An image from September 2020 of Lake Tenaya in Yosemite National Park, with sunlight and shadows cast in the wildfire smoke hanging over the lake water.
Image credit: Chris Neklason contributed
Fire Season Begins with a Roar
A whiff of smoke on the breeze the other day had me thinking back to 2020.
I was up at our family cabin outside Yosemite that August, and one night watched the most intense thunderstorm of my life take place off to the east over the Sierra. Lightning lit up the sky and thunder crashed and boomed for hours, though little or no rain fell.
It was the same up and down California, and the next day, the state was on fire.
I was back up at the cabin a month later in September, and the smoke was so thick I donned goggles and an industrial respirator and headed up into the Yosemite high contry in search of breathable air. After driving a couple hours I found some up in Tuolumne Meadows, and remember hiking to the river and wondering if I should camp out for a few days.
That summer there were so many fires buring in the state, I'd found the best air in California and was loathe to leave.
Since then, more communities have become firewise certified, more homeowners have embraced defensible space, and more funding has been directed toward clearing beetle-killed trees in forests.
Hopefully, this summer won't see the return of the lurid yellow and orange skies of 2020.
Summer arrived this year on June 20, but fire season got here first with the ignition of the Corral Fire south of Tracy in San Joaquin County on June 1. Now 100% contained, the fire burned over 14,000 acres of grasslands and led to evacuations of some neighborhoods.
California wildfires are becoming larger, more frequent and more ferocious. ‘Malibu Burning’ author Robert Kerbeck shares simple steps you can take to protect your home.
The UC San Diego-managed ALERTCalifornia network of mountaintop cameras act as remote eyes for fire fighters, and the public.
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Recipe of the Week
Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.
Founded in 2021, MOSAC aims to be a regional hub for inspiring people of all ages to “explore the wonders, possibilities and responsibilities of science.”
A Folsom Assemblyman is pushing legislation that calls for more transparency on how the state is spending money on homelessness. The bill is in response to a state audit report which revealed the state spent $24 billion on homelessness, yet …
A beloved fixture of Folsom City Lions Park will keep chugging along into the foreseeable future. The Folsom Valley Railway, a mini live steam train, has been a favorite of children for decades, and will continue that tradition with new …
In what they are hailing as a significant crackdown on illegal fireworks, law enforcement and fire officials in Sacramento County seized their largest-ever haul of illicit pyrotechnics following a targeted investigation prompted by a tip-off from concerned citizens Thursday.
Working in the education industry is something that Folsom Cordova Unified School District Superintendent Sarah Koligian has not only been doing for over three decades, it’s something she has poured her heart into with great passion, a trait that has …
Curiosity was in the air when the City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture hosted dozens of local artists at a guaranteed income community listening session on Monday, June 10 at Celebration Arts.
The Rancho Cordova City Council Recently Addressed Crucial Budget Decisions for the Upcoming Fiscal Year 2024-25 During the June 17 MeetingOriginal article published at Rancho Cordova Independent
Folsom Cordova Unified School District campuses in Rancho Cordova are now offering free meals to children this summer who may otherwise go without, thanks to a collaborative program with the United States Department of Agriculture.
More and more people in Sacramento are opting to move into multigenerational homes, or build accessory dwelling units – better known as ADUs – to keep family members close them while avoiding painful housing prices.
The Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society meeting on Tuesday, June 25, will feature Paul Greenfield discussing the visit of the “Big Boy” to the Sacramento area.
The region is blessed with bountiful fresh water within its boundaries. Big Chico Creek, Butte Creek, Feather River and the Sacramento River all support incredible and vibrant natural ecosystems. What is not as apparent is the importance of its vast …
• Elk Grove Affordable Apartment Project Changes Draw Scrutiny
The June 17 meeting of the Elk Grove Zoning Administration was attended by a larger than usual number of people interested in design changes to a controversial affordable housing project.
• What You Need to Know About the California Budget Deal
Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders announce an agreement to bridge the state budget deficit by dipping into reserves and reducing some spending. The deal also calls for a bill in August to set aside more money and a 2026 constitutional amendment to grow the state’s rainy day fund.
• Environmental Groups Appeal Sites Reservoir Ruling
A new round of litigation began when environmental groups opposed to the Sites reservoir in Colusa County filed an appeal on a ruling which dismissed their suit seeking to halt the project from proceeding.
• In Rain, Snow and Drought, California’s Fights Over Water Rights, Supplies Persist
Legal rights to use water — particularly those obtained prior to 1914 — lie at the heart of California’s perpetual wrangling over the allocation of increasingly limited water supplies.
With the National Weather Service forecasting a heat advisory for Saturday, June 22, the City of Sacramento will activate the Outreach and Engagement Center as a cooling center where residents can find relief from the heat. The OEC (3615 Auburn Blvd.) will operate from 10 a.m. Saturday (June 22) to 8 a.m. Sunday (June 23). [...]
The post City activates …
Vitakraft Sun Seed Inc. of Weston, OH, is voluntarily recalling one lot of Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is also a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products,
Elk Grove City Manager Jason Behrmann announced today the selection of Christopher Jordan as the Citys next Development Services Director.
The selection of Mr. Jordan concludes a national recruitment process to fill the position that will be vacated when Darren Wilson retires next month.
Mr. Jordan is currently the Citys Director of Strategic Planning and Innovation, a position created in …
The City of Sacramento has released its weekly progress report for the Citys Incident Management Team responding to homelessness. From June 10-16, the City of Sacramento received 605 calls to 311 customer service related to unsheltered individuals. Through the work of the IMT, 657 calls were closed, meaning that either the issue was remedied, compliance was achieved, [...]
The post …
Hudson Harvest of Germantown, NY, is voluntarily recalling Hudson Harvest Tomato Basil Sauce because of reported swelling, leaking, or bursting jars. There is a possibility that the product has been under processed, which could lead to the potential for spoilage organisms or pathogens.
The City of Sacramento is set to amend its Street Design Standards, the guidelines that shape the city's streets, including travel lane widths, bikeway types and widths, sidewalk widths, and more. These standards play a role in the development, built environment, mobility, and street tree canopy, impacting the city for decades to come. To align [...]
The post Learn about …
The City of Sacramento is now accepting applications for the Northgate Boulevard Storefront Improvement Grant Program, aimed at enhancing the exterior appearance of businesses located on Northgate Boulevard. Led by the District 3 City Council office, applicants can apply for up to $15,000 to fund facade improvements such as new paint, signage, lighting, windows, doors, [...]
The post Storefront improvement …
Snapchill LLC (Snapchill) of Green Bay, WI is voluntarily recalling all canned coffee products manufactured by the company, within expiration date, because their current process could lead to the growth and production of the deadly toxin, botulinum toxin, in low acid canned foods. Botulism, a poten
The Department of Utilities will soon begin maintenance work along critical infrastructure in the Citys flood control system. This maintenance will be similar to the critical infrastructure work the City has performed in past years and is expected to take several weeks to complete. Work will soon be performed at Cascade, Glove Avenue, I-80 North, [...]
The post Crews to …
The City of Sacramento has made significant progress on the LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project, an initiative aimed at documenting and preserving the rich history of the LGBTQ+ community in Sacramento. The Draft LGBTQ+ Historic Context Statement is now available for public review, and the City is asking the community to provide input on this document [...]
The post City seeks …
An image from September 2020 of Lake Tenaya in Yosemite National Park, with sunlight and shadows cast in the wildfire smoke hanging over the lake water.
