WOW moment: How the Warner Creek blockade reshaped the Forest Wars
“It was the first time they had to rationalize old-growth clear-cutting, not for the usual [reasons of] jobs and resources, but as some means of preventing future catastrophic wildfires,” says Ingalsbee. “So I happened to be sitting at the table for the process as the Forest Service is kind of thinking aloud, ‘how can we reframe old-growth clear-cutting as something good for the environment?’”
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“Those big, old snags are key ecological structures that help shelter and provide for the next forest. A lot of wildlife depend on that,” says Ingalsbee. “In their analysis, [the Forest Service] went out and saw nothing but black and barren, muddy slopes and said, ‘It’s a moonscape, it’s a dead zone.’ But within a couple years, there were half a million new tree seedlings per hectare. It was phenomenal.
“In the burned parts of the forest, that’s where the northern spotted owl prey base just exploded. That first spring, there were, I think, seven [breeding] pairs of owls. Six of them fledged young birds, which is really phenomenal reproductive success for that species.”
“It was the first time they had to rationalize old-growth clear-cutting, not for the usual [reasons of] jobs and resources, but as some means of preventing future catastrophic wildfires,” says Ingalsbee. “So I happened to be sitting at the table for the process as the Forest Service is kind of thinking aloud, ‘how can we reframe old-growth clear-cutting as something good for the environment?’”
…
“Those big, old snags are key ecological structures that help shelter and provide for the next forest. A lot of wildlife depend on that,” says Ingalsbee. “In their analysis, [the Forest Service] went out and saw nothing but black and barren, muddy slopes and said, ‘It’s a moonscape, it’s a dead zone.’ But within a couple years, there were half a million new tree seedlings per hectare. It was phenomenal.
“In the burned parts of the forest, that’s where the northern spotted owl prey base just exploded. That first spring, there were, I think, seven [breeding] pairs of owls. Six of them fledged young birds, which is really phenomenal reproductive success for that species.”
Bipartisan bill aims to expand health protections for wildland firefighters
"Vehicle accidents, aircraft accidents, they have taken many lives this summer," said Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology. "But, for a lot of other really young, strong bodies, they are afflicted by illnesses and injuries that (they) may not even be aware of until later on."
Ingalsbee's organization has endorsed the legislation, which would create a task force and advisory council made up of wildland firefighters to help develop policies aimed at reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.
"The goal is early detection," he said. "Rarely do ground-level firefighters get any voice in policymaking. So this advisory council will help determine what are the many health hazards, physical and mental, affecting firefighters."
“Near a Breaking Point:” Trump Is Failing Firefighters in an Intense Burn Season
Ingalsbee is the executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, a nonprofit he cofounded in an effort to increase both safety and sustainability in firefighting, and he said he’s concerned that operations are heading in the wrong direction on both fronts.
“Climate change is half the explanation,” Ingalsbee said, for what he called “the perfect firestorm for a really bad season for firefighting.”
Ingalsbee is the executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, a nonprofit he cofounded in an effort to increase both safety and sustainability in firefighting, and he said he’s concerned that operations are heading in the wrong direction on both fronts.
“Climate change is half the explanation,” Ingalsbee said, for what he called “the perfect firestorm for a really bad season for firefighting.”
Padilla, Curtis, Merkley, Sheehy, Dexter Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Federal Wildland Firefighters
“There is a huge gap between the safety risks and health hazards that wildland firefighters face, including risk of severe musculoskeletal damage and rare cancers, and the inadequate level of medical care they are provided. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act will go a long way towards narrowing this gap in their health care, providing support for crews whose work-related injuries and illnesses sometimes appear long after they’ve disengaged from the firelines,” said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
“There is a huge gap between the safety risks and health hazards that wildland firefighters face, including risk of severe musculoskeletal damage and rare cancers, and the inadequate level of medical care they are provided. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act will go a long way towards narrowing this gap in their health care, providing support for crews whose work-related injuries and illnesses sometimes appear long after they’ve disengaged from the firelines,” said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
Dexter Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Comprehensive Legislation to Protect Wildland Firefighters’ Health
"There is a huge gap between the safety risks and health hazards that wildland firefighters face, including risk of severe musculoskeletal damage and rare cancers, and the inadequate level of medical care they are provided. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act will go a long way towards narrowing this gap in their health care, providing support for crews whose work-related injuries and illnesses sometimes appear long after they've disengaged from the firelines," said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
"There is a huge gap between the safety risks and health hazards that wildland firefighters face, including risk of severe musculoskeletal damage and rare cancers, and the inadequate level of medical care they are provided. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act will go a long way towards narrowing this gap in their health care, providing support for crews whose work-related injuries and illnesses sometimes appear long after they've disengaged from the firelines," said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
‘We’re near a breaking point:’ firefighters say US government is failing them amid intense wildfire season
Dr Timothy Ingalsbee, a fire ecologist who began his career as a wildland firefighter with the US Forest Service (USFS), said he’s heard from safety officers that there has been a notable spike in burn injuries this year, a sign he attributes to “crews being pushed into aggressive direct attack in times when it is not effective”.
Ingalsbee is the executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology (Fusee), a non-profit he cofounded in an effort to increase both safety and sustainability in firefighting, and he said he’s concerned that operations are heading in the wrong direction on both fronts.
“Climate change is half the explanation,” Ingalsbee said, for what he called “the perfect firestorm for a really bad season for firefighting”.
Dr Timothy Ingalsbee, a fire ecologist who began his career as a wildland firefighter with the US Forest Service (USFS), said he’s heard from safety officers that there has been a notable spike in burn injuries this year, a sign he attributes to “crews being pushed into aggressive direct attack in times when it is not effective”.
Ingalsbee is the executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology (Fusee), a non-profit he cofounded in an effort to increase both safety and sustainability in firefighting, and he said he’s concerned that operations are heading in the wrong direction on both fronts.
“Climate change is half the explanation,” Ingalsbee said, for what he called “the perfect firestorm for a really bad season for firefighting”.
Trump’s USDA Moves to Eliminate Crucial Roadless Rule Protections From National Forests
FUSEE, Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology- an organization of active, former or retired wildland firefighters are also speaking out against the repeal. They say in a statement that more roads and human access will mean more human-caused wildfire starts. And that logging roads in backcountry areas are dangerous for attempting to stop wildfire. FUSEE argues this is best done by aviation-based tactics and other means fully allowed by the existing rule.
A current member of an active Wildfire module Molly Maguire stated, “Wildland fires are necessary and incredibly significant ecological processes. Roadless areas lack much infrastructure or human structures, so they offer opportunities to safely, economically, and ecologically manage fire across large areas without threatening human assets,”
FUSEE, Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology- an organization of active, former or retired wildland firefighters are also speaking out against the repeal. They say in a statement that more roads and human access will mean more human-caused wildfire starts. And that logging roads in backcountry areas are dangerous for attempting to stop wildfire. FUSEE argues this is best done by aviation-based tactics and other means fully allowed by the existing rule.
A current member of an active Wildfire module Molly Maguire stated, “Wildland fires are necessary and incredibly significant ecological processes. Roadless areas lack much infrastructure or human structures, so they offer opportunities to safely, economically, and ecologically manage fire across large areas without threatening human assets,”
The Trump admin says repealing the Roadless Rule will reduce wildfires. A new study casts doubt on that.
The Trump administration says it wants to repeal the longstanding Roadless Rule, which protects national forest lands from logging and new roads, to reduce wildfire risk. But new research shows that fires haven’t burned significantly more in roadless areas than in developed forest areas across the West.
Scientists at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University analyzed 40 years of wildfire data across national forests in 11 western states where most roadless areas are located.
“Essentially there’s no difference in the extent of fire in inventoried roadless areas than in areas that have lots of roads,” said James Johnston, a co-author of the paper and professor at the University of Oregon. “In fact, in the last 12 years or so, there’s been slightly less fire in inventoried roadless areas than in those developed areas.”
The Trump administration says it wants to repeal the longstanding Roadless Rule, which protects national forest lands from logging and new roads, to reduce wildfire risk. But new research shows that fires haven’t burned significantly more in roadless areas than in developed forest areas across the West.
Scientists at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University analyzed 40 years of wildfire data across national forests in 11 western states where most roadless areas are located.
“Essentially there’s no difference in the extent of fire in inventoried roadless areas than in areas that have lots of roads,” said James Johnston, a co-author of the paper and professor at the University of Oregon. “In fact, in the last 12 years or so, there’s been slightly less fire in inventoried roadless areas than in those developed areas.”
America is losing its war against wildfire
Prescribed fire offers what the agency has become less tolerant of losing: control. But Tim Ingalsbee, executive director of advocacy group Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology (FUSEE), said a war on wildfire is unwinnable. “We’re just throwing good money after bad in these reactive, siege-like suppression spectacles, versus proactive preparation and treatments within communities.”
Prescribed fire offers what the agency has become less tolerant of losing: control. But Tim Ingalsbee, executive director of advocacy group Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology (FUSEE), said a war on wildfire is unwinnable. “We’re just throwing good money after bad in these reactive, siege-like suppression spectacles, versus proactive preparation and treatments within communities.”
Trump’s USDA Moves to Eliminate Crucial Roadless Rule Protections From National Forests
FUSEE, Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology- an organization of active, former or retired wildland firefighters are also speaking out against the repeal. They say in a statement that more roads and human access will mean more human-caused wildfire starts. And that logging roads in backcountry areas are dangerous for attempting to stop wildfire. FUSEE argues this is best done by aviation-based tactics and other means fully allowed by the existing rule.
A current member of an active Wildfire module Molly Maguire stated, “Wildland fires are necessary and incredibly significant ecological processes. Roadless areas lack much infrastructure or human structures, so they offer opportunities to safely, economically, and ecologically manage fire across large areas without threatening human assets,”
FUSEE, Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology- an organization of active, former or retired wildland firefighters are also speaking out against the repeal. They say in a statement that more roads and human access will mean more human-caused wildfire starts. And that logging roads in backcountry areas are dangerous for attempting to stop wildfire. FUSEE argues this is best done by aviation-based tactics and other means fully allowed by the existing rule.
A current member of an active Wildfire module Molly Maguire stated, “Wildland fires are necessary and incredibly significant ecological processes. Roadless areas lack much infrastructure or human structures, so they offer opportunities to safely, economically, and ecologically manage fire across large areas without threatening human assets,”
Repeal of U.S. Roadless Rule could threaten drinking water for 25 million people
“Constructing new logging roads into roadless areas will increase human-caused wildfire ignitions by careless recreationists, criminal arsonists, or simple accidents,” Carson States, a ten-season firefighter and engine boss from Oregon, said in a statement from FUSEE, Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
The proposed rule concedes that “greater public access can increase human-caused ignition potential in some locations,” while arguing new roads could still help crews protect communities.
“Constructing new logging roads into roadless areas will increase human-caused wildfire ignitions by careless recreationists, criminal arsonists, or simple accidents,” Carson States, a ten-season firefighter and engine boss from Oregon, said in a statement from FUSEE, Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
The proposed rule concedes that “greater public access can increase human-caused ignition potential in some locations,” while arguing new roads could still help crews protect communities.
Incarcerated people among thousands of firefighters battling Oregon’s aggressive fire season
On a misty spring day in Oregon’s Tillamook State Forest, a group of incarcerated men wearing yellow collared shirts and hard hats gathered around an instructor warning them about the dangers of an over-pressurized firefighting hose.
If left for too long, he said, a hose could overheat and explode, leaving those nearby with third-degree burns.
Such were the risks that these men were willing to take to avoid sleeping in a prison cell.
On a misty spring day in Oregon’s Tillamook State Forest, a group of incarcerated men wearing yellow collared shirts and hard hats gathered around an instructor warning them about the dangers of an over-pressurized firefighting hose.
If left for too long, he said, a hose could overheat and explode, leaving those nearby with third-degree burns.
Such were the risks that these men were willing to take to avoid sleeping in a prison cell.
The US Forest Service Moves to Cancel Its “Best Idea”: the Roadless Rule
Crude, single-use, mid-slope logging roads, the kind that would likely be constructed, are not useful to firefighters, who typically steer fires from ridgelines and along rivers, cautioned Ingalsbee. “Expanding the road network means expanding the opportunities for human-caused wildfires, either from accidents, carelessness or criminality,” he added. “Rescinding the rule to build new roads in some of the steepest, ruggedest remote wildlands left is about aiding firefighters' safety and efficiency, it's just bunk.”
Crude, single-use, mid-slope logging roads, the kind that would likely be constructed, are not useful to firefighters, who typically steer fires from ridgelines and along rivers, cautioned Ingalsbee. “Expanding the road network means expanding the opportunities for human-caused wildfires, either from accidents, carelessness or criminality,” he added. “Rescinding the rule to build new roads in some of the steepest, ruggedest remote wildlands left is about aiding firefighters' safety and efficiency, it's just bunk.”
USDA Advances Plan to Revoke Roadless Rule, Favoring Logging and Mining
Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology releases statements asserting that specialized crews like smokejumpers can effectively manage fires in these areas, and the lack of development within roadless wildlands provides for safer fire management. The administration’s focus on expanding timber production echoes a call to former President Trump to increase logging in these areas.
Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology releases statements asserting that specialized crews like smokejumpers can effectively manage fires in these areas, and the lack of development within roadless wildlands provides for safer fire management. The administration’s focus on expanding timber production echoes a call to former President Trump to increase logging in these areas.
Trump’s Move to Rescind Roadless Rule Rewards Logging and Mining Interests
Last week, the Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology released statements from experts who argue that smokejumpers, heli-rappelers, and helitack crews can manage fires in roadless areas and that the absence of communities or infrastructure in roadless wildlands actually provides more opportunities to safely manage fire, especially when it can be beneficial to the forest.
Last week, the Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology released statements from experts who argue that smokejumpers, heli-rappelers, and helitack crews can manage fires in roadless areas and that the absence of communities or infrastructure in roadless wildlands actually provides more opportunities to safely manage fire, especially when it can be beneficial to the forest.
Extreme heat is taking a toll on firefighters as wildfires stretch crews to the limit
When a wildfire threatens a community, most people don’t think to ask whether the firefighters coming to help slept enough the night before, recovered from the previous day’s shift or have enough energy left for another day on the fire line. They simply expect firefighters to show up.
But that workforce is increasingly being stretched to its limits.
When a wildfire threatens a community, most people don’t think to ask whether the firefighters coming to help slept enough the night before, recovered from the previous day’s shift or have enough energy left for another day on the fire line. They simply expect firefighters to show up.
But that workforce is increasingly being stretched to its limits.
After firefighting deaths, advocates alarmed by ‘deepening wildfire crisis,’ agencies’ strategies
Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of the group Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, wants to know to what extent that suppression policy informed the five-member Rifle helitack crew’s assignment battling the Gore and Knowles fires in southwest Colorado.
Ingalsbee, an ecologist and former firefighter, said the full-suppression approach reverses a longtime, science-backed strategy of allowing fires to burn in some further-removed areas to keep forests healthy, which also prevents crews from taking unnecessary risks.
“I’m pretty anxious about tragedies yet to happen, because we still have the same policy, blindly attacking all fires, instead of strategically, wisely managing and prioritizing fires,” Ingalsbee said.
Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of the group Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, wants to know to what extent that suppression policy informed the five-member Rifle helitack crew’s assignment battling the Gore and Knowles fires in southwest Colorado.
Ingalsbee, an ecologist and former firefighter, said the full-suppression approach reverses a longtime, science-backed strategy of allowing fires to burn in some further-removed areas to keep forests healthy, which also prevents crews from taking unnecessary risks.
“I’m pretty anxious about tragedies yet to happen, because we still have the same policy, blindly attacking all fires, instead of strategically, wisely managing and prioritizing fires,” Ingalsbee said.
Move to Rescind Roadless Rule Rewards Logging and Mining Interests
Last week, the Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology released statements from experts who argue that smokejumpers, heli-rappelers, and helitack crews can manage fires in roadless areas and that the absence of communities or infrastructure in roadless wildlands actually provides more opportunities to safely manage fire, especially when it can be beneficial to the forest.
Last week, the Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology released statements from experts who argue that smokejumpers, heli-rappelers, and helitack crews can manage fires in roadless areas and that the absence of communities or infrastructure in roadless wildlands actually provides more opportunities to safely manage fire, especially when it can be beneficial to the forest.
US proposes rescinding Roadless Rule protections for national forests
Aug. 25 is a National Day of Action to support U.S. national parks and public lands. One focus of the event is the U.S. government’s intention to rescind a rule that bans road construction and industrial logging across more than 23 million hectares (57 million acres) of national forest land.
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“Constructing new logging roads into roadless areas will increase human-caused wildfire ignitions by careless recreationists, criminal arsonists, or simple accidents,” Carson States with Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology said in a statement.
Aug. 25 is a National Day of Action to support U.S. national parks and public lands. One focus of the event is the U.S. government’s intention to rescind a rule that bans road construction and industrial logging across more than 23 million hectares (57 million acres) of national forest land.
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“Constructing new logging roads into roadless areas will increase human-caused wildfire ignitions by careless recreationists, criminal arsonists, or simple accidents,” Carson States with Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology said in a statement.
After firefighting deaths, advocates alarmed by ‘deepening wildfire crisis,’ agencies’ strategies
Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of the group Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, wants to know to what extent that suppression policy informed the five-member Rifle helitack crew’s assignment battling the Gore and Knowles fires in southwest Colorado.
Ingalsbee, an ecologist and former firefighter, said the full-suppression approach reverses a longtime, science-backed strategy of allowing fires to burn in some further-removed areas to keep forests healthy, which also prevents crews from taking unnecessary risks.
“I’m pretty anxious about tragedies yet to happen, because we still have the same policy, blindly attacking all fires, instead of strategically, wisely managing and prioritizing fires,” Ingalsbee said.
Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of the group Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, wants to know to what extent that suppression policy informed the five-member Rifle helitack crew’s assignment battling the Gore and Knowles fires in southwest Colorado.
Ingalsbee, an ecologist and former firefighter, said the full-suppression approach reverses a longtime, science-backed strategy of allowing fires to burn in some further-removed areas to keep forests healthy, which also prevents crews from taking unnecessary risks.
“I’m pretty anxious about tragedies yet to happen, because we still have the same policy, blindly attacking all fires, instead of strategically, wisely managing and prioritizing fires,” Ingalsbee said.