The Tinderbox

This land has always been on fire. But the destructive power of these flames is new. There was a time before, and there is a time ahead, when fire clears the way for new growth in the foothills. “So many particular precious, irreplaceable lives that despite ourselves, we're inhaling.”

In this episode, we visit the land currently known as Northern California. Molly Fisk, inaugural poet laureate of Nevada County, California, recalls the devastation of the Camp Fire and the trepidation that follows rebuilding in the scorched tracks of a wildfire. Margo Robbins, Yurok Tribal member and executive director of the Cultural Fire Management Council, explains the ecosystem’s intricate connection to fire and the role prescribed burns played in this area’s past, present, and future.

Take Action:

• You can find more of Molly’s writing at mollyfisk.com. California Fire & Water, an anthology project helping kids across California write poems about the climate crisis, is out now.
• Support Margo’s work at the Cultural Fire Management Council at CulturalFire.org.
• Join efforts to put pressure on world leaders, at COP26 and beyond:
  • Support SheChangesClimate, which is trying to get more women in top-level leadership at COP26 and other delegations around the world.
  • Check out Greenpeace’s campaign: you can get involved with a local volunteer group in the UK or sign the Greenpeace petition.

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