Ever since my best friend’s home burned down in the Santiago Canyon fire in 2007 and seeing the devastation it caused, I have paid close attention to California wildfires. California has a long history of destructive wildfires, and there have been countless articles on the topic. Many of these articles center around causation, and opinion pieces are abundant. Thankfully, I have secured a handful of credible sources that I can count on for accurate delivery. The most recent wildfire that started September 22, 2021, is the Fawn Fire. Having grown up in Northern California and the fire being near a family vacation spot, I have closely monitored up-to-date reports.
- Twitter – Cal Fire alert #fawnfire: Cal Fire tweeted an alert at 6:13 pm on September 22, 2021, advising of California’s most recent fire incident. They provided the link to the official status report located on their website. Cal Fire reported that the Fawn Fire started at 4:45 pm near Shasta Lake, and evacuations of nearby structures were being conducted. Causation is unknown.
Cal Fire issuing alerts via Twitter is an excellent avenue to make California residents aware of the current state, county, or neighborhood events. When receiving alerts like this, it is a prompt to go to local and state news sources for a more detailed report of what is happening on the ground. This is especially true when the national news has not picked up the event. It could take a day or two for unaffected communities to be aware of the news, and Twitter alerts from followed sources bridge that gap.
- USA Today – Fawn Fire: Evacuations near Redding widespread; emergency declared: The Fawn Fire was picked up by a national news source and has been updated daily since the fire broke out. USA Today reported that on September 22, 2021, at 7:10 pm, the fire had grown to consume sixty acres and had zero containment. The fire is said to be in a hard-to-reach location, and air support was requested. Firefighters on the ground had been strategizing how best to reach the fire, and wind reports were not in their favor. Within just over 2 hours, air support was on the scene, but reports continued that this fire was fast-moving.
The fact that this fire was picked up and quickly reported by a national news source speaks volumes. California has gained much attention for its ongoing wildfire issues that now occur more frequently. Many citizens across the nation are equally interested in the western wildfires, especially their tie to climate change concerns.
- Sacramento Bee – Fast-moving wildfire forces evacuations in Redding; Bay Area woman suspected of arson: The first local article on the Fawn Fire reports the fire overnight claimed 1200 acres and is only at 5% containment due to windy conditions. While no structures have been lost, more than 2,000 are being threatened. Fire authorities quickly determined the fire was started in a remote canyon, and the cause was arson. A 30-year-old female from Palo Alto, California, has been arrested on suspicion of starting the fire and held on a six-figure bail.
Surprisingly, local news did not begin reporting on the Fawn Fire until the day after it started. Nonetheless, The Sacramento Bee quickly detailed the start of the fire and the current situation the following day. They were also the first local news to provide information that a female arsonist set the fire. The Sacramento Bee took their time to report on the fire, the cause, and the person behind it. The slow reporting gave readers more information than Cal Fire offered and other state emergency information services.
- Los Angeles Times – Arson-linked Fawn fire swells while Sequoia blaze prompts new evacuations: By the third day this wildfire burning, it had consumed over 6,800 acres, and 25 structures had been lost. At only 10% containment and 9,000 structures still threatened, firefighters expressed confidence in their progress considering numerous obstacles. There are at least 1,000 fire personnel battling the fire from the air and ground. Neighborhoods were being evacuated as high temperatures and more winds were in the forecast.
The LA Times also reports that two nearby fires are also ablaze with little to no containment. Also, the woman arrested for suspicion of arson was charged with felony arson and faces additional charges for intentionally starting the fire during a state of emergency. According to the County District Attorney, the arsonist could see up to nine years in state prison.
News of this fire and its devastation now hitting Southern California helps make communities aware of events outside their area. Readers need to see that local news sources from other counties share events of great concern to the state. This article also provided more up-to-date information on this fire and the two other fires in that area, as well as the charges the arsonist faces. This additional information builds community support and assures the people that our state officials are taking this matter seriously.
- SF Gate – Fawn Fire destroys over 100 buildings, winds expected to shift: As of day 4, the Fawn Fire has burned almost 8,500 acres and has taken 100 structures in its path. At 7:48 pm, the fire stands at only 25% containment, and 5,200 residents had been evacuated. Thankfully, the weather had changed, offering cooler temperatures and a wind direction change. This weather update aids in firefighter efforts to gain containment efforts.
SF Gate further shared that 3,600 square miles have been burned so far in 2021, with 3,200 structures being destroyed, including homes. Three fires burning in the same area contribute to the growing concern on climate change’s contribution to California’s wildfire challenges. It is climate change that is making California drier and warmer, making weather patterns more intense. These weather changes are a contributing factor in the frequency of wildfires and them being more destructive.
Climate change concerns have been a newsworthy topic in 2021, and SF Gate was one of the first news outlets talking about that, making this article worth highlighting. The Fawn Fire spread quickly because of all the dry brush coupled with the current heat and winds. California wildfire season is said to be longer than years before. Californians need to be made aware of these facts to understand what they can do to help in prevention measures.
- CBS 5 SF/Bay Area News (video) – Fawn Fire: Deb Webb’s emotional return to her burned out home: This video shows a woman returning to her home to find it had been burned down in the Fawn Fire. Her devastation is apparent, and her description of her losses is heart-breaking. Deb Webb reports she has lost everything, including memorabilia of her family that is irreplaceable. She was unaware of the total devastation until she was allowed to return to her home.
Her story is important and should be newsworthy. People who have not experienced fire-related losses cannot truly relate to that loss. As noted in an earlier article above, 3,200 buildings have already been lost in 2021. These are people’s homes being lost and causing them to have to rebuild their lives. This video is an excellent reminder that we all need to do our part in wildfire prevention and to seek information on prevention actions that can be taken. It is also a reminder that if suspicious activity is seen, do not ignore it and report it.
