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A new report from Headwaters Economics and Columbia University’s Climate School paints a damning picture of wildfire policy priorities: those interventions most effective at protecting communities and ecosystems – like building codes, home hardening and prescribed fire – often get the least support, while the least effective (and even sometimes counterproductive) – like wildfire suppression – receive billions in funding.
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Forecasters warned Tuesday that as temperatures climb in July, the increased plant growth could mean more fuel ready to burn.
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Allstate and State Farm recently announced that they would no longer be selling homeowners insurance in California, with State Farm pointing to "rapidly growing catastrophe exposure."
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In less than four months, temporary pay raises given to federal wildland firefighters are set to end just as the season typically starts winding down. This week a group of Western senators, including one Republican, sent a letter to leaders of the Homeland Security Committee urging “swift consideration of legislation that authorizes a long-term solution to increase wildland firefighter recruitment and retention.” Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat, said that “failure is not an option” when it comes to addressing the pay issue.
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It’s something many current and former wildland firefighters ask themselves: what does all this smoke, dust and ash I’ve been breathing for months on end mean for my health? A new national registry for all firefighters could eventually shed a great deal more light on that largely unanswered question.