With USA Today reporting that there have already been 4,200 fires throughout the state of California this year, it comes as little surprise that, according to Southern California Public Radio, Cal Fire has already spent 40 percent of its firefighting budget for the year – a budget that was expanded to $165 million in anticipation of a worse than usual fire season.
What is more worrisome, however, is that the fire season is still could get worse before it gets better, as the worst months for fire typically don’t start until September. Many are blaming the high number of destructive fires on the dry conditions created by the state’s ongoing drought, with the Washington Post reporting less than a year ago that California has not been this dry in more than 500 years.
All of these topics are among those that will be addressed at Bay Planning Coalition’s upcoming Water & Energy Nexus Summit 5, taking place on Monday, September 26 at East Bay Municipal Utility Headquarters in Oakland. Featured at this event will be a panel called, “California’s Fire Season: Effects on the Bay Area and Its Ecosystem.” Panelists will include representatives from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and private industry.
Fore more information about this event, or to register, please click here.
Tags: California, drought, Resources, wildfire