2 Flames come close to houses during the Blue Ridge Fire on Oct. 27, 2020 in Chino Hills, California.
Photo: David McNew (Getty Images)
This year, California’s record-breaking fires caused untold suffering and destruction, and future wildfire seasons are expected to be even worse. New findings show that poorer communities of color aren’t receiving as much funding to prepare for future fires as their wealthier, white counterparts.
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The new research, published by environmental research group Resources for the Future on Wednesday, focuses on steps the federal government takes to reduce fire severity. Specifically, it examines funding for projects designed to remove flammable foliage on public lands by either thinning vegetation mechanically or using controlled burns.
Sedona Red Rock News
Sedona Fire District engineer Cooper Carr, left, firefighter Josh Combs, Captain Angel Morales, Aaron Casem, prevention and mitigation officer for the Arizona Department of Forestry, Catherine Knox, head of the Firewise steerage committee, HOA board member Caroline Oreel, HOA board president Gila Hager-Sherman, SFD
Fire Marshal Jon Davis, HOA board member Bill Baridon and SFD Battalion Chief Buzz Lechowski recognize the Cottages at Coffeepot neighborhood as the only Firewise USA
site in the Sedona Fire District on Saturday, Dec. 5. David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
Catherine Knox is excited that she and her neighbors are the only one of their kind in Sedona. But, she’s hoping that distinction won’t last long.