The Fire Next Time from Filmmakers Collaborative SF on Vimeo.
May 5, 2015 - Sacramento – Building upon Governor Jerry Brown’s proclamation declaring May 3-9, 2015 as Wildfire Awareness Week, Senator Tom Berryhill and Assemblyman Frank Bigelow will be hosting a Capitol screening of “The Fire Next Time” this evening in the Capitol Theater. The legislators hope to raise awareness among policy makers, staff and media about the lasting impact unnaturally large fires pose to California’s environment, economy and water supply.
As part of Wildfire Awareness Week, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), have joined with local and federal fire agencies on the public awareness campaign, “One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire,” to encourage the public to practice safe fire habits outdoors. On average 900,000 acres of California’s timber and grassland are burned annually - over 90 percent of these wildfires are sparked by human activity.
“Fire Next Time” filmmakers, Stephen Most and Kevin White, depict how easily a small outdoor fire can grow to a high intensity wildfire. The 2013 Rim Fire scorched 256,000 acres of the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park in 2013. The film exposes the lasting impacts wildfires have on our watersheds, wildlife, and carbon storage.
Berryhill stated, “Wildfire Awareness Week is a great opportunity to educate every Californian on the importance of fire safety and, for the folks vacationing or living in rural communities, to be prepared in the event of a wildfire. Part of that education includes understanding why these fires occur and the importance of being particularly vigilant in preventing the next one. In a fire season as bad as we have right now, catastrophic fires, like the ones depicted in this film, are just a spark away.”
The film screening will be hosted in coordination with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy in the Capitol Basement Theater on May 5th, 2015 at 5:00pm. Questions and/or RSVP can be sent to Brandon Sanders at Sierra Nevada Conservancy. He can be reached at 530.823.4709 or Brandon.Sanders@sierranevada.ca.gov
