Recent fires and the new normal: how can we understand and prepare?
Time: D Block, 8 - 9:15am
Location: Founders Lecture Hall
Speaker: Michael St. John, Battalion Chief of Mill Valley Fire Department and Unit Leader, Marin County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit
Student Facilitator: Sean Sweeney
Location: Founders Lecture Hall
Speaker: Michael St. John, Battalion Chief of Mill Valley Fire Department and Unit Leader, Marin County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit
Student Facilitator: Sean Sweeney
Of California’s twenty most destructive fires since 1923, eight have occurred within the last three years. In recent years, over ten thousand Californian families have lost their homes and many dozens have been killed with hundreds injured. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced for some period of time. Why has the pattern of destructive fires increased dramatically? Will this rate of destruction continue in the coming years? How can we improve response and preparation? This presentation will review the scope of the problem and public policy initiatives that have been made and others being considered to address this growing threat to our communities.