Opinion: How Latinos are shaping California wildfire preparedness 

Crews on the line fighting the Fairview Fire near Hemet in File photo courtesy of OnScene TV Across the United States wildfires are becoming more frequent more intense and more destructive and should be considered not just a community vitality emergency but a national measure issue too This year California has endured specific of the majority devastating blazes that have scorched landscapes destroyed homes and infrastructure and displaced communities But while wildfires impact everyone Latinos are often on the frontlines leading efforts building solutions and pushing for stronger protections for all communities The extent of area burned by wildfires each year has increased since the s In the modern day more than double the acreage burns compared to the s and s Over the past years the average number of acres of forested land consumed by wildfire each year has increased by Fueled by hotter temperatures drier conditions and stronger winds nine of California s ten largest wildfires on record have occurred in the last decade In the fire season started in January with the Palisades and Eaton fires that burned more than acres destroyed or severely damaged more than structures including homes schools and businesses and displaced residents according to CalFire making them the third and fourth the greater part destructive wildfires in California history Those fires were followed by the Madre Fire acres the Gifford Fire at the moment the largest wildfire of the year acres and the Canyon Fire acres They highlight a sobering reality California wildfires are not isolated events but recurring crises threatening ecosystems physical condition and the commercial sector Wildfires are not just about flames Their impacts reach far beyond the burn zone filling the air with toxic smoke that drifts for hundreds of miles Smoke exposure increases risks of asthma heart condition and cardiac events especially for children and the elderly A California examination identified that smoke during a severe wildfire event led to a increase in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests with greater risks among communities with fewer support Latinos who make up more than of the state s population are at the center of these challenges and also at the forefront of solutions Multiple Latino workers are essential in industries like construction farming landscaping and caregiving roles that keep the state running even when wildfire smoke and heat intensify These jobs often lack safeguards such as protective equipment clean-air shelters or paid sick leave making advocacy for stronger protections and worker rights all the more urgent The economic ripple effects of wildfires are also vital When harvests are halted construction projects delayed or households disrupted by evacuation Latino families who play a vital role in California s workforce and business sector shoulder disproportionate impacts Yet communities continue to organize for fair contracts access to unemployment benefits and stronger wellbeing coverage to build long-term stability Latino families are also more likely to live in fire-prone areas yet systemic gaps in accident planning insurance coverage and multilingual urgency communication too often leave them without equal access to preparedness and recovery information Despite this Latino leaders and organizations are pushing for investments that close these gaps ensuring their communities and California as a whole are better protected against future wildfires It is because they are the majority affected and their values are deeply rooted in connection to nature protection of family and a passion for collective well-being that Latinos across California are stepping forward championing nature-based solutions during Latino Conservation Week that begins Saturday And they re advocating for better air quality protections translation of urgency materials community-centered mishap planning and better wildfire preparedness at Latino Advocacy Week not only for themselves but for the medical safety and future of all state communities transforming vulnerability into strength by stepping into leadership roles To promotion this work I invite you to explore Hispanic Access Foundation s Wildfire Management Toolkit which offers materials to expand Latino participation in wildfire management and resilience advocacy One thing is clear wildfires are not going away in fact they will only become more frequent and destructive as the circumstances problem intensifies making preparation not optional but essential Wildfires do not discriminate by political party ethnicity or ideology they are not distant threats but urgent realities already reshaping our landscapes and lives Meeting this challenge requires all of us working together as a multicultural and interdisciplinary society By uplifting Latino voices in advocacy and decision-making we can build a California where every area is safer stronger and better prepared transforming currently s challenges into a more resilient and united future for all Hilda Berganza is a context restoration expert and the state plan manager at the Hispanic Access Foundation