CasaSugar

How-To: Stay Safe During a Wildfire

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:00:24 -0700

Since the breakout of the August wildfires north of Los Angeles, at least 53 buildings have been destroyed, and 4,300 people have been evacuated. As of this writing, more than 12,000 homes are under threat.

While some families have been reluctant to leave their homes, in the end, your home is just a house. It's the nonmaterial things you fill it with - namely your family, pets, and memories - that make it truly a home. This is why I urge readers to listen to firefighters' warnings, and to leave their homes if a mandatory evacuation is issued. Your life is much more important than any piece of property, no matter how much you love it.

Want to know how to protect your family and your home from a wildfire? Check out these smart pointers from the City of Napa, CA's fire safety page:

Maintain a "defensible" space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around all structures.
Clear dead leaves and branches to leave widely spaced ornamental shrubbery and trees.
Clean all needles and leaves from the roof, eaves, rain gutters, and yard.
Trim tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney and trim all dead limbs hanging over your house or garage.
Cover your chimney outlet or flue with a spark arresting half-inch mesh screen.

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Make sure your address is clearly visible for easy identification in an emergency.
Check to see if a fire hydrant is located near your home. If not, you should have a water storage supply of at least 2,500 gallons for use in an emergency situation.
Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from buildings, fences, and other combustible materials.
Clear all vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath your deck. Enclose undersides of elevated decks with fire-resistive materials.
Remove "ladder fuels." They link the grasses and the tree tops.
Create "fuel breaks" - these can be driveways, gravel walkways, or well-maintained lawns.
Maintain your irrigation system regularly.
Prune tree limbs so the lowest is between 6-10 feet from the ground.
Dispose of cuttings and debris promptly, according to local regulations.
Keep at least two means of escape (either a door or window) in each room.
Mark your driveway and access roads clearly.
Keep ample turnaround space near your house for fire equipment.
Prevent sparks from entering your house by covering vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch.
When possible, use construction materials that are fire resistant or noncombustible.

Are You Afraid of Wildfires?

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:00:56 -0700

Today marks the three-month anniversary of "Black Saturday." On Feb. 7, as many as 400 fires were recorded in Victoria, Australia, and resulted in 173 confirmed deaths and over 2,000 destroyed homes. With fires burning again in Santa Barbara, CA, I know that my fears of wildfires are growing.

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On Fire: Australia Battles Deadliest Natural Disaster in History

LibertySugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:58:31 -0800

Victoria, Australia is welcoming cooler weather, as authorities say it will take several more days to contain blazes that have killed over 100 people.

On site last weekend, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd proclaimed: "Hell and all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the past 24 hours." These residents can thank a record breaking heatwave and perhaps arsonists for the hellish experience.

Australia's federal government will be there to help pick up the pieces, and the tab, for those who suffered damage, thanks to a $10 million disaster relief fund. Each adult will get $1,000 and an extra $400 for each child. Victims can apply for other grants, such as a re-establishment grant, totaling $26,000.

Do you think governments should pay for disaster relief and reconstruction?

View 5 Photos ›

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Have You Ever Been in a Wildfire?

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:00:25 -0700

In Southern California, homeowners have been in close proximity to wildfires, which have been made even more dangerous by gusting Santa Ana Winds. Even closer to my home, a Napa Valley area fire has threatened homes and wineries. I have, luckily, never been in or close to a wildfire. Have you?

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Front Page: US Invests $250 Billion in Banks, Wildfires Rip Through Southern CA, McCain's Economic Proposal

CitizenSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:59:16 -0700

$250 Billion Bank Investment:
President Bush announced this morning that the government plans to invest $250 billion into banks, a move that he says is essential to stabilize the financial system. In exchange for the money the government will get an equity stake in the banks. It's the plan promoted by economists in the excellent This American Life episode explaining the crisis. Henry Paulson also delivered remarks on the plan today.

Wildfires Rip Through Southern CA:
Over 1,000 firefighters are battling blazes near Los Angeles. The fires have claimed two lives and thousands more have been evacuated. With flames fanned by the Santa Ana winds, Gov. Schwarzenegger says, "Winds are causing fire conditions to change by the hour, which is why it is so important that residents in the areas surrounding these wildfires heed warnings from public safety officials to evacuate."
McCain to Announce Economic Proposal:
John McCain will be revealing $52.5 billion in new economic proposals today, specifically aimed at helping seniors, workers, and the unemployed - those the campaign has said have been hurt worst by the crisis. In addition to the plan, three new tax measures, including a 50 percent reduction on the capital gains tax on stock profits will be announced. McCain's plan comes a day after Obama announced his own.

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Front Page: Los Angeles Wildfires Double in Size

TresSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:00:38 -0700

Wildfires near Los Angeles have doubled in size. The fires have destroyed more than 50 homes as of now, but some people still refuse to evacuate. -CNN
Kidnap suspect Phillip Garrido was convicted of a similar crime in 1976, but he only served 11 years of his 50-year sentence. - Los Angeles Times
The EU has banned the manufacturing and importing of old-fashioned light bulbs with hopes of encouraging people to switch to energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. - BBC News
Nearly one-third of cocaine seized in the US is laced with a dangerous veterinary medicine. - AP
A new study suggests that a healthy lifestyle, including a good diet, exercise, and breastfeeding, could prevent 40 percent of breast cancer cases. - The Guardian

China to Rebuild Devastated City Somewhere Else

LibertySugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:15:00 -0700

Following the recent earthquake, China plans to rebuild one of its worst-hit cities, Beichuan, in a completely different location. Of the city's 161,000 residents, at least 7,227 died in the quake. The region's Communist Party Chief said:

Safety is the top priority in selecting a new location and reconstruction. We plan to build a monument and a memorial to commemorate the quake victims on the previous location.

The questions of when and where to rebuild devastated areas often comes up after a natural disaster. Following the wildfires in Southern California last Fall, actress Jamie Lee Curtis summed up one line of thought:

We live in a drought, we build houses too close, and then we're shocked when this happens? This is not an act of God. This is an act of man.

After Hurricane Katrina hit low-lying New Orleans, some critics spoke out against the idea of rebuilding the city, which could eventually be hit by a similar hurricane. They argued that New Orleans, built like a bowl and located bellow sea level, is geographically susceptible to similar flooding in the future.

Are humans foolish to build cities in places that are prone to natural disasters? Would China's plan to choose a new location work for a place like New Orleans? How should we mitigate risks of destruction and death, when every place is susceptible to some form of random devastation? How risky is too risky?

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Casa Link: Some Good From the Bad

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:08:11 -0800

The Los Angeles Times has an article about a small but lovely solace from devastating wildfires. The high heat of the fire and the nitrous oxide in the smoke can help to germinate long-dormant native flower seeds, resulting in some gorgeous blooms along a fire-scarred landscape. Read the article to get the whole story.

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Justice Served? Homeless Arsonist Ordered to Pay $101 Million

LibertySugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:01:00 -0800

Steven Emory Butcher sleeps in a tent, but the law seems to think he's a millionaire. After setting fires in 2002 and 2006 that destroyed 160,000 acres of national forest, the homeless man was sentenced to four years in prison and $101 million in fines.

While in prison, the arsonist will have to pay $100 each year toward his fine. Once he's out, he must contribute $50 a month for the rest of his life. Right now Steven lives on government disability insurance, but if he gets a job, his payments will be adjusted accordingly.

Since the law requires anyone who has damaged property repay the cost of the lost property to the victim, the judge ignored how much Steven could afford. While it's crucial to send a message to arsonists that such destructive and dangerous activity will be punished, do you think the punishment fit the crime in this case?

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British Columbia's Nanaimo Bars Taste Like Victory

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:00:56 -0800

This week, I set out in search of dishes that would commemorate the Vancouver Games. Besides some Montréal items like poutine, I wasn't having much luck with Canadian-born dishes. Then I stumbled upon a specialty known as the Nanaimo bar. The no-bake chocolate square was born out of the domestic housewifery of the 1950s.

One legend recounts a home cook from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island's second largest city, entering her chocolate squares in a magazine contest and naming them after her hometown. Another story is that homemaker Mabel Jenkins entered her recipe to a fundraising cookbook, and it soon spread like wildfire around the local communities.

Regardless of how it came to be, this extremely fudgy and chocolately no-bake dessert is considered British Columbia's favorite native treat. For a triumphant Northern dessert that really hits the sweet spot, read more.