City Council members will consider an emergency declaration because of critical fire danger in and around Lindo Channel at a special meeting Aug. 3. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. in the third-floor lobby of City Hall at 411 Main Street.
According to a report from Fire Chief Wes Metroka, the declaration would support wildfire mitigation efforts. The report says Chico firefighters responded to 831 outdoor fires over the past three years related to encampments occupied by unhoused people. That figure includes 143 so far in 2026. More than half of the 143 incidents occurred in major greenway corridors identified as priority wildfire hazard areas.