‘It’s unbelievable’: How Trump’s cuts could weaken wildfire prevention
The Trump administration is “doubling down on a failed approach,” said Dave Calkin, who served 25 years in the U.S. Forest Service before leaving in April through the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program. He said the administration’s executive order is a “return to a war on fire” that prioritizes ad hoc responses over investing in the personnel, planning and strategy to prevent blazes before they begin.
The Trump administration is “doubling down on a failed approach,” said Dave Calkin, who served 25 years in the U.S. Forest Service before leaving in April through the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program. He said the administration’s executive order is a “return to a war on fire” that prioritizes ad hoc responses over investing in the personnel, planning and strategy to prevent blazes before they begin.
Trump tells Forest Service, Interior to merge wildfire management programs
The Forest Service said no wildland firefighters were removed from their jobs as part of the Trump administration’s workforce reductions, and full-time wildland firefighters were exempted from the DRP. But about 1,400 employees with “red cards” — or those who are qualified wildland firefighters despite it not being their main job title — voluntarily left the Forest Service in the past few months by opting into the DRP.
The agency is now attempting to recall those 1,400 employees as wildfire season ramps up across the country.
The Forest Service said no wildland firefighters were removed from their jobs as part of the Trump administration’s workforce reductions, and full-time wildland firefighters were exempted from the DRP. But about 1,400 employees with “red cards” — or those who are qualified wildland firefighters despite it not being their main job title — voluntarily left the Forest Service in the past few months by opting into the DRP.
The agency is now attempting to recall those 1,400 employees as wildfire season ramps up across the country.
Trump to merge wildland firefighting forces, despite warning of chaos
The order makes no mention of climate change, which Trump has downplayed even as global heating helps stoke bigger and more destructive wildfires that churn out huge amounts of harmful pollution.
Organizations representing firefighters and former forest service officials say it would be costly to restructure firefighting efforts and cause major disruptions in the middle of fire season.
The order makes no mention of climate change, which Trump has downplayed even as global heating helps stoke bigger and more destructive wildfires that churn out huge amounts of harmful pollution.
Organizations representing firefighters and former forest service officials say it would be costly to restructure firefighting efforts and cause major disruptions in the middle of fire season.
Fighting ‘fire with fire’ grows in Eugene, Springfield
“We’ve excluded fire from ecology at our own detriment,” said Scott Polhamus, board president of the Willamette Ignition Network, an organization dedicated to training that supports responsibly prescribed and wildfire burns.
Getting fire back on the landscape has been a challenge in a society that has grown wary of fire, fearing it could escape and become something worse. (Such escapes involve less than 1% of prescribed burns each year, according to the U.S. Forest Service.)
As a solution, the Willamette Ignition Network offers a course catalog that resembles something you’d find at a college. It starts with basic firefighter training and builds up to advanced classes covering the science of fire ecology, including how fuels, weather, and topography interact. All of it is guided by federally mandated standards set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
“We’ve excluded fire from ecology at our own detriment,” said Scott Polhamus, board president of the Willamette Ignition Network, an organization dedicated to training that supports responsibly prescribed and wildfire burns.
Getting fire back on the landscape has been a challenge in a society that has grown wary of fire, fearing it could escape and become something worse. (Such escapes involve less than 1% of prescribed burns each year, according to the U.S. Forest Service.)
As a solution, the Willamette Ignition Network offers a course catalog that resembles something you’d find at a college. It starts with basic firefighter training and builds up to advanced classes covering the science of fire ecology, including how fuels, weather, and topography interact. All of it is guided by federally mandated standards set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
Forest Service chief calls for fires to be extinguished ASAP. Fire scientists have concerns
Decades of aggressive suppression have led to dramatic changes in ecosystems across the West, and allowed for the buildup of trees, shrubs and other wildfire fuel. The Forest Service itself acknowledges that “rigorous fire suppression” has contributed to what it calls a “full-blown wildfire and forest health crisis.”
Decades of aggressive suppression have led to dramatic changes in ecosystems across the West, and allowed for the buildup of trees, shrubs and other wildfire fuel. The Forest Service itself acknowledges that “rigorous fire suppression” has contributed to what it calls a “full-blown wildfire and forest health crisis.”
The future of fighting and preventing forest fires
Forest fires have always been a normal part of our landscape – and a tool used by human civilizations for millennia. But as climate change makes our landscapes hotter and drier, wildfires are getting bigger and more destructive. Fire consumed 8.9 million acres across the U.S. last year. The LA County fires this January are the costliest so far, with some estimates putting the total close to $250 billion in damages. How can we better adapt to living with these massive fires? And how should we think about fighting – and preventing – them?
Forest fires have always been a normal part of our landscape – and a tool used by human civilizations for millennia. But as climate change makes our landscapes hotter and drier, wildfires are getting bigger and more destructive. Fire consumed 8.9 million acres across the U.S. last year. The LA County fires this January are the costliest so far, with some estimates putting the total close to $250 billion in damages. How can we better adapt to living with these massive fires? And how should we think about fighting – and preventing – them?
Controlled burns reduce wildfire risk, but they require trained staff and funding − this could be a rough year
Some of the Forest Service staff who were fired or put in limbo by the Trump administration are those who do research or collect and communicate critical data about forests and fire risk. Other fired staff provided support so crews could clear flammable debris and carry out fuel treatments such as prescribed burns, thinning forests and building fire breaks.
Losing people in these roles is like firing all primary care doctors and leaving only EMTs. Both are clearly needed. As many people know from emergency room bills, preventing emergencies is less costly than dealing with the damage later.
Some of the Forest Service staff who were fired or put in limbo by the Trump administration are those who do research or collect and communicate critical data about forests and fire risk. Other fired staff provided support so crews could clear flammable debris and carry out fuel treatments such as prescribed burns, thinning forests and building fire breaks.
Losing people in these roles is like firing all primary care doctors and leaving only EMTs. Both are clearly needed. As many people know from emergency room bills, preventing emergencies is less costly than dealing with the damage later.
Trump Laid Off Nearly All the Federal Workers Who Investigate Firefighter Deaths
The federal firefighting force faces a daunting year, with spending cuts canceling prescribed burns to reduce flammable vegetation and the termination of hundreds of firefighting support staff, even in the face of climate-change-lengthened wildfire seasons.
“At a time when we need to be bolstering these efforts and personnel, it’s pretty damn appalling that we’d be trying to diminish the health benefits for our firefighters and first responders,” a Forest Service firefighter said.
The federal firefighting force faces a daunting year, with spending cuts canceling prescribed burns to reduce flammable vegetation and the termination of hundreds of firefighting support staff, even in the face of climate-change-lengthened wildfire seasons.
“At a time when we need to be bolstering these efforts and personnel, it’s pretty damn appalling that we’d be trying to diminish the health benefits for our firefighters and first responders,” a Forest Service firefighter said.
Draft national wildfire plan under white house consideration returns firefighting ‘to the 1930s,’ experts say
“They’re proposing we’re going to go toe-to-toe with these fires,” said Jerry Williams, retired Forest Service national director of fire and aviation. “So instead of more thinning and prescribed burning, we’re going to try to be suppression-centric. That’s going to go back to the 1930s ‘10 a.m. policy.’”
“They’re proposing we’re going to go toe-to-toe with these fires,” said Jerry Williams, retired Forest Service national director of fire and aviation. “So instead of more thinning and prescribed burning, we’re going to try to be suppression-centric. That’s going to go back to the 1930s ‘10 a.m. policy.’”
To save our trees, we must burn down our forests
The best way to save the oak, and the countless critters that rely on it, is to return fire to our landscape. This might seem counterintuitive when wildfires, particularly in the West, spin more out of control each season. But for the sake of nature, we need more fire rather than less. Actually, if the goal is to reduce the danger of wildfires, we also need more fire rather than less.
The best way to save the oak, and the countless critters that rely on it, is to return fire to our landscape. This might seem counterintuitive when wildfires, particularly in the West, spin more out of control each season. But for the sake of nature, we need more fire rather than less. Actually, if the goal is to reduce the danger of wildfires, we also need more fire rather than less.
Draft Trump order could endanger firefighters by changing needed aircraft requirements, Washington state officials warn
“This EO has the potential to shift responsibility for fires to private entities more interested in their corporate bottom line than the lives of the people wildfire impacts…” Rodruck said. “…The last thing we should do is make wildland fire fighting less safe, but that’s exactly what this order, as it is written currently, will do.”
“This EO has the potential to shift responsibility for fires to private entities more interested in their corporate bottom line than the lives of the people wildfire impacts…” Rodruck said. “…The last thing we should do is make wildland fire fighting less safe, but that’s exactly what this order, as it is written currently, will do.”
Trump considering plan to change how the country fights wildfires
Some firefighters say the attempt to put out all wildfires is both unrealistic and counterproductive. Fire is a natural part of the landscape, they say, and allowing lower-intensity burns in certain areas clears vegetation and prevents more catastrophic fires that rage through years of built-up fuel.
“Fire exclusion is the problem,” said Joe Stutler, who has 57 years of firefighting experience and serves as a commander for federal incident management teams. “We need more fire. We don’t need less fire on the landscape.”
Stutler also said it is unrealistic to think that firefighters could respond within 30 minutes to wildfires that often break out in remote wilderness areas. Such an expectation could lead to firefighters taking more dangerous risks, he said.
Some firefighters say the attempt to put out all wildfires is both unrealistic and counterproductive. Fire is a natural part of the landscape, they say, and allowing lower-intensity burns in certain areas clears vegetation and prevents more catastrophic fires that rage through years of built-up fuel.
“Fire exclusion is the problem,” said Joe Stutler, who has 57 years of firefighting experience and serves as a commander for federal incident management teams. “We need more fire. We don’t need less fire on the landscape.”
Stutler also said it is unrealistic to think that firefighters could respond within 30 minutes to wildfires that often break out in remote wilderness areas. Such an expectation could lead to firefighters taking more dangerous risks, he said.
Logging doesn’t prevent wildfires, but Trump is trying it anyway
The Agriculture Department is opening more than 112 million acres of federal forests to logging in a misguided bid to prevent fires and boost timber production.
The Agriculture Department is opening more than 112 million acres of federal forests to logging in a misguided bid to prevent fires and boost timber production.
Trump said cuts wouldn’t affect public safety. Then he fired hundreds of workers who help fight wildfires.
The White House and DOGE have sought to eliminate thousands of jobs from the Forest Service. The wildland firefighting force is one of many targets within the agency.
The White House and DOGE have sought to eliminate thousands of jobs from the Forest Service. The wildland firefighting force is one of many targets within the agency.
Here’s where Americans are increasingly at risk for wildfires
Storm debris, population growth and dry conditions are all contributing to a vicious fire season in the South.
Storm debris, population growth and dry conditions are all contributing to a vicious fire season in the South.
Fire satellite launches into orbit to help early detection of wildfires
The new technology is not only about suppression, but mitigation, says Kate Dargan Marquis.
The new technology is not only about suppression, but mitigation, says Kate Dargan Marquis.
What old trees can teach us about modern wildfires
A recent study underscores how humanity’s success in extinguishing fires has allowed dead wood and other flammable material to pile up in ecosystems, putting communities at greater risk of catastrophic fires as the planet warms.
A recent study underscores how humanity’s success in extinguishing fires has allowed dead wood and other flammable material to pile up in ecosystems, putting communities at greater risk of catastrophic fires as the planet warms.
Northwest Forest Plan advisers told their committee will be disbanded
Federal officials are preparing to disband an advisory committee tasked with guiding policies for millions of acres of national forests in the Pacific Northwest, according to two committee members.
Tribal leaders, environmental advocates, timber representatives and local government officials were among the 21 members of the Northwest Forest Plan federal advisory committee. They’ve been meeting in person over dayslong meetings since summer 2023, hashing out how to tackle wildfires, pests and diseases across nearly 25 million acres of national forests in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.
Federal officials are preparing to disband an advisory committee tasked with guiding policies for millions of acres of national forests in the Pacific Northwest, according to two committee members.
Tribal leaders, environmental advocates, timber representatives and local government officials were among the 21 members of the Northwest Forest Plan federal advisory committee. They’ve been meeting in person over dayslong meetings since summer 2023, hashing out how to tackle wildfires, pests and diseases across nearly 25 million acres of national forests in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.
Wildfires rage across the Carolinas; South Carolina governor issues state of emergency
Dozens of wildfires raged across North and South Carolina on Sunday, prompting officials to issue evacuation orders and open emergency shelters as both states and much of the Eastern Seaboard contended with dry conditions and gusty winds.
Dozens of wildfires raged across North and South Carolina on Sunday, prompting officials to issue evacuation orders and open emergency shelters as both states and much of the Eastern Seaboard contended with dry conditions and gusty winds.
Thousands flee after Japan's biggest wildfire in decades
TOKYO: Thousands of people have been evacuated from parts of northern Japan as the country's largest wildfire in three decades raged unabated on Sunday (Mar 2) after killing at least one person, officials said.
Around 2,000 people fled areas around the northern Japan city of Ofunato to stay with friends or relatives, while more than 1,200 were evacuated to shelters, according to officials.
TOKYO: Thousands of people have been evacuated from parts of northern Japan as the country's largest wildfire in three decades raged unabated on Sunday (Mar 2) after killing at least one person, officials said.
Around 2,000 people fled areas around the northern Japan city of Ofunato to stay with friends or relatives, while more than 1,200 were evacuated to shelters, according to officials.