How We Push Back Against Trump’s Wildfire Power Grab

7 Steps you can take to hold the line this weekend — in just 30 minutes.

Jul 05, 2025

Dear friends

I know it’s a holiday weekend, but with everything that’s happened in the months since Trump’s inauguration, I am beyond angry. Not least because Trump is preparing to use climate crisis emergencies as a political weapon. This is not a distant possibility, not a warning for the future — it’s already in motion. And judging by the way many of you have responded to my last few posts, I know you feel the same.

What unsettles me just as much is that the elected officials in the states most at risk don’t seem to see it. They don’t appear to understand what the Trump administration is setting in motion, or how quickly this can be used against their own people.

So our outrage is not enough. Outrage must become action — deliberate, strategic, organised action. And that action has to start right here, with each of us.

For too long, too many of us have been lulled into believing someone else will fix things when times get tough — the “Leadership”, some other “Professional”, “The Young”. We are used to thinking the cavalry will come — that someone, somewhere, with greater powers, longer reach, or more energy will step in and save us before it goes too far.

In climate emergencies, FEMA was the cavalry. But there’s something we need to face head-on: under Trump, FEMA has been gutted. It is being stripped of staff, stripped of funding, stripped of the very tools that once made it possible to coordinate fast, effective disaster response.

FEMA will not be coming to save Americans affected by climate emergencies. That safety net is no longer there.

In fact, it’s becoming clear that there is no cavalry. There is no rescue mission. The systems we thought would protect the US are being deliberately dismantled, piece by piece, so they can be turned into weapons of control. And the people — and States — who are still behaving as if this is simple mismanagement are going to be left picking up the pieces, assuming there are even pieces left to pick up.

I understand that some of you may be feeling so worn down, exhausted and discouraged that you’re asking yourself, “What’s the point?” I hear you. I get it — another pep talk telling you to take action without showing you how that action might look is simply not going to cut it. That's why I've laid-out a game plan for how states could fight back — with immediate steps, longer-term plans, and funding ideas.

These steps are not a top-down instruction list — Lord knows I don't have the skills for that. They’re a set of possibilities — ways that states might deepen their capacity, reinforce local leadership, and protect the autonomy that’s already there. (If you’re connected to state or local emergency teams, Indigenous fire stewards, or community-led climate groups, you know far better than I know where the strengths and the cracks are.)

I’ve written out these possibilities to show you that while Trump may have laid out his endgame and moved his first pawn, this game is far from over. States still have powerful moves to make.

And that means there is still hope. Not false hope — not wishful thinking or blind optimism. Not the belief in a positive outcome that has no real possibility of coming true. But REAL hope.

Real hope, by contrast, is anchored in probability. It’s not just that something good is possible — it’s that, based on what we know, what we’ve seen, and what we can realistically influence, it’s probable enough to be worth fighting for. Real hope grows from evidence, planning, and practical steps. It doesn’t deny difficulty or risk — it faces them, weighs them, and finds a way forward anyway. Where false hope avoids hard truths, real hope works with them. It gives us something solid to build on.

But real hope requires action. Probability isn’t a promise — it’s a chance, and action is what turns that chance into reality. Without action, even likely outcomes will remain out of reach.

Hope only becomes real when we step in and help make it so.

The bottom line is this: if the American people don’t pick up this gauntlet — and right now — no one else will do it.

And I will go further.

What’s unfolding in America at this moment is the fight of our time. This fight belongs to every single one of us — not just Americans. Because no matter where we are in the world, with the complicity of Big Tech, the Trump administration’s schemes are likely to touch us all.

This is a fight that can still be won, but no one gets to sit it out. The work begins now, and it begins here.

Let's roll up our sleeves and get to it.

This is a breakdown of the states most likely to be hit first, hit hardest and why. I’m providing it again, because we need to get our bearings.

This is not the time to feel helpless — it is the time to turn toward each other.

If you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, or Alaska — this really is your fight. If you don’t, but you have friends or family in those states who may face wildfire threats — you need to make it your fight too.

I don’t live in any of those states, and nor have I ever visited — in fact, I don’t live in the US, period — but I stand with the people. And I will not turn away.

But while this is doable — with the pieces already on the board — most people don’t yet seem to know what’s in play here.

First step is to change that.

Wildfire EO Push Back — Stage 1

We need to make sure the people on the sharp edge know what’s coming. We need them to walk into their offices after this holiday weekend and find their inboxes overflowing with messages from concerned constituents. Not just the state governors — but legislators, wildfire managers, emergency managers, Indigenous leaders. The ones who are closest to the ground. The ones who can still act.

I know you’re tired. I know your day-to-day life doesn’t make way for other things that are urgent. But that’s what Trump is counting on — the weight of those responsibilities pulling at you, so that writing one more email feels like too much.

That’s why I’ve created a set of free resources to make this as light a lift as possible — email templates you can copy, paste, amend, and send. (Every underlined word or phrase in this post is a link.)

In each of the email templates, I’ve included:

A link to the strategic briefing on the wildfire Executive Orders so they can see the scale of the issue.
A link to Paul Eck’s declaration in Newsom v. Trump so they understand that your concern is built on facts provided by a key emergency management expert — not speculation.
A question — because asking a direct question gives them both a hook and a reason to respond. It also invites accountability without being aggressive.
(If you don’t relate to the question in the template, I’ve provided a list of alternatives here. These questions are designed to surface risks, expose gaps, and force critical reviews before the next wildfire hits. You may also find the list helpful if you have the chance to ask them directly — in public meetings, phone calls, press conferences, local media interviews, or quiet back channels inside state systems.)

You don’t need to email every single party listed. But if you do — and you use the templates provided — this should take you no more than 30 minutes of your weekend.

Just to clarify, in case I haven’t yet. My intention here is not to tell you what to do, or how to do it — if you’ve got the time and inclination to write your own emails, please do. My aim is purely to lighten your load.

Because we are on the clock. And the countdown didn’t start today — it started over three months ago, when that first Executive Order landed. This can’t wait. It’s not something you can get round to when life quietens down. It’s something you need to make time for — and this weekend, if you can.

Email #1 — Your State Representatives

Your state senator can help raise flags within the legislature and push for oversight, while your governor holds direct responsibility for emergency response and coordination.

Find their contact details here. (Thank you Megan Rothery!🙏🏼)
Here’s a suitable email template with links already embedded. Feel free to copy and paste it, or make it your own.

Email #2 — State Emergency Management Agencies

State Emergency Management Agencies are not part of FEMA — they report to the state, not the federal government. These are the people who coordinate disaster response on the ground. Even as FEMA is being gutted, state agencies still have the power to defend wildfire sovereignty, prepare local teams, and push back against federal overreach. They need to know what’s coming.

Find your State Emergency Management Agency here. (Even though FEMA’s capacity is being gutted, their public directory is still one of the best places to quickly find the contact details for your state’s emergency agency.)
EDIT 7 JULY: The FEMA public directory is no longer available. I’ve given an alternative link, but how far you’ll get with it will likely depend on your state.
Here’s a suitable email template with links already embedded. Feel free to copy and paste it, or make it your own.

Email #3 — Tribal Governments and Indigenous Fire Stewards

Tribal Governments and Indigenous Fire Stewards are leaders in wildfire management and hold generations of knowledge in caring for the land. Their stewardship has often been sidelined or ignored by federal and state authorities. It’s important they have access to the latest information about these Executive Orders, which could open the door to federal interference — including risks to Indigenous-led fire practices and decision-making.

Even if you don’t hear back, sharing this information can help surface risks, strengthen local decision-making, and support their leadership in protecting the land.

How to find contact details: Look for the websites of local Tribal Governments, fire stewardship organisations, or intertribal councils in your state. Some Tribal websites list a general contact, an environmental office, or a fire management team directly. If you’re not sure where to start, your state’s Tribal Affairs office or Indigenous resource directory may help you find the right contact.
Here’s an appropriately respectful email template with links already embedded.

Email #4 — State Insurance Commissioners

State Insurance Commissioners regulate wildfire insurance policies, oversee insurer withdrawals from high-risk areas, and can push for protections that keep coverage available and affordable. They also track risk patterns and may not yet be aware of how Trump’s Executive Orders could increase exposure and shift liability onto states, communities, or homeowners. Notifying them can help prompt a review of the potential insurance impacts before the situation escalates.

The easiest way to find your State Insurance Commissioner is through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) directory. It provides up-to-date contact details for all state insurance departments.

Here’s a suitable email template with links already embedded.

Email #5 — Firefighter Unions and Public Labour Alliances

These represent the crews most at risk of being replaced by federal contractors under Trump’s wildfire Executive Orders. They may not yet be fully aware of the federal manoeuvres that could undermine union jobs, weaken worker protections, or shift control away from state and local teams. Notifying them can help unions mobilise early, push back through labour channels, and defend public-sector jobs and local fire sovereignty.

Identify firefighting unions and public sector labour alliances in your area, takes a little more work. But if you want to help them protect their jobs, the effort is worth it. Begin with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). To find your local affiliate:
- Hover over “Members” and then look for “Affiliate Locator” or “Find Your Local.”
- You can also search online for “[Your State] IAFF local” to find the specific local union.
To identify public sector labour alliances, search for your state’s AFL-CIO chapter or local labour council. Try: [Your State] AFL-CIO
And here’s the email template.

Email #6 — Your Local Press

You may want to do what you can to get this story into local and regional newsrooms — especially in wildfire-prone areas.

Local journalists are often the first to spot when federal policies hit the ground, though they don’t seem to have picked-up on the relevance of these. But they can amplify community voices, press officials for answers, and track wildfire deployments in real time. They also have more freedom to follow leads that national outlets may overlook.

You can usually find local journalists by:

Searching online for recent wildfire stories in your area.
Checking the contact or “About Us” page of your local newspaper, TV, or radio station.
Looking up individual reporters who’ve covered fires, climate, or emergency response in your region.

This is the appropriate email template for your local press.

Local reporters know how to dig. Your email could help them uncover more.

Email #7 — Your Community

The final step is simple but powerful: share this with your people.

State officials pay attention when enough people raise their voices — and that starts with each of us helping to spread the word.

You can forward this outreach email to your friends, family, neighbours, community groups, and networks. It’s written to help people take quick, practical action, even if they haven’t heard about the wildfire Executive Orders yet.

Finally, let me leave you with this.

We are not powerless here. The weight of this doesn’t fall on any one person, and our efforts don’t have to be perfect. What matters is that we act. That we keep the pressure on. That we help each other stay awake to what’s happening.

You don’t need to persuade anyone in a single conversation. Just get this in front of people motivated to act — especially those who live in wildfire-prone areas, or who have contacts in affected states. Every call, every email, every conversation helps build pressure and makes it harder for this federal wildfire model to advance unchallenged.

The more people who know, the more likely it is that people will act in time. And no matter how small your effort may feel, it counts.

I plan to build out the next stages and share more resources — but only once I know people are stepping up. I’m not going to invest more of my time and energy if no one’s willing to take it forward. That part is up to you.

The work has already begun. Let’s keep going.

— Lori