California's wildfire death toll has ticked down in recent years, mostly because mega-fires have managed to avoid urban areas.

Firefighters have some tips for the millions of Golden State residents who live along the wildland-urban interface.

Capt. Scott Safechuck of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said the first thing is to create defensible space around the home.

"If nothing is completely overgrown, and the dead component is removed and you maintain your landscaping well, it helps slow down or inhibit the fire," Safechuck explained.

Safechuck also recommended removing any tree limbs hanging lower than six feet off the ground. You can "harden" your home with fire-resistant roof tiles, and should remove any flammable items or wood piles nearby and close the eaves. In addition, people are being asked to sign up for their county's emergency alert system and be sure to heed any evacuation orders.

Fire agencies are updating their equipment ahead of fire season as well.

Thomas Tighe is president and CEO of the nonprofit Direct Relief, which helped the Santa Barbara County Fire Department refurbish an old Blackhawk helicopter and acquire several 4-by-4 off-road rescue vehicles.

"The circumstances are changing related to fire, including more extreme events that last longer," Tighe pointed out. "As we build into the wildland-urban interface, it increases the human health risk. So, it's important that the people fighting those fires are properly equipped for the new reality."

He added in the past two years, the Firehawk helicopter has been used in 37 wildfires, plus multiple hoist rescues and medical evacuations.

In many small Minnesota communities, city hall windows display "firefighters wanted" posters. Lack of interest is a reality local fire chiefs have to confront, but they're not giving up.

The National Volunteer Fire Council said coming out of the recent pandemic, the number of non-salaried firefighters had declined to around 675,000. In the early 1980s, the number was close to 900,000. Researchers noted the majority of U.S. fire departments are volunteer.

Brett Anderson, chief of the Mora Area Fire Department, which has 31 on-call firefighters, said fortunately, they just reached a full staff thanks to local advertising and emphasizing a sense of camaraderie.

"You gotta get the training, you gotta get the education. You gotta do that stuff so that you know what you're doing when the pager goes off," Anderson outlined. "But if you have the most qualified firefighter in the world, but he doesn't have the passion, or she doesn't have the passion to go to a call at 3 o'clock in the morning, doesn't matter how good they are at their job."

He feels the "family" selling point has slipped away over the years and reestablishing it can be a "word-of-mouth" tool in attracting applicants. Anderson pointed out surrounding departments are struggling with staffing levels, potentially leading to longer response times for mutual aid. Volunteer firefighters may not be salaried but do receive compensation, including certain benefits.

Ben Duske, chief of the Waverly Fire Department, said his team of volunteers is below where it should be. He said one positive development is messaging about the prevalence of remote work, making it easier for people to pause their full-time jobs and help out when needed.

"We have three or four people that are on our department that are able to respond to daytime calls, which is a huge benefit," Duske acknowledged.

The department leaders point out there's no magic formula, citing the pressure facing households, to solely focus on family supporting careers, as one of many things making application piles shorter.

Jim McCoy, chief of the Austin Fire Department, agreed and said beyond the hourly wages, conveying the message of community-minded spirit is something they have to lean on.

"You help people in their worst times on their worst day," McCoy observed.


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More than 6,000 volunteers who support New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank are being recognized during National Volunteer Week, which starts today.

Barbara Guenther, manager of volunteer programs for Roadrunner Food Bank, said the organization relies on unpaid community members to assist with things like sorting, packing and distributing food. She noted last year alone, they provided about 8 million meals across the state.

"Our volunteers donated 55,547 hours," Guenther pointed out. "It's the equivalent of about $1.5 million worth of work that those volunteers contribute to support the food bank."

According to AmeriCorps, a federal agency for national service and volunteerism, nearly 76 million people volunteered in America in 2023. Guenther added Roadrunner is always grateful for more because 150 to 400 volunteers often are needed for a single day food distribution event.

Guenther believes pitching in to support neighbors can serve as a reminder of your own good fortune when you are loading up your cart at the grocery store.

"Not everybody has that ability to do that and that recognition that, oh my gosh, you've just made this person's day," Guenther emphasized. "We have volunteers who say, 'It's all about just helping people.'"

About 75% of Roadrunner's volunteers work side-by-side in the Albuquerque warehouse. Guenther added many come weekly to meet up with friends they have met through the food bank.

"I had a great volunteer one time say, 'You know, when we volunteer here, we don't care about politics or religion, or who you voted for or what your values are. The one thing that we all value here is that everyone deserves food to eat and no one should be hungry,'" Guenther recounted.

Roadrunner hopes to expand volunteer opportunities in the southern part of the state this year. Among countries, the U.S. has the highest portion of its population actively volunteering, at nearly 42%, according to the nonprofit Volunteer FDIP.

The latest trade war under the Trump administration is stirring debate about whether tariffs are effective, and a South Dakota business is arguing a 1936 antitrust law should be embraced to boost the fortunes of smaller domestic companies.

The White House has said its aggressive approach with tariffs could lead to more American manufacturing and production. Still, skeptics countered it would take too long, forcing businesses and financial markets to grapple with uncertainty for now.

RF Buche runs six grocery stores in South Dakota and feels the long-standing Robinson-Patman Act is not getting enough attention. The little-used law prohibits charging lower prices when companies buy products in bulk.

"When my wholesaler's truck backs up to General Mills and Walmart backs up to General Mills and both are getting a truckload of 18-ounce Cheerios, the price is not the same," Buche pointed out.

He suggested larger retailers often get a bigger price break, while he has to charge his customers more money for the same item. During the final days of the Biden administration, the Federal Trade Commission moved to revive the law in some cases. But the FTC's ideological balance has shifted to a Republican majority, leaving questions about whether this law will sit dormant again.

Some think tanks feel the law is redundant in the current regulatory landscape and could actually harm small businesses and their customers if widely enforced. But Buche emphasized businesses like his have little advantage, noting some of his stores are situated near the poorest Native American communities in the country.

"My customers, they don't have the transportation to get to a Walmart, so why are my customers forced to pay 20% to 50% more for their groceries? It's not fair," Buche stressed.

Policy experts have said the Robinson-Patman Act became weaker around the 1970s when lobbyists convinced lawmakers it was hurting competition. But backers of reviving it consistently said there have been too many corporate mergers since then and fairer prices for smaller chains could give customers more choices.


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