Wildfire

The Aaron Rodgers NorCal Fire Recovery Fund has a new grant that’s prioritizing projects that will support youth. Applications for the grant opened this week and will close at the end of February. Also, Butte County is holding four in-person meetings and two virtual meetings regarding the Mental Health Services Act, and Plumas County will soon make updates to its hazard mitigation plans.

Safe Space opened its winter shelter more than a week ahead of schedule. The shelter hosted its first night over the weekend. Also, officials continue to look for two brothers who were reported missing on Saturday. One called 911 to report that his brother had overturned his kayak and that he planned to go in to rescue him, and the federal government pays for much of the work for recovery from disasters like flooding and wildfires. But a new analysis shows that millions of dollars of needed grant money sometimes goes unspent.

The long-awaited Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act has been passed by Congress and has been signed into law by President Joe Biden. It’ll mean millions of dollars returned to communities devastated by wildfire.

Nov. 8 marked six years since the devastating Camp Fire. NSPR has been speaking with those working in recovery in the burn scar. Today, we hear from Scott Amick from Paradise Parks and Recreation District. Also, loose soils in the Park Fire burn scar are creating an ongoing flash flood risk during heavy rain, and artist Valerie Rose continues to promote the importance of Deaf culture in her public art with an upcoming mural at Show Love Thrift in Chico.

New guidelines from the California Department of Education recommend when educators should stop outdoor activities due to poor air quality.

School districts in Chico, Paradise, Biggs and Durham all have bond measures on November's ballot. Also, Shasta County’s Election Committee Chair has walked back a comment about civil unrest, and weather conditions expected to improve on the Shoe Fire.

A Safeway store in Chico was closed yesterday after structural damage was found inside the store. Also, with their Moonlight Meows Online Auction fundraiser around the corner, the Chico Cat Coalition hopes to raise enough funds to continue helping the local felines for another year, and agencies throughout the region are planning prescribed burns to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires.

Chico’s city council will discuss regulations around massage parlors. Also, the Butte County Fire Department is asking for residents’ help to improve wildfire preparedness, and Butte County is working with state agencies to remove hazardous household materials following the Quincy, Thompson and Park fires.

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan would help identify areas most at risk for wildfire and how to get better prepared.

The new rate hike was approved last week and will start in October. Customers say they can no longer afford their electricity bills. PG&E says the rate hike is necessary for storm recovery and wildfire mitigation projects.