- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The Contra Costa Times ran a story today about the 2008 fire season, which many suspect will be long and burdensome. One of the experts quoted was William Stewart, a UC Cooperative Extension forestry specialist at UC Berkeley. The version of the story which appeared in the San Jose Mercury News, also under John Simermon's byline, says Stewart is a former research head with CalFire.
The story said a 114-year record low in precipitation statewide from March through May has launched what fire experts figure to be an extended summer of blazes and...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
A story about California's dry spring weather in the Sacramento Bee today cited two UC Cooperative Extension experts: natural resources advisor Glenn Nader of Sutter, Yuba and Butte counties; and rice advisor Chris Greer of Sutter and Yuba counties.
The article, written by Chris Bowman, said spring 2008 was the driest in California history and has produced the most flammable landscape fire forecasters have ever seen this time of year in the Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills.
"The rest of fire season does not bode well," Nader is quoted.
"We have a long summer and fall to get through, and we just hope for less wind and cooler...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
UC Cooperative Extension natural resources advisor for Sutter and Yuba counties Glenn Nader provided expert commentary to San Francisco TV station KRON Channel 4 yesterday, providing a wealth of fire safety information to the Bay Area community during a teachable moment.
The story was prompted by the Santa Cruz summit fire. Nader noted on the air that he conducts field research for UC and works with homeowners and communities to reduce the risk of structure damage when a fire occurs.
"You will never be able to get rid of all the risk," Nader told the reporters during the live phone interview. "You're just reducing the risk to your house by doing...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
A Los Angeles Times home improvement blog, titled "Pardon Our Dust," discusses a ember-blocking roof vent invented by a San Bernardino firefighter. Blogger Kathy Price-Robinson pulled a quote by UC Cooperative Extension wood durability advisor Stephen Quarles from a UC ANR news story to add to her post with a link to the complete story. Here's the quote:
"Quarter-inch mesh cannot stop embers and flames during wildfires. This is an example of conflict in code preferences between building and fire officials. Smaller mesh screens would do a better job of...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The San Diego County UC Cooperative Extension office is now extending vital wildfire information to local residents from a computerized kiosk. Not exactly the robotic assistant envisioned in the classic cartoon The Jetsons, these stand-alone touch screen computers automatically provide customized information to residents about how to protect their families and property from wildfire, according to an article in the
