Can we coexist with big wildfires? A new documentary, ‘Elemental,’ suggests we can

The premise is that by more heavily managing the forests, we can create better outcomes. It’s an approach consistently promoted by timber industry lobbyists and representatives or rural communities who stand to benefit economically.

But researchers featured in ‘Elemental’ suggest it’s a ludicrous strategy. The scale of the problem is simply too large. The vegetation grows back in short order. The chance of a wildfire actually encountering an area that has been treated is less than 1%, one researcher found. And when one does, the treatments frequently have little to no effect on fire behavior.