Wildfire in Communities

Those of us who live in states such as Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado and the west know the summer dangers of smoke and wildfire. ‘Climate fires’ are now a thing–meaning that a changing climate has amplified fire in the west. Forests are dryer & hotter with diminishing snowpacks mean stressed forests and stressed communities. Local community organizations & local county and city leadership can help tremendously. Churches as well can step up to make a huge difference to not only prepare for fire, but support those impacted by fire during and after a fire event. Fires are traumatic for firefighters,

Those of us who live in states such as Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado and the west know the summer dangers of smoke and wildfire. ‘Climate fires’ are now a thing–meaning that a changing climate has amplified fire in the west. Forests are dryer & hotter with diminishing snowpacks mean stressed forests and stressed communities.
Local community organizations & local county and city leadership can help tremendously. Churches as well can step up to make a huge difference to not only prepare for fire, but support those impacted by fire during and after a fire event. Fires are traumatic for firefighters, evacuees, those who return to burned neighborhoods, and the forest as well. We can come together around events like these with common sense, common care, and actions for the common good.
At a recent Climate Cafe Multifaith, I took the opportunity to create a presentation that included information about climate, forests, and wildfire, but also information about what communities and churches can do. You can find a follow up blogpost, Witness and Wildfire, on the Faiths4Future site as well.

It can be a daunting prospect to bring up ‘climate change’ and ‘climate fires’ in a small group, small town, or church. But common sense brings us all together when we take stock of snow levels, rain fall, fire danger, fire recovery, and forests. Adaptation means changing forestry management practices, building new energy and water infrastructure, and making sure to check up on our neighbors.
Richenda
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