Implications of the California Wildfires for Health, Communities, and Preparedness

National Academies of Science – Workshop (June 4, 2019 – June 5, 2019, Sacramento CA).

California and other wildfire-prone western states have experienced a substantive increase in the number and intensity of wildfires in recent years. Indeed, a “new normal” in wildfires has emerged in California and elsewhere. According to the Sacramento Bee, large scale wildfires in California destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 structures in 2017, a higher total than the previous nine years combined. In November 2018, the Camp Fire alone killed at least 85 people and destroyed more than 18,000 structures, becoming California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record. Wild lands and climate experts expect these trends to continue and possibly worsen in coming years.

Interested in the topic? A collaborative public workshop will convene experts to address the aforementioned issues. JPB Fellow Colleen Reid is going to be giving two invited talks tomorrow. Read more.