December 2024
From Seth Schalet, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council CEO
| | |
|
Can you believe it’s December? Time flies as they say. This is the time of year we like to look back, reflecting on the year that was with an eye to the future and what 2025 will bring. Fortunately, for Santa Clara County, we did not have a terribly active or destructive wildfire year. At last check on December 5th of the CAL FIRE 2024 Incident Archive, Santa Clara County experienced a total of four (4) recorded wildfires, for a total of 95 acres burned. The Albers Fire on June 7th burned 23 acres, the Felipe Fire on June 15th burned 19 acres, the Teresa Fire on July 9th burned 20 acres and the Quimby Fire on August 19th burned 33 acres. We are grateful for our fire service agency and first responder partners who undoubtedly ensured damage was kept to a minimum.
Across the state however, 2024 tells a much different picture: 7,830 total wildfires, 1,045,204 acres burned, 2,077 structures impacted with 397 damaged and 1,680 destroyed with one civilian death. As you will see in some of the linked articles and research we share this month, the East Coast had one of its worst drought induced wildfire years on record.
And as I type out this letter, below is a 3D photo of the Franklin Fire burning in Malibu. It will eventually get added to the above stats when contained—so for those in Southern California, the holiday season brings no cheer.
| | |
|
Got WUI? You bet we do—now, more than ever. Scientists that study the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) recently released a study that indicated the global WUI expanded by 35.6% since 2000, reaching 1.93 million square kilometers in 2020. Notably, 85% of this growth occurred between 2010 and 2020. The increase in WUI was primarily driven by the unprecedented expansion of global urbanization, contributing an additional 589,914 square kilometers of WUI. In addition, the number of small fires occurring in WUI areas has increased substantially since 2010. These findings underscore the rising wildfire risk and highlight the urgency of implementing tailored fire management strategies in WUI areas.
The world of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predicting, analyzing and modeling wildfire behavior has taken quantum leaps in the last several years. My friends Kumar Venkat and Malcolm Mistry share my belief that performance characteristics of ML models must be made radically transparent, especially when the models serve a common societal good. To this end, I am sharing Kumar’s recent publication of self-critique and openness—it’s a good read. How did our ML prediction models perform on 2024 wildfires?
Speaking of openness and transparency, as we know, wildfires present a formidable challenge, impacting communities, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. The Wildfire Science & Technology Commons is dedicated to addressing these critical challenges through collaborative innovation and cutting-edge technology. I have applied for the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council to be a charter member of The Wildfire Science & Technology Commons, a UC San Diego initiative funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They have several Working Groups they are establishing, and I have applied to be part of either the:
They have many talented applicants, and I hope to be accepted to support the development of The Wildfire Science & Technology Commons, and to ensure Santa Clara County FireSafe Council has a seat in this cutting-edge initiative as a collaborative partner.
As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, I attended the Red Sky Summit convened by Convective Capital in partnership with The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. For those interested, you can now watch all of the guest presenters in the 2024 Takeaways.
| | |
|
I have been invited to serve as a guest evaluator for the Fire Grand Challenge. Conservation X Labs designed the Fire Grand Challenge to bring people together from across the fire sector, and from outside of it too, to create new solutions to the main drivers of the fire crisis in Western North America. Total prize purse is over $1,000,000 for 12 finalist teams and $200,000 in grand prizes for the Western North America phase to scale innovations that blend cutting-edge technology with Indigenous, rural and placed-based knowledge. The Challenge is sponsored by The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Esri, Planet, and USAID.
We have much news to share as we end 2024 on a high note. A milestone year for Santa Clara County FireSafe Council. We recently announced our West Santa Clara Landscape Resilience Project, a 110,000-acre multi-collaborator partnership with the Saratoga Fire District serving as the CEQA Lead Agency for this regional project. Having CEQA compliance at this landscape-scale will build off the work of the Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative and the Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, to bring many more projects to a “shovel-ready” stage and help advance the region’s wildfire resiliency. The West Santa Clara County Landscape Resilience Project will build a legacy of public/private partnerships that plan and implement effective treatments across jurisdictions and for the benefit of many communities throughout Santa Clara County. See map below:
| | |
|
We received a $25,000 grant from a new corporate partner to conduct wildfire Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) inspections in underserved communities throughout Santa Clara County in CAL FIRE designated high, and very high fire severity zone neighborhoods. The work begins in earnest starting in January.
Our December 17th board meeting--the final one for 2024, our guest speaker was Amy J Metz, MS, EIT Graduate Research Fellow at the School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State University, presented her study, The Influence of Housing, Parcel, and Neighborhood Characteristics on Housing Survival in the Marshall Fire. See her slide presentation here.
In closing, there is much good news we can share in early 2025—there’s a lot on the horizon. We will end 2024 with record revenues. I want to thank the FireSafe Council board of directors for your collaboration and engagement. The FireSafe Council team and staff for all you do—without you, we would not be the organization we are today. Thanks to each of you—it’s my honor to be part of the team. Lastly to our agency partners and to you, the public, for supporting our efforts. Thanks for indulging in this lengthier the usual opening and the extra articles and research content you will find. We look forward to continued success in 2025 and beyond. Happy and healthy New Year to all our readers. Now, let’s hear from the team.
| | |
|
Yours truly,
Seth Schalet
CEO, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
| | |
|
On behalf of the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council we would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and to express how grateful we are for your support in our efforts to mobilize the community to protect their homes, communities and environment from wildfires. Without supporters like you, we wouldn’t be able to do this work. Click here to Give Thanks to the FireSafe Council
| |
|
Cottonwood Tree (Populus spp.)
The Cottonwood tree (Populus spp.) has a moderate to low tolerance to fire due to its relatively thin bark and high moisture content in its wood. In the event of a fire, the Cottonwood's susceptibility to damage is increased, as the tree can be easily consumed by flames. However, fire can also play a role in its regeneration process. After a fire, Cottonwood trees can sprout from root systems or nearby surviving seeds, allowing the species to quickly reestablish itself in disturbed environments. Cottonwoods' ability to regenerate rapidly after fire is crucial in maintaining ecosystem balance, particularly in floodplain and riparian habitats. Learn More
| | |
Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative Forest Health Grant Update | | |
Project Updates for Forest Health Grant First Collaboration
The Forest Health Grant project has commenced at Nestldown Ranch. We began work in early November, aiming to complete as many mechanical acres as possible before the rains set in. The project site is divided equally between mechanical work and hand labor.
Included are some photos featuring Project Managers Rosie Eisner and Dave Manson, along with Bay Area Tree Specialist for Nestldown Ranch.
| | |
Project Updates for Forest Health Grant Second Collaboration
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council has been working on an expanded Project-Specific Analysis (PSA) to cover 4,100 acres, with San Jose Water and the Saratoga Fire District serving as the lead agency.
Denali Tree Service was awarded the Aldercroft Heights and Lupin Lodge project, and operations began on November 18th. The Aldercroft FireWise treatments span 25 acres, while the Lupin Lodge treatments cover 11 acres. Below are some photos from the Lupin Lodge project site, featuring Denali Tree Service, with photo credits to our Project Manager, Dave Manson. Learn More
| | |
|
In November 2024, Project Managers Mike Mathiesen and Irene Armstrong participated in the Santa Barbara Training Exchange (TREX), a hands-on event designed to enhance fire management skills and promote cooperative burning practices.
Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (TREX) and cooperative burns offer invaluable experiential training that strengthens local fire management capacity and provides fire practitioners with a broader perspective. The primary focus of TREX is to foster effective cooperative burning, helping diverse partners maximize their skills, resources, and staff to expand outreach, treatment, and training opportunities. The Santa Barbara TREX aimed to build capacity for community-based burning by promoting the ecological health of Santa Barbara's varied landscapes, while meeting key objectives in cultural preservation, conservation, training, and wildfire mitigation.
The 2024 TREX firelighters participated in 10 days of training in the stunning wildlands of Santa Barbara County, working alongside professional fire practitioners, tribal partners, ranchers, land managers, and local community members to achieve diverse objectives through the use of beneficial fire. Firelighters of all experience levels honed their skills, engaging in tasks ranging from firing and holding operations to unit preparation, mop-up, and leadership training assignments.
The event took place at Sedgwick Reserve and the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. Sedgwick Reserve is a renowned research, conservation, and education facility located in the Santa Ynez Valley, managed by the University of California Santa Barbara Natural Reserve System. The Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, a nature reserve in Santa Barbara County, is managed by The Nature Conservancy and supports a wide range of wildlife species across two major terrestrial and two major marine biomes.
View additional information in the event flier.
| | |
Project Manager Mike Mathiesen giving the operation brief for Dangermond Preserve. | |  |
Project Managers Irene Armstrong and Mike Mathiesen. | | |
Treatment site on Dangermond Preserve. | | |
Treatment site on Sedgwick Reserve. | | |
Loma Chiquita Evacuation Route Project | | |
We started the Loma Chiquita project on November 18th. We are making good progress with some good feedback and encouragement from the residence up there. We have treated almost a mile, 15'-30' on both sides of the road. The steepness of the road and the density of the fuels make it very challenging but we are making good progress. The project will run through the rest of the month with hopes of it being completed before Saint Nicholas needs to drive his slay up that road. Learn More | | |
|
California Fire Safe Council’s Fire Safe Vendor List is a digital publication promoting businesses in the fields of fire safety, prevention, and/or mitigation.
This first of its kind, FREE resource is a valuable tool for our community available winter 2025. We’re connecting vendors throughout the state skilled in wildfire resiliency projects with wildfire resilience organizations. Learn More
| |
|
Did you know that you might be able to double—or even triple—the impact of your gift?
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs, which means they will match any charitable contribution made by their employees.
| |
|
SCCFSC is a local 501(c) non-profit organization that relies on funding from local partners and residents of the wildland-urban interface areas. While federal and state grants provide a significant amount of support for ongoing projects, donations from the local community is crucial to our success.The SCCFSC appreciates every donation, large or small. When you donate to Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, you are helping us and yourself by mobilizing the people of Santa Clara County to protect their homes, communities and environment from wildfires.
| | | | |
