agenda).

April 4, 2019:
(Capital Public Radio Online, By Ezra David Romero, April 26, 2019): Geography professor Jeffrey Chambers has modeled a computer program to help California quickly detect wildfires, inspired by real-time data (including satellite photographs taken of the state every five minutes) during the devastating Camp Fire last November, and decided it was just a matter of developing an app that could use the tools available to quickly spot fires and alert emergency responders.
See also Berkeley News/Press Release (Robert Sanders, April 15, 2019).

April 4, 2019:
This is a Special Webinar Briefing: Regions 1 & 2 Present, Fire Preparedness: Wish I Knew Then, What I Know Now
Webinar briefing will be on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

April 1, 2019:
CCST Expert Briefing showcasing the perspectives from some of CCST’s partners on “Environmental Impacts of Wildfire in California.” Panelists will discuss the effects of wildfires on air and water quality. Moderated by Susan Hubbard, CCST Council Member and Associate Laboratory Director at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Event will be on Thursday, April 4, 2019, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Flyer and Agenda).

March 30, 2019:
The California Natural Resources Agency and Department of Conservation have announced the award of $20 million in block grants for regional projects that improve forest health and increase fire resiliency. This Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program helps communities prioritize, develop and implement projects that strengthen fire resiliency.

March 30, 2019:
Governor Gavin Newsom releases the Community Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Report earlier this month by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), which identified 35 priority fuel-reduction projects that can be implemented immediately to help reduce the public safety risk for wildfire.

March 30, 2019:
Building on lessons learned from past catastrophic wildfires, Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a state of emergency throughout California ahead of the coming fire season. The Governor is directing his administration to immediately expedite forest management projects that will protect 200 of California’s most wildfire-vulnerable communities.