The climate crisis is here: Staying safe and taking action to support during wildfires


September 10, 2020

Our region’s history of fire suppression, combined with hot, dry conditions linked to climate change, are driving the growth of wildfires across the West. Our thoughts are with the communities that are affected by these fires (see some resources on how to stay informed and safe below). We hope you’re able to look after yourselves, keep out of the smoke, and make an evacuation plan if necessary.

Wildfire has always been a necessary and vital part of the forest ecosystems of the American West, and the plants and animals that call these forests home have evolved to co-exist and thrive with all types of wildfire. The native peoples of the Northwest used fire for millennia to maintain food, medicine, and wildlife populations, but traditional burning was actively fought and suppressed upon the arrival of European colonists. Fire suppression grew to industrial proportions in the mid-20th century and was most effective during the cool, wet climate period from the 1940’s to the 1980’s.

For nearly a century, our elected officials, the media, and timber interests have told us that fire destroys forests, kills wildlife, and endangers communities. Leaders from both political parties have responded to people’s fear of fire by promising to reduce “catastrophic fire” through “hazardous fuels reduction” and “active management.”

We cannot log our way out of fire, and fire should not be used as an excuse for aggressive logging far off in the backcountry, which, according to the best available science, does not improve the safety of our communities and releases stored forest carbon. In fact, heavily logged lands burn faster and hotter, driving severe wildfires. To learn more about the interaction of wildfire, logging, and climate change, check out this guide from Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology, and to join us in fighting for our carbon-absorbing forests throughout the state, volunteer with our Forest Defense team.

Between the tear gas, wildfire smoke, and freeway emissions, we’re witnessing an all out assault on our lungs at a time when healthy lungs are a crucial last defense against a raging pandemic. The root cause of all of these is the same – mismanagement, denial, and oppression. At these times it’s important to remember those who are disproportionately affected – including Black communities, houseless folks, low income and BIPOC folks living near fossil fuel pollution in N and NW Portland, those living in tree-less hot and polluted areas of East Portland, those putting themselves on the frontlines to fight against police brutality and Black liberation, low income rural folks, people in prisons and jails, and the indigenous communities across the West – and to double down on our commitment to fight not just the climate crisis, but for social justice as well.

Stay Safe & Prepared

 

Take Action

 

Donate to the 350PDX summer appeal here!