General Resources

I have information about my area that I would like to share. How should I do that?

  • You can fill out this form! You can submit information completely anonymously, or provide your preferred contact information if you want to provide additional details.

There’s no info for my city. What should I do?

  • In general, your local public library is pretty likely to have an HVAC system with air filtration. You can always reach out to them and ask!
  • Other indoor public spaces can have HVAC systems as well–movie theaters, malls, gyms, community centers, etc. It is worth calling/emailing or looking them up online first.
  • Ask friends and family if they have extra N95 masks that they can share with you.

Start a mask bloc!

Air filters: how to build your own, and what to look for when buying one

Why does air quality matter?

  • A Note on Wildfire Smoke From an Aerosol Scientist by Susan Kaye Quinn - "Smoke is basically a petrochemical aerosol soup of submicron particles. The only thing worse than smoke (from any kind of combustion, but especially wildfires because who knows what is burning) is actual chemical plant fires (or you know, derailed trains carrying polyvinyl chloride set on fire). Those will kill you dead right away."

What can I do to about climate change to prevent future wildfires?

We can't change the climate on our own! But there are many big and small things we can do as individuals and collectively to improve things for ourselves and future generations.

  • [International]
    • Support indigenous cultural burning practices (which help prevent forest fires!) in your country!
      • The US has the Indigenous Peoples Burning Network (IPBN) which is a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and various indigenous peoples across the country that encourages and supports a return to indigenous cultural burning practices.
  • [United States - nationwide]
    • Homeowners can take advantage of federal rebate programs that will cover the cost of electrifying your home and upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances. This includes improving the ventilation system in your home, upgrading your air conditioner, and air sealing your home.
  • [Phoenix, Arizona] Apply for a grant from the city to plant shade trees in your neighborhood.
  • [Missouri] Volunteer with Forest ReLeaf and help plant trees across Missouri. Current volunteer opportunities include:
    • Helping out at the tree nursery
    • Office assistance
  • [Flagstaff, Arizona]
    • Check out events facilitated by the Flagstaff Climate Resilience Project. Events cover topics like emergency preparedness, fire adaptation, and plant identification.
    • Participate in local Climate Advisory Groups. Advisory groups work alongside Flagstaff city Sustainability staff to develop recommendations for the city's Carbon Neutrality Plan.
    • Learn more about the city's Food Systems Program, which includes information about local community gardens and how to apply for a plot, rebates for purchasing chicken coops and composters, and neighborhood sustainability grants.