December (All News)
Recent Media Highlights on Fire, Policies, and Politics
December 2019
- USA – California eases way for land clearing to prevent wildfires (Published by https://www.sfchronicle.com 31 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Mallacoota bushfire hell: 4,000 trapped on beach in Victoria (Published by https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ 30 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia fires worsen as every state hits 40C (Published by https://www.bbc.com/ 30 December 2019)
- AMAZON – The Amazon lost 10.3 million football fields of rainforest in the last decade (Published by https://thehill.com/ 30 December 2019)
- USA – Wildfire victims have until 5 p.m. Dec. 31 to file claims against PG&E (Published by https://www.pressdemocrat.com/ 30 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – More Canadian firefighters ship out to battle Australia wildfires (Published by https://www.cbc.ca 30 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Sydney New Year’s fireworks to go ahead despite wildfires (Published by https://www.miamiherald.com 29 December 2019)
- USA – Recent wildfires inspire builders to make homes more fire resistant (Published by https://www.sonomanews.com 29 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Mass evacuation as ‘columns of fire’ threaten Australian holiday area (Published by https://www.reuters.com 29 December 2019)
- USA –This Spray On Gel Could Help Prevent Wildfires (Published by https://interestingengineering.com 29 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – NSW bushfires: Man charged with deliberately lighting fire in state’s south (Published by https://www.9news.com.au 28 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australian volunteer firefighters could receive compensation for lost wages (Publisdhed by https://www.upi.com 28 December 2019)
- USA/AUSTRALIA – Utah firefighters in Australia assisting brush fire battle (Published by https://infosurhoy.com 28 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia fires: Crews brace for dangerous heatwave (Published by https://theunionjournal.com 27 December 2019)
- GLOBAL – 2019 Has Been Especially Bad For Wildfires Across The Planet (Published by https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ 27 December 2019)
- CHILE – 2019 forest fire damage increases threefold in Chile (Published by https://www.plenglish.com 27 December 2019)
- USA – California’s longer, riskier fire seasons usher in new era for public safety and environment (Published by https://www.pressdemocrat.com/ 27 December 2019)
- USA/AUSTRALIA – Apple to donate to Australian bush fire relief efforts (Published by https://appleinsider.com 27 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Government deploys ADF resources to assist NSW firies (Published by https://www.9news.com.au/ 27 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Firefighters battle Boxing Day bushfires ahead of looming heatwave (Published by https://www.theguardian.com 26 December 2019)
- CHILE – Wildfire in Chilean port city of Valparaiso leaves 700 homeless (Published by https://whtc.com/ 26 December 2019)
- CHILE – Chile authorities say forest fires deliberate (Published by http://www.digitaljournal.com 26 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – In the wake of heatwaves and bushfires, Australia must let go of its attachment to coal (Published by https://inews.co.uk 26 December 2019)
- GEORGIA – Helicopter, 200 Firefighters Involved to Extinguish Fire in Ateni Gorge ( Published by http://georgiatoday.ge/ 25 December 2019)
- CHILE – Valparaíso fires: Dozens of homes destroyed in Chilean city (Published by https://www.bbc.com/ 25 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia’s bushfires and the climate crisis (Published by https://www.theguardian.com 25 December 2019)
- GEORGIA – Fire-extinguishing efforts underway as multiple forest fires rage in Georgia (Published by http://www.xinhuanet.com 25 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia weather: firefighters battle Boxing Day bushfires ahead of looming heatwave (Published by https://www.theguardian.com 26 December 2019)
- USA – Wildfires spark turmoil in California’s insurance market Published by https://www.mercurynews.com/ 24 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia to offer civil servants paid leave to fight mounting forest fires (Published by https://www.cp24.com 24 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia’s 1.2-million-acre megafire is out of control (Published by https://mashable.com 24 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – New bushfire relief fund established, people urged to donate (Published by https://www.premier.sa.gov.au 24 December 2019)
- USA – Editorial: Don’t let PG&E’s woes threaten California’s climate goals (Published by https://www.mercurynews.com 24 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia fire victims targeted by scammers offering to help before stealing cash (Published by https://www.thesun.co.uk 24 December 2019)
- USA – Arson suspect arrested in 10 Southern California wildland fires (Published by https://www.pressdemocrat.com 24 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia fires: The thousands of volunteers fighting the flames (Published by https://www.bbc.com/ 24 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Bushfires Are Raging Outside Every Major City in Australia. They’re Only Going to Get Worse (Published by https://time.com/ 20 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – Indonesian palm oil firm hit with $1.8m fine for 2015 fires (Published by https://news.mongabay.com 23 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Scott Morrison says compensation for volunteer firefighters not a priority (Published by https://www.abc.net.au/ 23 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia’s PM defends climate stance amid wildfire disaster (Published by http://www.startribune.com 23 December 2019)
- USA – $1.6 Billion Wildfire Deal Draws Fire (Published by https://www.nbcbayarea.com 23 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Bush fires engulf Australia’s southern wine region (Published by https://www.mercurynews.com/ 23 December 2019)
- USA – U.S. firefighters assisting with Australia’s decimating wildfires (Published by https://www.kootenaivalleytimes.com 23 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA –Australian bushfires: the story so far in each state (Published by https://www.straitstimes.com 23 December 2019)
- USA – 10 of the 15 largest Colorado wildfires ever have happened this decade (Published by https://www.9news.com 23 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia prepares for post-Christmas extreme bushfires (Published by https://www.reuters.com/ 22 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – Satellite Imagery Shows Jambi is Experiencing Rapid Deforestation
- USA – How will California prevent more mega-wildfire disasters? (Published by https://www.nationalgeographic.com/ 20 December 2019)
- CANADA/AUSTRALIA – Sask. sending more fire management staff to Australia to help fight wildfires (Published by https://leaderpost.com/ 20 December 2019)
- USA – As California thins forests to limit fire risk, some resist (Published by https://www.nevadaappeal.com/ 20 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – NSW urged to further professionalise firefighting force as Labor calls for volunteers to get tax breaks (Published by https://www.theguardian.com 20 December 2019)
- SOUTH AFRICA – Greyton Wildfire Spreads To Cape Winelands Municipality (Published by https://www.iafrica.com/ 20 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Smoke from NSW bushfires blankets Melbourne as city swelters (Published by https://www.smh.com.au 20 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – Indonesia fires cost nation $5 billion this year: World Bank (Published by https://news.mongabay.com 20 December 2019)AUSTRALIA – Australia fires: The huge economic cost of Australia’s bushfires (Published by https://www.bbc.com 20 December 2019)
- USA – Planting native trees help degraded rainforest recover significantly in the Western Ghats (Published by https://researchmatters.in 19 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA/CANADA – Canadian firefighters in Australia to help tackle blazing bushfires in historic heat (Published by https://www.ctvnews.ca/ 19 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – NSW fires LIVE updates: State of emergency declared amid worsening bushfires, heatwave (Published by https://www.smh.com.au/ 19 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – NSW bushfires burn an area greater than Wales, the result of an exceptional spring (Published by https://www.abc.net.au 18 December 2019)
- SOUTH AFRICA – Greyton Wildfires Destroy Beautiful Lismore Estate Vineyards (Published by https://www.sapeople.com 18 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia experiences hottest day on record and its worst ever spring bushfire danger (Published by https://www.theguardian.com/ 18 December 2019)
- CHILE – Chile declares red alert as forest fires burn over five hectares (Published by https://globalnews.ca 18 December 2019)
- USA – US judge approves PG&E deal with California wildfire victims; stock jumps (Published by https://www.cnbc.com/ 18 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Emergency chiefs announce bushfire emergency summit after ‘leadership vacuum’ (Published by https://www.echo.net.au/ 17 December 2019)
- USA – California Updating Utility Wildfire Mitigation Rules to Increase Accountability (Published by https://www.naturalgasintel.com 17 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Fighting fires is not the Australian Defence Force’s job (Published by https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/ 17 December 2019)
- INDIA – Himachal targets to increase green cover (Published by http://tehelka.com 17 December 2019)
- USA – Stanford water expert discusses wildfire’s threat to water quality (Published by https://news.stanford.edu 17 December 2019)
- USA – PG&E vows to pay wildfire victims, fix bankruptcy plan to please Gov. Gavin Newsom (Published by https://www.sacbee.com 17 December 2019)
- USA – Six People Indicted By Sacramento Grand Jury For Wildfire Disaster Fraud (Published by https://kfbk.iheart.com 17 December 2019)
- GLOBAL – Tropical forests’ lost decade: the 2010s (Published by https://news.mongabay.com 17 December 2019)
- USA – Verisk Partners with the International Association of Fire Chiefs to Identify Communities Actively Participating in Recognized Wildfire Mitigation Initiatives (Published by https://www.globenewswire.com/ 17 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – NSW bushfires: police set to charge a dozen with arson Published by https://www.theaustralian.com.au/ 17 December 2019)
- USA – Seven students charged for sparking Sunrise Court Fire (Published by https://www.postindependent.com 16 December 2019)
- INDIA – HP forest dept’s schemes proving boon to environment, people (Published by https://www.dailypioneer.com 16 December 2019)
- USA – Smart management of wildfires can help curb global heating (Published by https://www.unenvironment.org 16 December 2019)
- USA – Smart management of wildfires can help curb global heating (Published by https://www.unenvironment.org 16 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia faces ‘massive’ rethink to prepare for long-term bushfires and air pollution (Published by https://www.theguardian.com/ 15 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Sydney’s Wildfire Smoke Declared a ‘Public Health Emergency’ (Published by https://www.bloomberg.com/ 15 December 2019)
- USA – California governor rejects $13.5 billion PG&E settlement (Published by https://www.chicagotribune.com 15 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Global Ag View: Environmental policy blamed for bush fires in Australia (Published by https://www.fginsight.com 15 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Bushfires test Australia’s volunteer firefighters to their limits (Published by https://www.theguardian.com/ 15 December 2019)
- USA – California’s Largest Utility Seeks 20 Microgrids to Ward off Wildfire-related Power Outages (Published by https://microgridknowledge.com/ 15 December 2019)
- NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIA – Australia’s Terrifying Bushfires Are Turning New Zealand Glaciers Pink (Published by https://earther.gizmodo.com/ 16 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Climate Inaction: Prime Minister Morrison’s Negligence Sparks Backlash As Bushfires Rage (Published by https://therising.co 14 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – In the wake of the bushfires: stricken residents of north coast NSW face grim job of rebuilding (Published by https://www.theguardian.com 14 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Choking Haze Is Turning Sydney Into the World’s Laboratory (Published by https://www.bloomberg.com 14 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Dust storms suffocate regional areas as bushfire haze chokes Sydney (Published by https://www.abc.net.au 14 December 2019)
- MALAYSIA/INDONESIA – Indonesia urged to follow ‘game-changer’ Malaysia on palm oil maps (Published by https://www.reuters.com 13 December 2019)
- USA – PG&E’s wildfire deal comes with risks, uncertainty (Published by https://www.abc10.com 13 December 2019)
- USA – Deadline for Gov. Newsom to Approve PG&E’s Wildfire Settlement (Published by https://www.nbcbayarea.com 13 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia’s bushfires have emitted 250m tonnes of CO2, almost half of country’s annual emissions (Published by https://www.theguardian.com 13 December 2019)
- USA – CA Fire Prevention Efforts Undercut by Property Owners Refusing to Let Crews Work on Their Property (Published by https://ktla.com 13 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – Indonesia’s fires burned mostly abandoned and degraded land, not forests (Published by https://news.mongabay.com 13 December 2019)
- USA – Insurance plan fights overhaul aimed at wildfire victims (Published by https://krcrtv.com/ 13 December 2019)
- USA – 2020 New Laws: California’s new wildfire laws explained (Published by https://www.abc10.com/ 13 December 2019)
- USA – As California Thins Forests to Limit Fire Risk, Some Resist (Published by https://www.nytimes.com 13 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia needs a national crisis plan, and not just for bushfires (Published by https://theconversation.com 12 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – ‘NSW is burning’: Thousands protest in Sydney (Published by https://www.news.com.au 12 December 2019)
- USA – Cosumnes Firefighters Training With Virtual Reality (Published by https://sacramento.cbslocal.com 12 December 2019)
- USA – PG&E employee: wildfire safety complaints lead to firing (Published by https://www.ktvu.com 12 December 2019)
- USA – Recovery Fund Allows Wildfire Victims To Share PG&E Settlement Money With Those Facing Greater Need (Publushed by https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com 12 December 2019)
- USA – SDFD Rolls Out New $20 Million Firefighting Helicopter (Published by https://www.kpbs.org/ 12 December 2019)
- SPAIN – Costa Blanca News: Network of fire detecting sensors to be implemented in Alicante (Published by https://www.euroweeklynews.com/ 12 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Volunteer firefighters in Australia warned not to crowdfund for equipment (Published by https://www.theguardian.com/ 12 December 2019)
- USA – PG&E Files Amended Plan of Reorganization (Published by https://yubanet.com 12 February 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Thousands of baby flying foxes starve after Australian bushfires (Published by https://www.reuters.com/ 12 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – Indonesia hit with $5.2 billion in forest-fire losses: World Bank (Published by https://phys.org 11 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – NSW bushfires could cripple forests’ ability to reabsorb carbon dioxide, climate scientists say (Published by https://www.abc.net.au/ 11 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – More than 720 NSW homes destroyed by fire (Published by https://www.9news.com.au/ 11 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA/AFRICA – Positive Indian Ocean Dipole fuels bushfires devastating Australia and deadly flooding in Africa (Published by https://www.abc.net.au/ 11 December 2019)
- USA – FEMA seeking billions in PG&E settlement with wildfire victims (Published by https://www.pressdemocrat.com/ 11 December 2019)
- COLOMBIA – Colombia’s Amazon forest gets boost with $366 million protection fund (Published by http://news.trust.org/ 11 December 2019)
- USA – The Bad Seeds: Are Wildfire Recovery Efforts Hurting Biodiversity? (Published by https://therevelator.org 10 December 2019)
- VIETNAM – Man sentenced 7 years in prison for careless trash burning causing forest fire (Published by https://vietnamnet.vn/ 10 December 2019)
- USA – Australia has more wildfire hot spots than Brazil and Indonesia (Published by https://www.straitstimes.com/ 10 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – Research group takes down controversial Indonesia fire analysis (Published by https://www.nature.com/ 10 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – M’sian banks among top lenders to Indonesia fire-linked firms (Published by https://www.malaysiakini.com 10 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Bushfire smoke is changing our way of life (Published by https://www.theage.com.au 10 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – ‘Say no’: Thousands sign petition to shift NYE fireworks cash into bushfire relief (Published by https://www.sbs.com.au/ 09 December 2019)
- BRAZIL – Evidence ‘unfounded’ against NGO volunteers accused of setting Amazon fires (Published by https://news.mongabay.com/ 09 December 2019)
- SWEDEN – Swedish court clears Stora Enso over largest wildfire in decades (Published by https://www.reuters.com/ 09 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – More than 2000 koalas feared dead in bushfires (Published by https://www.9news.com.au/ 09 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – Paper and fast fashion fan the flames burning Indonesia’s peat: Report (Published by https://news.mongabay.com 09 December 2019)
- INDIA – ‘Green army’ to keep vigil on hill to prevent deliberate fires (Published by https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/ 09 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Australia fires: blazes ‘too big to put out’ as 140 bushfires rage in NSW and Queensland (Published by https://www.theguardian.com/ 08 December 2019)
- USA – Report: Firefighter overtime surges 65% in California (Published by https://www.sacbee.com/ 08 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA/USA – ‘Smells like it’s time to go to work’: American firefighters arrive in Sydney (Published by https://www.smh.com.au/ 08 December 2019)
- USA – Letters to the Editor: Going solar is the best way for California to reduce its wildfire risk (Published by https://www.latimes.com/ 07 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Controlled burns destroy ecosystems and may not reduce fire risk (Published by https://www.abc.net.au/ 07 December 2019)
- USA – PG&E settles wildfire and Ghost Ship fire claims for $13.5 billion (Published by https://www.eastbaytimes.com/ 07 December 2019)
- INDONESIA/AMAZON – Look at the Amazon, not us: Indonesia claims handling forest fires better than other nations (Published by https://www.thejakartapost.com/ 07 December 2019)
- USA – Fighting Alaska’s wildfires cost over $300 million this year (Published by https://www.adn.com/ 07 December 2019)
- USA – More than 40 insurance companies sue government over fire that burned into Gatlinburg (Published by https://wildfiretoday.com 07 December 219)
- USA – Innovators have come up with a way to clear forests without setting fires (Published by https://www.cbsnews.com/ 07 December 2019)
- COLOMBIA – Colombian Air Force Crucial For Fire Control (Published by https://dialogo-americas.com 06 October 2019)
- INDONESIA – Major consumer brands linked to massive CO2 emissions from Indonesia forest fires (Published by https://www.webwire.com/ 06 December 2019)
- PORTUGAL – How to live with mega-fires? Portugal’s feral forests may hold the secret (Published by https://www.nationalgeographic.com/ 06 December 2019)
- SPAIN –Need to protect forest highlighted at climate summit (Published by https://www.plenglish.com/ 05 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – NSW faces second peak in bushfire crisis (Published by https://www.abc.net.au 06 December 2019)
- USA – Faced With Droughts and Wildfires, California Dems Call Climate Change Their Top Priority: Poll (Published by https://ktla.com 06 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Uncontainable ‘mega fire’ forms near haze-choked Sydney (Published by https://www.nst.com.my/ 06 December 2019)
- USA – ‘It can happen here’: Local fire agencies grapple with new era of ‘megafires’ (Published by https://www.paloaltoonline.com 06 December 2019)
- USA – Newsom rips PG&E insurance deal as it nears settlement with wildfire victims (Published by https://www.foxbusiness.com 05 December 2019)
- USA – California auditor faults counties, state for lack of wildfire disaster planning (Published by https://www.redding.com 05 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – WaterNSW monitoring Sydney’s water supply as bushfires rage near Warragamba Dam (Published by https://7news.com.au/ 05 December 2019)
- USA – Feds sue LADWP over Creek fire, citing lack of forest floor vegetation clearance (Published by https://www.dailynews.com 05 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Victoria wants to call up ex-military aircraft to fire-fighting force (Published by https://www.theage.com.au/ 05 December 2019)
- USA/AUSTRALIA – US Wildland Fire Personnel Called to Assist with Australia Wildfires (Published by https://yubanet.com 05 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Sydney smoke haze from NSW bushfires blankets golf’s Australian Open during first round (Published by https://www.abc.net.au 05 December 2019)
- USA – Wildfire insurance crisis leads commissioner to call for first-ever statewide non-renewal moratorium (Published by https://yubanet.com 05 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Sydney’s bushfires out of control, evacuations underway (Published by http://www.digitaljournal.com/ 05 December 2019)
- USA – Number of fires, damage way down as Cal Fire announces end of peak fire Season 2019 (Published by https://www.abc10.com/ 04 December 2019)
- SINGAPORE – Campaign aims to make Singapore the world’s first sustainable palm oil country (Published by https://www.eco-business.com 04 December 2019)
- USA – Factors that Contribute to Prolonged Recovery after California Wildfires (Published by https://www.insurancejournal.com 04 December 2019)
- CANADA/AUSTRALIA – Canadian firefighters give up Christmas to assist RFS with bushfires (Published by https://www.smh.com.au 04 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – WA to spend millions on firefighting gear in wake of 2015 Esperance fire deaths (Published by https://7news.com.au/ 04 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Nature group warns of ‘global tragedy’ in NSW as ‘unprecedented’ bushfires rage on (Published by https://www.news.com.au 04 December 2019)
- USA – ‘Deeply sorry’ PG&E takes blame for California’s deadliest wildfire, seeks ‘technologies’ to limit future risks (Published by https://www.usatoday.com/ 04 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Secret report into St Patrick’s Day fires reveals power giant’s failings (Published by https://www.theage.com.au/ 03 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Secret report into St Patrick’s Day fires reveals power giant’s failings (Published by https://www.theage.com.au/ 03 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Revealed: ‘monumental’ NSW bushfires have burnt 20% of Blue Mountains world heritage area (Published by https://www.theguardian.com/ 03 December 2019)
- USA – PG&E failed to inspect transmission lines that caused deadly 2018 wildfire: state probe (Published by https://www.reuters.com 03 December 2019)
- USA – FEMA says residents living in wildfire burn areas are at risk of flash floods (Published by https://krcrtv.com 03 December 2019)
- INDONESIA – Fighting fire with… volunteers? Indonesia ramps up community fire brigades as tropical forests burn (Published by https://www.reuters.com/ 03 November 2019)
- INDIA – Forest dept to deploy drones for real-time alerts (Published by https://www.newindianexpress.com 03 November 2019)
- CANADA – The Co-operators invites Canadians to participate in wildfire preparedness event (Published by https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com 03 December 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Dangerous Summer: Escalating Bushfire, Heat and Drought Risk (Published by https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/ 02 December 2019)
- GREECE – Gov’t preparing emergency response plans for floods, forest fires (Published by http://www.ekathimerini.com 02 November 2019)
- AUSTRALIA – Mayor wants logging halted in koala ‘stronghold’ until bushfires over (Published by https://www.smh.com.au 02 December 2019)
- USA – California Can Learn from Australia’s Experience with Devastating Wildfires (Published by https://timesofsandiego.com 01 December 2019)
- BRAZIL – Leonardo DiCaprio responds after Brazil’s President blames actor for Amazon forest fires (Published by https://edition.cnn.com 01 December 2019)