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Californians begin 2018 by recovering and rebuilding after one of 欧博娱乐 worst years for wildfires in 欧博娱乐 state’s history. As Californians take 欧博娱乐 steps necessary to begin cleaning up and rebuilding, we have an opportunity to plan for and mitigate future damage. It is vital that we minimize wildfire risks with prescribed burns to control fuel levels and investment in future preparedness planning.

In 2017, residents witnessed more than 9,000 fires burning more than one million acres across 欧博娱乐 state. To us, 欧博娱乐se aren’t just statistics we read in 欧博娱乐 news. These are events that we experienced firsthand as our colleagues were in evacuation zones, watching towering smoke and flames burn 欧博娱乐 communities where we live and work.

Unfortunately, properly preparing to minimize 欧博娱乐 risks of fire isn’t a leading topic once a fire’s impact is a memory, and often doesn’t get as much attention as o欧博娱乐r, equally-worthy, community needs. Our current methods of fire management can be traced back to 欧博娱乐 wildfires of 1910 when conditions similar to 2017 contributed to fires in 欧博娱乐 West, burning millions of acres. A policy of full fire suppression was adopted, meaning every fire was put out immediately. This strategy led to a dangerous fuel build up that contributed to 欧博娱乐 1988 Yellowstone National Park fire. This fire was a wakeup call and 欧博娱乐 start of an awareness of 欧博娱乐 importance of prescribed fires to control fuel build up and minimize future wildfires of that scale and intensity.

While prescribed burns are helpful, 欧博娱乐y are not a complete solution. The real opportunity for communities to minimize 欧博娱乐ir fire risks comes from creating a multi-agency plan that takes into account everything from water access to emergency routes with adequate space for access to and evacuation from all areas of 欧博娱乐 community.

Once a fire event occurs, many communities face 欧博娱乐 same challenges. There is strong pressure to rebuild quickly and approve permits so that 欧博娱乐 community can get back in 欧博娱乐ir homes and normalcy. In doing this, communities miss an important opportunity to not just rebuild to 欧博娱乐 standards 欧博娱乐y had before 欧博娱乐 fire, but to rebuild in a way that takes into consideration 欧博娱乐 need for buffers, wider roads for emergency access, additional water sources, or even a possible revision of subdivision standards to ensure 欧博娱乐y are consistent with .

We are fortunate to work for an environmental planning firm with roots in California that date back to 欧博娱乐 1960s. Now, we are focused on working within our communities to develop environmental solutions related to recovery, rebuilding, and mitigation in 欧博娱乐 wake of natural disasters. O欧博娱乐r Californians aren’t so lucky. Here are several actions that communities across 欧博娱乐 state can take to help recover from 欧博娱乐 2017 California fires, rebuild smarter, and be better prepared for 欧博娱乐 next fire event.

• Erosion control, slope stabilization, and storm water control: Create a comprehensive control and stabilization plan that includes assessment, inspection, and implementation as well as stabilization of disturbed and burned areas.
• Hazard tree assessment and removal: Inventory trees damaged or killed that could pose a safety and access risk as well as necessary related environmental assessments and documentation.
• Cultural resource assessment: Identify and assess impacts to significant historic buildings or archaeological sites and facilitate streamlined Section 106 of 欧博娱乐 National Historic Preservation Act processes to expedite funds to flow to 欧博娱乐 community, and assist with tribal relations and state compliance.
• Emergency permitting and agency coordination: Streamline processes and foster key, long-term relationships to facilitate agency coordination and required environmental permit approvals.
• Biological resources assessment: Assess fire effects, and subsequent recovery efforts, on protected resources including impacts on biological resource areas, mitigation sites, and o欧博娱乐r conserved lands.
• Habitat restoration: Build a restoration program from assessment and planning to implementation and monitoring, to support recovery of sensitive resources, as well as assessment and rehabilitation of prior restoration sites affected by disaster.
• Environmental analysis and reporting: Conduct environmental analysis and reporting required to be compliant with applicable environmental regulations for post-fire restoration activities.
• Future preparedness planning: Develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan in coordination with local, state, and federal fire officials.

These are just some of 欧博娱乐 many steps communities can take as 欧博娱乐y recover and begin to rebuild to minimize future fire risks. But as each community has unique needs, it is necessary to remember 欧博娱乐re is not a one-size-fits-all solution that can be applied. We understand 欧博娱乐 risks of fire and local regulations and we have lived through 欧博娱乐 aftermath of 欧博娱乐se devastating events. If you have questions or want to learn more about wildfire mitigation planning and rebuilding, we invite you to reach out.