Latest news with #wildfireprevention
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Forest road rule in New Mexico faces potential change
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) — The feds are working to peel back a rule barring new roads from being paved through federal forests, and now, many are wondering what it could mean for two million acres in New Mexico. For decades, the federal 'Roadless Rule' has blocked new road building across New Mexico's untouched back country, but it may soon be a thing of the past. Story continues below News: New Mexico Supreme Court throws out embezzlement charges against former official Trending: A 'professional courtesy': How an officer crossed the line Community: Funding for farming internship program at APS in jeopardy KRQE Investigates: Embattled McKinley County DA asks for emergency funding to keep her office running 'We're going to go back to common sense forest management to ensure that our forests are here for generations to come,' said US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who states that the choice will in part help with wildfire prevention. But conservation groups, such as the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance are skeptical of the Trump Administration's choice. They fear what it could mean for some of the state's forest land. 'Lands the New Mexicans know and love would be at risk because of this rollback,' said NM Wilderness Alliance Executive Director Mark Allison. 'Which was intended to open up these places for industrial activity and development like commercial logging, mining, and oil and gas development.' Other concerns include the impact on outdoor recreation areas, habitat, and sacred tribal lands, as well as the potential of poaching endangered species like the Mexican Grey Wolf. But some New Mexico lawmakers are in favor of the rule change. Silver City Republican Senator Gabriel Ramos says it may help protect communities from wildfire, floods and property damage. 'If you look at every forest fire out here in the Gila, they've used dozers and they've actually cut lines,' said Ramos. 'And if they already had a road there, it would be a lot easier for them to go ahead and cut that line and try and stop the fire from growing.' NM Wilderness Alliance thinks what's being floated as a solution to the wildfires could actually cause more, citing studies showing most fires are human-caused and 90% occur within half-a-mile of a road. 'When you have more roads, you have more people, which means you have more human-caused fires,' said Allison. Near the Carson National Forest, Taos Democratic Senator Bobby Gonzales says there needs to be a balanced approach. 'I know that harvesting timber is important,' said Gonzales. 'But it has to be done that it meets the needs of everyone… Now, just to come in with wide open – developing roads- that does a lot of harm to the land and to restore it back is not that easy.' The US Forest Service still has to go through a long process before repealing the Roadless Rule, which is expected to include public comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Consultation on barbecue and campfire ban in Derbyshire Dales
A consultation has been launched over a proposed order that would ban barbecues and open fires from all land with public access in the Derbyshire proposal would extend an existing Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) from Derbyshire Dales District Council, which covers land it owns and the proposals, restricted byways, cycle tracks and footpaths would be added to the areas where barbecues and open fires are consultation began on Monday and runs for six weeks, before it is debated by the council's Community and Environment Committee on 11 September. The PSPO would allow the council to fine those who breaks the consultation comes after barbecues and campfires were banned in part of the Peak District by High Peak Borough Council last councillor Peter O'Brien, ward member for Abney, Eyam, Grindleford, Hathersage and Stoney Middleton in the Peak District, has campaigned for portable barbecues and camp fires to be banned on vulnerable moorlands.O'Brien said: "The long-term damage to the natural environment caused by wildfires cannot be underestimated, with barbecues often found to be the cause."
CBS News
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Placer County steps up efforts to crack down on brake fires on Interstate 80
Placer County is stepping up efforts to prevent roadside fires along the Interstate 80 corridor through the Sierra, as rising temperatures increase the risk of brake fires on big rigs descending from the summit. In response, county officials hosted a webinar Tuesday morning, bringing together the California Trucking Association, Caltrans, Cal Fire, and the California Highway Patrol to discuss prevention measures. All commercial trucks are required to inspect their brakes before making the steep descent, but officials said some drivers continue to skip that crucial step. The renewed focus on prevention comes after more than 60 fires last year were linked to failing brake systems. Ali Khalil, owner and instructor at Easy Truck Driving School in South Sacramento, said pre-trip inspections are just as important as learning to drive the rig. "It doesn't matter if you've been a trucker for a year, six months, or two days, or 15, 20, 30 years," Khalil said. "Because the outcome could be devastating." Officials said it will take a combination of driver education and roadside fuel management to reduce wildfire risk along the corridor. District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson emphasized the importance of working together in a statement, saying, "This effort is about prevention, awareness, and working together to keep our foothill and mountain towns safe." Over the past few months, the county has teamed up with Caltrans to clear dry brush and vegetation along I-80, a key step in reducing the fuel available for potential fires.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
B.C. Forest Practices Board says forestry changes could reduce wildfire risk
VICTORIA — British Columbia's Forest Practices Board says a two-year investigation has found "outdated rules and unclear responsibility" are stopping forestry from becoming a wildfire prevention tool. The board — an independent body that audits B.C. forest practices — says it examined forestry operations between 2019 and 2022 in areas where communities and forests meet, including the Sea to Sky, Cariboo-Chilcotin and Peace districts. It says fire hazard assessments are a "cornerstone of wildfire risk reduction," and while the industry assessments met 70 per cent of the requirements, fewer than one-quarter were completed on time. The board says municipalities are excluded from the definition of legal interface, a term used for fires burning close to homes, which means logging debris can remain for up to 30 months, even in high-risk areas. The report makes five recommendations to the province that it says would help support "faster fuel cleanup, better co-ordination and more consistent protection for people and communities throughout B.C." The suggestions include encouraging forest operators to actively reduce fire risk, improve co-ordination between government and industry, update legal definitions to add municipalities in the interface, modernize hazard assessment guidelines and incentivize faster logging cleanup. Board chair Keith Atkinson says more than a million B.C. residents live in areas with high or extreme wildfire risk. "Foresters are already active in these spaces. With better rules and incentives, their efforts can become part of the wildfire solution," he says in the release. "This is an opportunity to improve our policies and processes toward proactive, risk-reducing forestry. It starts with better policy and ends with safer, more fire-resilient communities." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025. The Canadian Press
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
They're Baaaa-ck: SDGE Deploys 300 Goats in San Diego, Launches Instagram to Spotlight Wildfire Prevention Measures
SAN DIEGO, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) is combining hooves-on-the-ground innovation with digital storytelling by launching a new Instagram account, @thegoatsdge, to spotlight its wildfire prevention efforts, just as 300 goats paraded through a San Diego neighborhood to their next grazing site. The event, which drew enthusiastic community support, is part of SDGE's broader wildfire mitigation strategy, using goats to clear flammable vegetation from transmission corridors while now also engaging the public year-round through a novel, behind-the-scenes social media platform. The goats serve as environmentally friendly "vegetation managers," adept at navigating steep and rugged terrain that is less accessible to humans or machinery. As they graze, they consume invasive plant species and their seeds, while naturally fertilizing soil. This process not only reduces erosion but also promotes regrowth of native vegetation. Since 2021, these herds have cleared thousands of high-risk acres across San Diego County. "Our goats may be a visible symbol of our wildfire prevention strategy, but they represent just one element of SDGE's comprehensive, multi-layered approach for community safety and grid resilience," said Brian D'Agostino, vice president of wildfire and climate science at SDGE. "Our record of 17 years without a major utility-related catastrophic wildfire reflects our collective measures to protect the region and continue providing our customers with safe, reliable service, today and into the future." Why goats? Their grazing activity enhances soil health by increasing nitrogen levels, fostering more resilient ecosystems. By replacing herbicides and heavy machinery, goats contribute to both environmental protection and infrastructure safety. Unlike mechanical or chemical methods, goats clear flammable vegetation without generating sparks or runoff, making them ideal for use near homes and sensitive habitats. Follow Our Goats on Social MediaTo further spotlight the importance of emergency preparedness, wildfire safety, and sustainable grazing, SDGE launched a dedicated Instagram account to share the goats' ongoing contributions: @thegoatsdge. Follow their journey as they provide wildfire prevention and safety tips year-round. Wildfire Mitigation Leadership: A 17-Year RecordSDGE's comprehensive wildfire mitigation program integrates cutting-edge technology, ecological solutions and community collaboration to help reduce wildfire risk. The program includes: Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center: One of the most technologically advanced centers in the industry, it serves as a hub for research, development and implementation of innovative solutions. The center combines AI and predictive modeling with emergency response coordination to facilitate swift and integrated action against regional threats. AI and Weather Intelligence: Operates one of the nation's most sophisticated utility-owned weather networks, applies machine learning to predict weather and better understand fire potential and utilizes a full-time utility meteorology team. Grid Resilience: Completed more than 315 miles of strategic undergrounding, installed 1,600 fire-resistant poles and conducted more than 10,000 miles of advanced LiDAR inspections, enhancing reliability and safety for our communities. Community Roots, National ImpactResidents of San Diego neighborhood Clairemont Mesa gathered to cheer as the goats made their way through the neighborhood, escorted by SDGE employees and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department personnel. "These goats are nature's wildfire prevention team, clearing brush in hard-to-reach places and helping us decrease our year-round fire risk," said San Diego Fire-Rescue's Fire Information Officer, Capt. Jason Shanley. "We love that we get to work with the real 'G.O.A.T's of the fire service, and we are grateful for their partnership and hard work to help us keep the community safe and preserve the environment!" As wildfire seasons intensify nationwide, SDGE's innovative approaches, from deploying goats to leveraging AI and advanced technologies, are influencing industry practices throughout the energy sector. About SDGESDGE is an innovative energy delivery company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by increasing energy delivered from low or zero-carbon sources; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; and investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region's infrastructure for generations to come. SDGE is a recognized leader in its industry and community, as demonstrated by being named Corporate Partner of the Year at the San Diego Business Journal's Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards and receiving PA Consulting's ReliabilityOne® Award for Outstanding Reliability Performance for 19 consecutive years. SDGE is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading North American energy infrastructure company. For more information, visit or connect with SDGE on social media @SDGE. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
