Oppressed By Wildfire

Oppressed By Wildfire

Jefferson Public Radio spent months speaking to families in Northern California about how wildfires impact them. We found that wildfires leave the most long-lasting impacts on marginalized populations — including people of Latino and Native American descent, people who are homeless, and people with disabilities. The key issue, it seems, is that wildfire response and preparation systems weren’t designed with these communities in mind.

This four-part radio series was produced in partnership with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s 2019 California Fellowship.

Immigration

Oppressed By Wildfire: Language Barriers, Unwelcoming Attitudes Discourage Latinos From Seeking Help

April Ehrlich

Abandoning your home while fleeing a wildfire can be a traumatic experience. It’s even scarier if you don’t understand the language of the evacuation…
Poverty and Homelessness

Oppressed By Wildfire: Homeless People Left Out Of Federal Disaster Aid Programs

April Ehrlich

When a major wildfire burns into an urban area, federal disaster officials are quick to offer financial help to people who lose their homes. But not…
Health and Medicine

Oppressed By Wildfire: Disabilities Challenge Some Victims' Evacuations And Their Recovery

April Ehrlich

Some people say they only had minutes to prepare before they had to flee their homes during the Carr Fire in Shasta County last year. Such short notice…
Environment, Energy and Transportation

Oppressed By Wildfire: Weaving Culture Into Fire Management Helps Tribes Reclaim Suppressed Heritage

April Ehrlich

Wildfire isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, fire has been an integral part of Native American culture for centuries as a tool to keep forests…