How can wildfires like those Oregon experienced in 2020 be avoided? Scientists and loggers have different ideas.
“The 21st century climate is rapidly ending the effectiveness of our 20th century firefighting strategies and tactics,” said Dr. Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics & Ecology. He spoke on the Oregon Wild panel in October. He said aggressive firefighting is becoming more dangerous to firefighters and more expensive to taxpayers and isn’t effective at stopping fires.
“The 21st century climate is rapidly ending the effectiveness of our 20th century firefighting strategies and tactics,” said Dr. Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics & Ecology. He spoke on the Oregon Wild panel in October. He said aggressive firefighting is becoming more dangerous to firefighters and more expensive to taxpayers and isn’t effective at stopping fires.
California firefighters critically injured setting backfires
“Their burnout may have backfired,” said Timothy Ingalsbee, a former federal firefighter who reviewed the report at the request of The Associated Press. “That’s a horrible thought.” ”These were explosive fire conditions — the classic what we call ‘blowup conditions’ — and the crews were really, really pushing the envelope” by trying to set backfires, said Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
“Their burnout may have backfired,” said Timothy Ingalsbee, a former federal firefighter who reviewed the report at the request of The Associated Press. “That’s a horrible thought.” ”These were explosive fire conditions — the classic what we call ‘blowup conditions’ — and the crews were really, really pushing the envelope” by trying to set backfires, said Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
In California, rethinking who ‘owns’ wildfire
Wildfire has illuminated Norm Brown’s life. In 1983, he joined California’s primary firefighting agency, known as Cal Fire, and during the next three decades, he worked thousands of fires, protecting lives, homes, and land. He retired as a deputy chief in 2017, and since then he has stayed close to the flames – by choice and by chance.
Wildfire has illuminated Norm Brown’s life. In 1983, he joined California’s primary firefighting agency, known as Cal Fire, and during the next three decades, he worked thousands of fires, protecting lives, homes, and land. He retired as a deputy chief in 2017, and since then he has stayed close to the flames – by choice and by chance.
'Our right to fire': Tribes battle agencies, old policies to restore fire practices
HAPPY CAMP, California — Leeon Hillman knew something was wrong in the early hours of Sept. 8 as he listened from the bedroom of his home along Indian Creek Road.
“At 2 in the morning, I was laying there with my fingers crossed because I heard the wind, and it was so hard,” he said.
HAPPY CAMP, California — Leeon Hillman knew something was wrong in the early hours of Sept. 8 as he listened from the bedroom of his home along Indian Creek Road.
“At 2 in the morning, I was laying there with my fingers crossed because I heard the wind, and it was so hard,” he said.
Oregon’s Labor Day wildfires raise controversial questions about how forests are managed
From a small airplane flying above the Holiday Farm and Beachie Creek fires, the extent and severity of the devastation look colossal, as if some angry god took a blowtorch to the landscape and didn’t stop until it lay in ruin.
From a small airplane flying above the Holiday Farm and Beachie Creek fires, the extent and severity of the devastation look colossal, as if some angry god took a blowtorch to the landscape and didn’t stop until it lay in ruin.
A burning planet: Why we must learn to live with fire
There is a paradox at the core of Earth’s unravelling firescapes.
There is a paradox at the core of Earth’s unravelling firescapes.
'People are burned out': Brutal fire season is taking a toll on firefighters' mental health
Josh Baker just got home from a 50-day deployment to three California wildfires. Although his job wasn’t dangerous – he worked on a support team, making calls to track down equipment such as port-a-potties and bulldozers – the hours were long, the stakes were high and the work was exhausting.
Josh Baker just got home from a 50-day deployment to three California wildfires. Although his job wasn’t dangerous – he worked on a support team, making calls to track down equipment such as port-a-potties and bulldozers – the hours were long, the stakes were high and the work was exhausting.
Homeowners taking fireproofing seriously after devastating wildfires
EUGENE, Ore. — Rebuilding after the Holiday Farm Fire left a trail of ash where homes used to be now has homeowners taking fireproofing seriously.
We talked with some people who are already planning for prevention in the next fire season.
EUGENE, Ore. — Rebuilding after the Holiday Farm Fire left a trail of ash where homes used to be now has homeowners taking fireproofing seriously.
We talked with some people who are already planning for prevention in the next fire season.
Amid devastating US fires, experts urge fire prevention rethink.
Tim Ingalsbee, a former wildland USFS and NPS firefighter who now runs the FUSEE think-tank told Al Jazeera huge wildfires could be prevented if there were a more robust state and national prescribed burn strategy. “There wouldn’t be the big catastrophic fires that burned small towns, it would not be the disaster we’re seeing today,” he said.
Tim Ingalsbee, a former wildland USFS and NPS firefighter who now runs the FUSEE think-tank told Al Jazeera huge wildfires could be prevented if there were a more robust state and national prescribed burn strategy. “There wouldn’t be the big catastrophic fires that burned small towns, it would not be the disaster we’re seeing today,” he said.
'The Big Burn' of 1910 transformed wildland firefighting. Will 2020 do the same?
ALAMEDA, Calif. — As California's record wildfires approached 4 million acres earlier this month, the state's top fire official compared the serial conflagrations to a pivotal event in American history — "The Big Burn" of 1910.
ALAMEDA, Calif. — As California's record wildfires approached 4 million acres earlier this month, the state's top fire official compared the serial conflagrations to a pivotal event in American history — "The Big Burn" of 1910.
'Like a freight train': Firefighters describe what it's like riding out a wildfire in a fire shelter, their last resort for safety.
One of the most important parts of a firefighter's gear is a 5-pound piece of equipment they hope they never have to use.
On Sept. 27, firefighters battling the Glass Fire in Napa County found themselves in dire circumstances as gusty off-shore winds intensified the blaze, helping the inferno destroy some of wine country's most famous vineyards and bed and breakfasts.
One of the most important parts of a firefighter's gear is a 5-pound piece of equipment they hope they never have to use.
On Sept. 27, firefighters battling the Glass Fire in Napa County found themselves in dire circumstances as gusty off-shore winds intensified the blaze, helping the inferno destroy some of wine country's most famous vineyards and bed and breakfasts.
We’re Living in a Fire Zone
The holiday Farm Fire that started Labor Day evening spread quickly, traveling 14 miles overnight and destroying most of the buildings in the community of Blue River. Now a Eugene-based ecology group has analyzed just how the fire spread.
The holiday Farm Fire that started Labor Day evening spread quickly, traveling 14 miles overnight and destroying most of the buildings in the community of Blue River. Now a Eugene-based ecology group has analyzed just how the fire spread.
West Coast Wildfires: “California Is Built To Burn"
The sky over California is reddish brown. An army of nearly 20,000 firefighters has been battling against wildfires that have already charred over 3 million acres, destroyed over 6,000 houses and driven thousands of residents to flee. How could this happen?
The sky over California is reddish brown. An army of nearly 20,000 firefighters has been battling against wildfires that have already charred over 3 million acres, destroyed over 6,000 houses and driven thousands of residents to flee. How could this happen?
Dylan Plummer (op-ed): Industrial forest management and the Holiday Farm Fire
While we all want an easy answer, there is no single cause for the recent mega-fires. We do know that the conditions were ripe to burn: high temperatures, low humidity, severe east winds and a surrounding landscape made up largely of cutover, flammable tree plantations. We also know that runaway climate change is going to exacerbate these types of cataclysmic events into the future.
While we all want an easy answer, there is no single cause for the recent mega-fires. We do know that the conditions were ripe to burn: high temperatures, low humidity, severe east winds and a surrounding landscape made up largely of cutover, flammable tree plantations. We also know that runaway climate change is going to exacerbate these types of cataclysmic events into the future.
Fanning the Flames
“It’s the legacy of forest mismanagement that is fueling the wildfires, along with climate change, which is the ultimate driver,” says Tim Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology (FUSEE).
“It’s the legacy of forest mismanagement that is fueling the wildfires, along with climate change, which is the ultimate driver,” says Tim Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology (FUSEE).
Oregon on fire
On this episode of Locus Focus we talk with Allie Rosenbluth, with Rogue Climate in Phoenix, Oregon and Dominick DellaSala, with Wild Heritage in Talent, who were both forced to evacuate from their homes in Talent last week. Later we’ll also talk with former wildfire fighter and founder of Fire Fighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, Tim Ingalsbee in Eugene and Eric de Place, with Sightline Institute in Seattle. These conversations are taking place as smoke chokes the Pacific Northwest and massive fires are still burning across the region.
On this episode of Locus Focus we talk with Allie Rosenbluth, with Rogue Climate in Phoenix, Oregon and Dominick DellaSala, with Wild Heritage in Talent, who were both forced to evacuate from their homes in Talent last week. Later we’ll also talk with former wildfire fighter and founder of Fire Fighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, Tim Ingalsbee in Eugene and Eric de Place, with Sightline Institute in Seattle. These conversations are taking place as smoke chokes the Pacific Northwest and massive fires are still burning across the region.
La Californie dans le pie'ge infernal des me’ga-incendies
C'est par un coup de fil de son propriétaire que Delyth Kitch a été réveillée, dimanche 27 septembre, à 6 heures du matin. L'infirmière a enfilé un pantalon à fleurs et un tee-shirt taché, attrapé deux bacs de linge sale, son ordinateur et ses deux chats avant de grimper dans sa voiture. Depuis deux heures, un feu se propageait rapidement dans la forêt à l'ouest d'Angwin, un village de près de 4.000 habitants dans la Napa Valley, la région viticole au nord de San Francisco, déjà ravagée par les incendies en 2017. La sexagénaire a rejoint l'hôtel où elle avait séjourné un mois plus tôt à cause d'un autre incendie avant de se présenter à CrossWalk Church, une église transformée en refuge. « J'en suis à mon quatrième incendie en deux ans », raconte cette ancienne militaire qui garde le sourire « grâce à [sa] foi en Dieu ». En novembre 2018, elle a survécu au feu de Paradise, le plus meurtrier de l'histoire de la Californie , mais a perdu « [sa] maison, [sa] voiture, [son] camping-car et [son] job en un jour ».
C'est par un coup de fil de son propriétaire que Delyth Kitch a été réveillée, dimanche 27 septembre, à 6 heures du matin. L'infirmière a enfilé un pantalon à fleurs et un tee-shirt taché, attrapé deux bacs de linge sale, son ordinateur et ses deux chats avant de grimper dans sa voiture. Depuis deux heures, un feu se propageait rapidement dans la forêt à l'ouest d'Angwin, un village de près de 4.000 habitants dans la Napa Valley, la région viticole au nord de San Francisco, déjà ravagée par les incendies en 2017. La sexagénaire a rejoint l'hôtel où elle avait séjourné un mois plus tôt à cause d'un autre incendie avant de se présenter à CrossWalk Church, une église transformée en refuge. « J'en suis à mon quatrième incendie en deux ans », raconte cette ancienne militaire qui garde le sourire « grâce à [sa] foi en Dieu ». En novembre 2018, elle a survécu au feu de Paradise, le plus meurtrier de l'histoire de la Californie , mais a perdu « [sa] maison, [sa] voiture, [son] camping-car et [son] job en un jour ».
What the Photos of Wildfires and Smoke Don’t Show You
Over the past few weeks, the West erupted in flames. The lucky among us know this from the news: 3.2 million acres burned in California, 1 million acres burned in Oregon, more than 900,000 acres burned in Washington. Words often fail as those words just failed — to communicate what these fires are actually like up close. Photographs often do better at capturing the drama and emotion. But the pictures that run in news outlets represent a tiny subset of what happens during a wildfire. What we see, and don’t see, shapes what we think about fire. And what we think about fire shapes fire policy. And as the West Coast learned these past few weeks, our fire management policy has left us in a very dangerous place.
Over the past few weeks, the West erupted in flames. The lucky among us know this from the news: 3.2 million acres burned in California, 1 million acres burned in Oregon, more than 900,000 acres burned in Washington. Words often fail as those words just failed — to communicate what these fires are actually like up close. Photographs often do better at capturing the drama and emotion. But the pictures that run in news outlets represent a tiny subset of what happens during a wildfire. What we see, and don’t see, shapes what we think about fire. And what we think about fire shapes fire policy. And as the West Coast learned these past few weeks, our fire management policy has left us in a very dangerous place.
Senators Wyden, Manchin, Cantwell introduce legislation to help prevent catastrophic wildfires
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., today introduced legislation to help prevent the blistering and destructive infernos destroying homes, businesses and livelihoods and becoming all too common as the climate crisis grows.
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., today introduced legislation to help prevent the blistering and destructive infernos destroying homes, businesses and livelihoods and becoming all too common as the climate crisis grows.
Amid Record-Breaking Fires, Debate Over Blame
Between 2001 and 2010, wildfires burned a total of 7.03 million acres in California, according to a recent analysis published in The Los Angeles Times.
In 2020 alone, fires have already burned 3.2 million acres, destroying buildings, breaking records, and killing at least 25 people in the state. The largest of these fires, the August Complex, has already consumed an area bigger than the state of Rhode Island. And the blazes aren’t done yet: Twenty-six major wildfires are currently burning in California.
Between 2001 and 2010, wildfires burned a total of 7.03 million acres in California, according to a recent analysis published in The Los Angeles Times.
In 2020 alone, fires have already burned 3.2 million acres, destroying buildings, breaking records, and killing at least 25 people in the state. The largest of these fires, the August Complex, has already consumed an area bigger than the state of Rhode Island. And the blazes aren’t done yet: Twenty-six major wildfires are currently burning in California.