Everyone's yearned for the end of this year's fire season, which has once again offered painful proof of the changing climate. But what to do when this year's wildfires are finally behind us? Here are a couple of thoughts.

Very often, the best response is to rely on the landscape to heal itself. Nature's restoration work is flawless, in the end. However, we need to stay out of its way, because there can be unexpected dangers from flash floods, debris flows, and other unusual conditions, as well as damaged infrastructure.

After many wildfires, California state Watershed Emergency Recovery Teams (WERTs) are deployed to conduct post-fire assessments. When their reports are available, they offer the best information on threats to life and property after the fire. You can find out more on the Napa County website; the WERT report for the recent Hennessey fire is available here.