Mount Diablo Fire

A couple of interesting articles discussing the aftermath of the Mount Diablo fire, which burned 3,100 acres over six days earlier this month, are listed below.

This view of the fire, an hour or two after it started, was drawn from the backseat of the car, driving along 680 through Walnut Creek.



Read more:
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Wildlife-winners-losers-in-Mt-Diablo-fire-4807527.php
http://baynature.org/articles/mount-diablo-fire-may-not-all-bad-in-long-term/

Rim Fire Threatens San Francisco Water Supply

San Francisco has been included in the state of emergency declared as a result of the Rim Fire, which has been burning for a week in Yosemite National Park.  The fire continues to march toward O'Shaughnessy Dam at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which supplies electricity and water to San Francisco.  Two of three power generation plants have been shut down, but there has not yet been an impact to the city's water supply.

Read more:
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Progress-made-on-Rim-Fire-but-some-4760100.php
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_23940512/undaunted-rim-fire-marches-toward-hetch-hetchy-reservoir

Map based on:
http://wildfiretoday.com/2013/08/21/california-rim-fire-west-of-yosemite-np/

Anniversary of Chevron Richmond Refinery Fire

August 6 was the one-year anniversary of the fire at the Chevron Richmond refinery.  A pipeline rupture started a massive fire, with a toxic plume of smoke that caused respiratory problems for over 15,000 people.  The anniversary was marked by a march and sit-in at the refinery, in remembrance of the fire and in protest of Chevron's participation in tar sands extraction and the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

The Chevron Richmond refinery, viewed from Point Richmond:

A docked Chevron ship, also viewed from Point Richmond:

Read more:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/08/04/18740976.php

Occupy the Farm: Urban Agriculture in Albany

The Albany Gill Tract belongs to the University of California, and is a small part of what was once a large agricultural research plot.  The university is planning to sell the remaining land for development by a supermarket chain.  Sustainable agriculture activists have occupied the tract in an attempt to draw attention in the community to the connection between hunger and access to underutilized land.

The San Pablo Avenue side of the tract:

The Jackson Street side:

Read more:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/07/08/18739523.php
http://occupythefarm.org/