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Why don't Californians use goats and sheep more often to reduce fire risk?

Emma Talley

July 17, 2022 |

San Francisco Chronicle |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Sheep and goats are being used as one way to clear brush in the San Francisco area. The city uses goats to restore some of the natural areas throughout the city and reduce invasive species. Individuals also hire herds to clear areas to reduce fire risks because they can reach spots inaccessible to people and their hooves naturally till the soil.

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Is Burying Power Lines Fire-Prevention Magic, or Magical Thinking?

Angela K. Evans

July 11, 2022 |

Inside Climate News |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boulder, Colorado

Burying electrical lines underground — a process called undergrounding — can prevent wildfires and mass power outages. Most of the country’s existing electric infrastructure is above ground and outdated, which is something cities at risk for wildfires are beginning to address.

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Could This Ancient Farming Technique Be a Climate Solution?

Guia Baggi

July 07, 2022 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy, Pantelleria, Sicily

An ancient farming technique from an Italian island is being rediscovered as an effective way to to deal with extreme weather events and limited water. These stone terraces have been shown to help the spread of fires, create cooler temperatures and grow local crops. Many of these structures have fallen into disrepair, but organizations are working to show others how this can be a solution to adapt to the effects of climate change.

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In the US West, Researchers Consider a Four-Legged Tool to Fight Two Foes: Wildfire and Cheatgrass

Emma Foehringer Merchant

July 06, 2022 |

Inside Climate News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Scientists are experimenting with a low-cost way of combatting an invasive species and wildfires. They’re using cattle to graze on cheatgrass, which has spread across the U.S. West, disrupted native plants and animals and become a source of fuel for fires. The cows were able to reduce the grass by an average of more than 60 percent, creating an area that could prevent fires from spreading.

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Fire Returned: Putting fire on the ground with the Butte Prescribed Burn Association

Sarah Bohannon

June 15, 2022 |

North State Public Radio |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Butte County, California

Volunteers from the Butte Prescribed Burn Association trains landowners to conduct controlled burns on their properties, which reduces vegetation that fuels intense wildfires and opens up space to bring back native plant species. The trainings have made residents in high fire-risk areas feel more secure and the association has also helped them with things like applying for grants to fund prescribed fires.

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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 |

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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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