IN SUMMARY
As California battles a destructive wildfire season, the state’s Resource Conservation Districts can help communities protect themselves.
By Ken Hale, Special for CalMatters
Ken Hale is a retired Cal Fire battalion chief and was chief investigator for Nevada County v. PG&E, khale@cdf-firefighters.org.
Once again, California is forced to confront the twin challenges that a fierce new reality of catastrophic fires presents: Recover and prepare.
Even as our weary firefighters finish the task of extinguishing two of the three largest wildfires in state history, it is time to prepare our communities, our lands, our soils and our habitats for recovery before the damages are compounded. At the same time, we know that the most critical part of fire season has just begun. In view of our collective situation, fire preparations all around the state have taken on an extreme urgency.
As they plan to recover and prepare, communities and landowners across the state will be able to draw upon expertise and assistance from little-known public agencies that are well positioned to help.