Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 8h

Saul Zabar, Smoked Fish Czar of Upper West Side, Dies at 97 www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/d...

Saul Zabar, Smoked Fish Czar of Upper West Side, Dies at 97

www.nytimes.com

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 1d

The bullseye is the highway 49 corridor between Sonora and Grass Valley. Very little fire history. Tons of houses. But wine country too would be interesting because many (marginal) buyers are sensitized by tragedy.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 1d

We had a great study going on this that was blown up by Covid impacts on real estate market. Maybe we should pick it back up.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 1d

This is a good thing from a risk-based pricing perspective. But also so hard for people that are now paying $12k + difference in conditions. This is one of the true costs for Californians of wildfire.

Lawrence Vulis @lvulis.bsky.social · 1d

CA FAIR plan seeks 35.8% rate increase.

#climaterisk

www.latimes.com/business/sto...

California's home insurer of last resort seeks 36% rate hike following January fires

The California FAIR Plan Assn., which covers homeowners denied insurance, is seeking a 35.8% rate increase, though some policyholders could pay more or less depending on fire risk.

www.latimes.com

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 2d

Worth the trip.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 2d

The south end is the interesting bit for sure.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 2d

I've always wanted to know what the bottom of Crowley Lake looks like. Is is Owens River Gorge 2.0? Is there other interesting geology down there?

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Reposted by Michael Wara

Dr. Crystal A. Kolden @pyrogeog.bsky.social · 5d

Published today: our new paper showing a 44-year trend of increasing global wildfire disasters (fatalities and economic losses) due to climate change-induced extreme weather. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Climate-linked escalation of societally disastrous wildfires

Climate change and land mismanagement are creating increasingly fire-prone built and natural environments. However, despite worsening fire seasons, evidence is lacking globally for trends in socially ...

www.science.org

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Reposted by Michael Wara

Patrick Rafter @oceanandclimate.bsky.social · 5d

Today, we published a study long in the making on how upper and subsurface tropical Pacific waters responded (and maybe will adjust) to warmer global climate. Here’s the story of how we got here after 15 years. many authors but shout out @jfarmersalmanac.bsky.social
🌊
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Persistent eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean upwelling since the warm Pliocene

Upwelling generates a nutrient-rich “cold tongue” in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean (EEP), with impacts on global climate, oceanic biological productivity, and the carbon cycle. The cold tongue ...

www.science.org

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 4d

Also, 40% of SoCal jet A. Sorry for the lack of clarity.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 4d

I think it is possible but unlikely right now. We are losing Philips 66 and Valero Benicia. El Segundo is not the next to fall. But that was assuming it didn’t face major unexpected costs to continue operating - just normal turn around. We could totally import what El Segundo makes.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 4d

An important question will be how extensive the damage is and whether it is large enough to raise questions about future operations at the facility.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 4d

The risks of accident increase as the economics of the facility decline. This is something to consider carefully - for worker and community safety - as we electrify transport and refinery financials deteriorate accordingly.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 4d

This single refinery is about a fifth of SoCal gasoline supply and 40% of the Jet A.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 4d

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 4d

A fireball lit up the sky across the Los Angeles area on Thursday night after an explosion at a Chevron refinery in El Segundo, alarming nearby residents who said it felt like an earthquake. The cause of the explosion was not clear. No injuries were reported. nyti.ms/42pPCaW

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 6d

May she rest in peace.

Met her once. A person with incredible vision, compassion, and intelligence.

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Reposted by Michael Wara

Jason Moore @moorejh.bsky.social · 9d

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 7d

Sitting with someone I love who has Alzheimer’s as he tells me about getting sent to the vice principal‘s office in high school for holding the hand of the woman that he’s been married to for 60 years.

These are the things to pay attention to.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 7d

Must read paper. Glad it is out!

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Dynamic grid management reduces wildfire adaptation costs in the electric power sector - Nature Climate Change

Extreme events are increasingly becoming severe risks to the electric grid, yet there is limited understanding of the cost-effectiveness of adaptation investments. This research demonstrates that dynamic grid management could reduce large capital spending and limit wildfire risks in the USA.

www.nature.com

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 7d

I sincerely hope that Governor Newsom will sign SB326. If CalFire needs changes, he should initiate a process this fall with the bill's authors to make tweaks that can help the agency do the hard things we need it to do. California can lead on wildfire prevention. This bill enables that.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 7d

SB 326 is about reducing risk right away and taking the long-term steps to plan for a better - and importantly - more affordable future in California. Since 2020, our data shows that the combined impact of electricity and insurance cost increases for the average California household is $266/month.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 7d

Second, it requires (this is the hard part) that CalFire engage in risk based planning to help better target wildfire risk reduction spending in the state and to identify where we need to spend more. This is absolutely critical if we are going to get a handle on this problem in the long run.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 7d

SB326 is important for two reasons. First, it is the most impactful step the state can take THIS YEAR to reduce risk of catastrophes like the LA wildfires. It does this by requiring implementation of a key step to reduce home ignition in high risk areas at rental homes and on sale of existing homes.

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 7d

I wrote on OpEd on SB326, what I believe is the most important piece of wildfire legislation on Governor Newsom's desk.

Sometimes we have to do hard things. This is one of those times. The brave men and women of CalFire can handle this.

www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

California can reduce wildfire risk by boosting Zone 0 compliance | Opinion

“Zone 0 is the five-foot buffer around a home where all combustible materials — such as plants, wood fences or mulch — must be removed.”

www.sacbee.com

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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 7d

I wrote an OpEd on the most impactful wildfire bill to pass out of the legislature this year. But that faces a very real veto threat. www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

California can reduce wildfire risk by boosting Zone 0 compliance | Opinion

“Zone 0 is the five-foot buffer around a home where all combustible materials — such as plants, wood fences or mulch — must be removed.”

www.sacbee.com

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