Quick reads — Study shows home hardening, defensible space reduce wildfire losses
UC Berkeley study finds wildfire defenses can cut home losses in half
Wildfire mitigation strategies like home hardening and creating defensible space buffers are paying dividends. A new UC Berkeley study looked at five of California’s most destructive wildfires between 2017 and 2020 — including the 2018 Camp Fire — and found those efforts made a difference.
The study determined that using things like fire-resistant siding, ember-proof attic vents and double-pane windows significantly increases a home’s survivability. Creating buffer zones around structures provides even more protection.
Researchers using Cal Fire data and advanced simulation tools found mitigation strategies can reduce a fire’s destructive potential by as much as 50%. Just creating a five-foot buffer around homes reduced losses by 17%.
California has adopted strict defensible space requirements, and some local ordinances are even stricter. Now there’s quantifiable evidence that those efforts are paying off.
Chico Parade of Lights returns after two-year hiatus
The annual Chico Parade of Lights is back next month after a two-year break.
The theme this time is “celebrating our town.” The parade was canceled the last two years due to a low number of volunteers.
Applications to be in the parade are open. Sixty slots are available and applications will be accepted over email. The parade will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Goats deployed to reduce fire risk along Chico’s Lindo Channel
Prepare to spot goats grazing in Chico between the Lindo Channel and Manzanita Avenue and Highway 99.
They’re part of the Lindo Channel Defensible Space Project that’s funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The goats should reduce fire hazards and establish a safety zone for grazed areas, though the goats won’t be in the channel itself because of environmental rules.
The project is expected to last two to three weeks.
LaMalfa calls Gallagher’s two-state proposal a ‘distraction’ from Prop. 50 fight
U.S. Congressman Doug LaMalfa has come out against Assemblymember James Gallagher’s proposal to divide California into two states.
Gallagher floated the idea last week in response to a Democratic led effort to create new California congressional districts.
According to reporting by KRCR, LaMalfa called the idea a distraction and said Republicans should instead keep their focus on defeating Proposition 50, which will come before voters in November. Prop. 50 would allow California’s Democratically controlled legislature to temporarily redraw the district maps to favor Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterm election. That’s normally done by an independent nonpartisan commission every ten years.
LaMalfa is one of five Republican candidates who would likely be affected if Prop. 50 passes.
Listen: Gallagher on dividing California
- NPR spoke directly with Gallagher about his proposal to split California into two states. Listen to the interview.
Catch up on our redistricting coverage
State lawmakers strike down bills aiming to restrict AI-manipulated pricing
California lawmakers determined the fate of hundreds of bills last week — more than 30 of them focused on technology and artificial intelligence.
According to reporting by CalMatters, legislators voted down a bill that would have barred AI from setting apartment rental prices. Another bill aimed at stopping software from using personal data to set prices was amended to only apply to grocery stores. One scrapped proposal would have protected utility customers from paying for the high energy use of AI data centers.
Some decisions were delayed until next year, including a bill that would require human oversight on AI used for critical infrastructure like dams.
And some measures survived, such as one outlawing the use of pricing software algorithms in any contract.