Monday, November 26, 2018

CALIFORNIA - Wildfires' Aftermath

"The daunting task of identifying victims of the Camp Fire" PBS NewsHour 11/19/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  In the 11 days since Northern California's Camp Fire ignited, residents have experienced “hell on earth."  Firefighters have now contained about 66 percent of the fire.  But as rain approaches, rescuers scramble to locate the nearly 1,000 people still missing--fearing that piles of ash will become treacherous mud.  William Brangham speaks with Jim Wood, a forensic dentist helping to identify victims.




"After the flames, what challenges lie ahead for Northern California?" PBS NewsHour 11/20/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise but is now 70 percent contained, marking progress for Northern California.  Predicted rain should reduce risk of additional fires, but heavy smoke and threats of mudslides and flooding loom over residents’ heads.  The situation remains dire for the thousands who lost their homes.  William Brangham talks to Mat Honan of BuzzFeed News from South Lake Tahoe.



REF:  "There's No Looking Away From This Year's California Fires" BuzzFeed News



"Thanks to this lab, we can better protect our homes from fire" PBS NewsHour 11/20/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  California's recent spate of wildfires has caused devastating death and destruction.  Can scientific experimentation help us minimize the scope of fire disasters?  Scientists at the National Fire Research Laboratory in Gaithersburg, Maryland, are studying how materials burn and combust, in an effort to inform us about avoiding and mitigating fires.  Science producer Nsikan Akpan has the details.




"Housing California residents displaced by fires proves difficult" PBS NewsHour 11/21/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  In the areas of California hit hard by recent wildfires, displaced residents are struggling to find shelter.  In some of these places, like Chico, there was already a housing shortage even before the fires hit.  What resources are available to help?  Judy Woodruff speaks with Raquel Dillon of KQED for an update on the services being provided by FEMA and other organizations during the crisis.

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