As wildfire continues to decimate the larger North Bay Area, UpFront offers continued fire coverage. This morning we spoke with Gerald Singleton, attorney who represented most of the plaintiff that sued Pacific Gas & Electric company for damages after the 2015 Butte Fire, which burned more than 70,000 acres, destroyed about 925 structures and killed two people before it was extinguished nearly one month later. We hear briefly from Collin Morrow, a Santa Rosa resident who has been volunteering at 1-2-3-4 Go Records in Oakland, which, alongside other local businesses, has been collecting fire-related donations at their storefront. As the fire continues to rage, UpFront focuses on already marginalized populations particularly impacted. We speak to Kathy Ries, a long time homeless advocate in the area and who works at a women’s shelter in the evacuated area. Finally Dr. John Balmes offers us some perspective about the health related ramifications, specifically respiratory issues, that might emerge as a consequence of direct and indirect impact. Balmes is a Professor of Medicine at the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Balmes has conducted research that demonstrates that Wildland firefighters have decreased lung function after a fire season as compared to their pre-season baseline values.
- Collin Morrow, a Santa Rosa resident who has been volunteering at 1-2-3-4 Go Records in Oakland, which has been collecting fire-related donations at their storefront
- Gerald Singleton, attorney who represented most of the plaintiff that sued Pacific Gas & Electric company for damages after the 2015 Butte Fire, which burned more than 70,000 acres, destroyed about 925 structures and killed two people before it was extinguished nearly one month later.
- Kathy Ries, a long time homeless advocate in the area and who works at a women’s shelter in the evacuated area.
- Dr.John Balmes is a Professor of Medicine at the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Balmes has conducted research that demonstrates that Wildland firefighters have decreased lung function after a fire season as compared to their pre-season baseline values.