Wildfire

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources includes a wide variety of programs aimed at understanding California wildfire and how losses from wildfire can be minimized. Following is information for journalists on these UC resources.

Experts

• University of California ANR wildfire experts

Articles

• Match.Graze launches to reduce wildfire fuel, feed livestock
• Cattle health concerns remain after wildfire passes
• Proper land management can help forest owners ease wildfire risk following mass tree die-off
• Preparation can help protect homes from wildfire damage
• Benefits of cattle grazing for reducing fire fuels and hazard
• UCCE offers training for landowners interested in using prescribed fire
• UCCE leads development of prescribed burn association in San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties
• California's first Prescribed Burn Association shows why we need more in the state
• What can we learn from the 14,000 homes lost during the Camp Fire?
• Catastrophic wildfires and climate change lead to growing acceptance of ‘pyrosilviculture’
• California's bad romance with Bromus fuels wildfire
• The worst fire in California history illuminates fire preparation needs

Resources

• Fire-Smart Landscaping 
  A six-minute video produced by the Marin County UC Master Gardener Program that provides tips for creating beautiful front and backyard landscapes with features that prevent fire from approaching the home.
• Preparing your home
  Learn the vulnerabilities of your home to wildfire and recommended actions you can take to address them.
• Don't get burned twice (pdf)
  A brochure that provides information to avoid being "burned" in the aftermath of a fire storm by home repair fraud, charity fraud, phony "officials," advance fee loans, telemarketers, insurance adjusters and housing refunds.
• Invasive Plants and Wildfires in Southern California (pdf)
  A brochure that describes the role of non-native plants in wildfire occurance and recovery.
• Home Landscaping for Fire (pdf)
  Incorporating fire safe concepts into the residential landscape is one of the most important ways to help your home survive a wildfire. This four-page publication provides details and charts.
• Wildfire Preparedness and Recovery in San Diego County (pdf)
  A 65-page summary and analysis of fire research.
• Quantification of pollutants emitted from very large wildland fires in Southern California, U.S.A.(pdf)
  A 10-page academic journal article
• Development and analysis of 12-year daily 1-km forest fire dataset across North America (pdf)
  An 11-page academic journal article

UC web sites

• eXtension Wildfire Information Network
  The eXtension Wildfire Information Network is a national collaboration of fire experts who are assembling, summarizing, developing and delivering educational materials related to wildfire.

• UC ANR Fire Information Center
  Information on what to do before, during and after a wildfire. Fire science references and fire experts are also listed at this site.

• Defensible Space, Fire Resistant Landscaping, and Fire Hazard Reduction
  Providing a “defensible space” can reduce the risk of structural damage in a wildfire. These general guidelines have been adapted from CAL FIRE recommendations.

• 2015 Butte Fire Recovery Information
  These resources from UC Cooperative Extension in the Central Sierra are designed to help families recover from a wildfire. They include tips for safely returning to a home after a wildfire.

• A virtual tour of the UC wildland-urban interface demonstration building
  Taking this virtual tour will allow potential builders to consider the trade-offs they face when designing a building to resist wildfire flames, radiant heat, and embers. The tour offers suggestions for selecting materials that are durable, cost effective and look nice.

Photos

Download wildfire photos

Videos

Download wildfire video clips