"Hardening" Homes Against Wildfires in California Has Been an Uphill Battle
A story in Forbes, which was syndicated by roughly a dozen state-level publications, cites RFF research on wildfires and community activism.
"Community activism is fundamental as to which homes will be saved, and which will be lost, according to studies by Resources for the Future, a non-profit environmental group. 'In the heat of the moment, fire managers have to make tough decisions . . . in choosing how to deploy resources,' says co-author Matthew Wibbenmeyer. 'They face . . . pressure from politicians and influential community members.'
So, it will come as no surprise that 'well-off communities are able to advocate for themselves more effectively,' he says."
