EJToday is SEJ's selection of new and outstanding stories on environmental topics in print and on the air, updated every weekday. SEJ also offers a free e-mailed digest of the day's EJToday postings, called SEJ-beat. SEJ members are subscribed automatically, but may opt out here. Non-members may subscribe here. EJToday is also available via RSS feed. Please see Editorial Guidelines for EJToday content.
"Climate Change May Be Speeding Coast Redwood, Giant Sequoia Growth"
LA Times, 08/15/2013"Finally, some good news about the effects of climate change. It may have triggered a growth spurt in two of California's iconic tree species: coast redwoods and giant sequoias."
"Desire for Wild Spaces Ignites U.S. Fire Insurance Hazard"
Reuters, 08/15/2013"The summer of 2013 has been another severe fire season for the United States, a trend that has insurance companies bracing for a new normal: higher rates of property damage as Americans move to wildfire-prone areas in ever greater numbers."
"Silver Fire: Multiple Factors Created Dangerous, Fast-Moving Fire"
LA Times, 08/09/2013"When the Silver fire ignited about 2 p.m. Wednesday, officials say the stage was set for explosive growth that initially overwhelmed residents and the emergency crews sent to get them out of harm’s way."
Swift, Vast California Wildfire Chars Homes, Injures 3, Clears Towns
AP, 08/08/2013"BANNING, Calif. — A wildfire that broke out in the inland mountains of Southern California has expanded exponentially, burning homes, forcing the evacuation of several small mountain communities and leaving three people injured.
About 1,500 people had evacuated as the wildfire of more than 9 square miles raged out of control Thursday in the San Jacinto Mountains near Banning, said Lucas Spelman, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
"New Mexico Is the Driest of the Dry"
LA Times, 08/07/2013"As an extended drought bakes the West, nowhere are ravages of changes in the climate worse than in New Mexico."
"The Great Burning: How Wildfires Are Threatening the West"
Rolling Stone, 08/02/2013"Terrifying blazes are the new normal in the West, where a mix of climate change and Tea Party politics has put an entire region at risk."
"Once Resilient, Trees In The West Now More Vulnerable To Fires"
NPR, 08/01/2013"On any given day, there's a wildfire burning somewhere in the U.S. — and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Many western forests have evolved with fire, and actually benefit from the occasional wildfire."
"Crews Battle Wildfires Threatening Homes in Pacific Northwest"
Reuters, 08/01/2013"Firefighters in Washington state and Oregon were grappling on Wednesday with blazes that have blackened more than 200 square miles of terrain across the Pacific Northwest, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes."
"Climate Change Is Making Poison Ivy Grow Bigger And Badder"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 07/23/2013"Climate change is making poison ivy grow faster, bigger and meaner."
"Schwarzenegger Filming Documentary on Climate Change And Wildfires"
AP, 07/23/2013"Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is at work on a documentary on climate change and how it impacts the fire season. Mr. Schwarzenegger was in western Montana, profiling the Snake River Hotshots as they work on the lines of the 9.6-square-mile West Mullan Fire burning north of the town of Superior."
"Mexico City's Forests Under Threat"
Aljazeera, 07/15/2013"Government starts cracking down on illegal loggers to save capital's rich flora and fauna."
"The Southwest's Forests May Never Recover From Megafires"
Mother Jones, 07/10/2013"If you doubt that climate change is transforming the American landscape, go to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sweltering temperatures there have broken records this summer, and a seemingly permanent orange haze of smoke hangs in the air from multiple wildfires."
Ash Dieback Now Threatens British Trees
Economist, 07/05/2013"In high summer, it should be possible to wander freely through a stand of mature ash trees."
"Experts See New Normal as a Hotter, Drier West Faces More Huge Fires"
NY Times, 07/03/2013"One of the deadliest wildfires in a generation vastly expanded Monday to cover more than 8,000 acres, sweeping up sharp slopes through dry scrub and gnarled piñon pines a day after fickle winds and flames killed 19 firefighters."
"Yarnell Hill Fire Continues To Burn Out of Control"
Arizona Republic, 07/02/2013"As the community grieved the loss of 19 firefighters who died Sunday fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire, the deadly blaze continued to rage out of control. As of 9:30 p.m. Monday, it had grown to 8,400 acres and remained zero percent contained. About 500 firefighters were battling the blaze, with more expected to join Tuesday."

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