An honest conversation about forest policy

[stopdiggin]

8. Controlled burns

"Controlled burns" is a term that is being thrown around a lot recently. And I won't argue that they shouldn't be a part of an overall strategy. But, the problem with "control burns" at this point is that the drought conditions are so severe that "control" has become very iffy, if not outright impossible. Firefighters talk about "uncharacteristic" behavior, which is shorthand for "we have very little control over the situation at all." Under current conditions (climate change/drought), many of our western forests more closely resemble unexploded ordinance ... If (and when?) the drought breaks; absolutely. Now? Only the truly demented ...