Angela Benander angela.benander@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Three major wildfires are burning in California, including the Camp fire in Butte County and the Southern California Hill fire and Woolsey fire. At least 56 people have been reported dead and more than 100 are still reported missing.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"We at the Sierra Club extend our deepest sympathy and solidarity to everyone who has lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods to these fires. Our hearts go out to the grieving, and we are grateful for the firefighters who are putting their lives on the line to extinguish the flames.
“Our changing climate has greatly increased the risk of these unnaturally large and dangerous fires. With a warming climate and drier years, firefighters are reporting serious changes in fire behavior.
“We need strong, science-based leadership from our elected leaders -- not factless tweets and unfounded theories from Donald Trump and Ryan Zinke -- to limit the damage from fires fueled by climate change and to protect vulnerable people, places, and wildlife. The long-term safety of our communities depends on science-based action and dedicated funding that adequately supports firefighting and forest management efforts.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.