My father-in-law was a forester. In fact, he was the dean of forestry at a large forestry school. Years ago he complained about a change in the Forestry Service brought about by pressure from environmental groups. In the past, the Forestry Service had conducted controlled burns. Fire is a natural part of forest life and in the past the Forest Service was proactive in managing controlled burns in order to keep the amount of combustible material manageable, for one thing. Part of California's problem is that it has been lax in keeping up with controlled burns and is now paying the price, as seen in this article from a San Francisco newspaper.
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/08/03/lack-of-controlled-burns-contributing-to-california-wildfires/
This is more likely the cause of the larger risk than climate change...
SteveR wrote:
My father-in-law was a forester. In fact, he was the dean of forestry at a large forestry school. Years ago he complained about a change in the Forestry Service brought about by pressure from environmental groups. In the past, the Forestry Service had conducted controlled burns. Fire is a natural part of forest life and in the past the Forest Service was proactive in managing controlled burns in order to keep the amount of combustible material manageable, for one thing. Part of California's problem is that it has been lax in keeping up with controlled burns and is now paying the price, as seen in this article from a San Francisco newspaper.
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/08/03/lack-of-controlled-burns-contributing-to-california-wildfires/My father-in-law was a forester. In fact, he was ... (
show quote)
Only 2% of California's forests are controlled by the State the other 98% of the forests within the State fall under the US Federal Government.
ken_stern wrote:
Only 2% of California's forests are controlled by the State the other 98% of the forests within the State fall under the US Federal Government.
The Forest Service is federal, so I was speaking about the U.S. Forest Service's approach to controlled burns in the past few decades.
SteveR wrote:
The Forest Service is federal, so I was speaking about the U.S. Forest Service's approach to controlled burns in the past few decades.
Steve -- It's refreshing to see you have it right ---
Screamin Scott wrote:
This is more likely the cause of the larger risk than climate change...
it's a combination - past practice + warmer/drier weather -- CA's had severe drought in 6 past 7 years, making larger fires more devastating - in the past fall-winter rains would reduce fires - now we have these major blazes throughout the year
SteveR wrote:
The Forest Service is federal, so I was speaking about the U.S. Forest Service's approach to controlled burns in the past few decades.
It sure sounded like you were blaming California.
JohnSwanda wrote:
It sure sounded like you were blaming California.
Read my original post. The Forest Service is part of the Department of Agriculture.
SteveR wrote:
Read my original post. The Forest Service is part of the Department of Agriculture.
I guess the "it" in the line, "Part of California's problem is that it has been lax" was referring to the Forest Service then, but it looks like it was referring to California.
"Part of California's problem is that it has been lax in keeping up with controlled burns and is now paying the price, as seen in this article from a San Francisco newspaper."
The above quote is why I responded ------
So in reality "IT has been lax" actually refers to the United States Of America
JohnSwanda wrote:
I guess the "it" in the line, "Part of California's problem is that it has been lax" was referring to the Forest Service then, but it looks like it was referring to California.
To be clear "it" should have been replaced with "Forest Service," which was, if you read the entire paragraph, the target of the paragraph. If you only read that particular sentence I can understand your confusion. The Forest Service had it right in the first place but bent under pressure to environmental groups. Split the blame between them.
As far as California goes....you don't think it knew exactly what was happening within its borders?
The point is that perhaps going forth controlled burns deserve a rethink.
Oh yes for sure ---
There are a bunch of things going on that deserve a real good rethink
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