Opinion: Willamette National Forest’s hazard tree hysteria
The Oregon Department of Transportation has been busy hiring contractors to cut down fire-killed trees along heavily-traveled highways. These trees could pose danger to motorists or disrupt traffic if they fall. Now the U.S. Forest Service wants to conduct its own “hazard tree removal” in the Willamette National Forest – only in this case, the logging would occur along hundreds of miles of remote, rarely-traveled logging roads.
The Oregon Department of Transportation has been busy hiring contractors to cut down fire-killed trees along heavily-traveled highways. These trees could pose danger to motorists or disrupt traffic if they fall. Now the U.S. Forest Service wants to conduct its own “hazard tree removal” in the Willamette National Forest – only in this case, the logging would occur along hundreds of miles of remote, rarely-traveled logging roads.
Other utilities cut power to reduce Labor Day fire risks. Pacific Power did not. Now it may face the consequences
In June 2019, Pacific Power representatives attended a community fair in Happy Camp, California, 20 miles south of the Oregon border, to share highlights of the wildfire prevention plan the company had been required to file months earlier with California regulators.
In June 2019, Pacific Power representatives attended a community fair in Happy Camp, California, 20 miles south of the Oregon border, to share highlights of the wildfire prevention plan the company had been required to file months earlier with California regulators.
Op-Ed: The slippery slope of hazard-tree logging
Pacific Northwest forests are crisscrossed with roads — enough logging roads alone to circle the planet 13 times. Some asphalt, some gravel, some renowned for their scenic vistas and traveled by visitors from around the world, others rarely used, converted to trails or permanently decommissioned. These roads are among the most harmful human impacts to our forests: increasing wildfire risk, releasing sediment into our waterways and chopping up intact habitat into small, degraded remnants.
Pacific Northwest forests are crisscrossed with roads — enough logging roads alone to circle the planet 13 times. Some asphalt, some gravel, some renowned for their scenic vistas and traveled by visitors from around the world, others rarely used, converted to trails or permanently decommissioned. These roads are among the most harmful human impacts to our forests: increasing wildfire risk, releasing sediment into our waterways and chopping up intact habitat into small, degraded remnants.
Has Eugene, Oregon, found a ‘superpower’ for climate action?
Tyee Williams has been on the frontlines of climate change as a wildland firefighter. He helped battle the Pine Gulch Fire, one of three record-setting fires in Colorado last summer and fall — all scorching examples of how the climate crisis is intensifying wildfires in the Western U.S.
Tyee Williams has been on the frontlines of climate change as a wildland firefighter. He helped battle the Pine Gulch Fire, one of three record-setting fires in Colorado last summer and fall — all scorching examples of how the climate crisis is intensifying wildfires in the Western U.S.
Oregon lawmakers consider new rules for wildfire prevention. Bills would boost spending on wildfire response and reducing risk for communities
Oregon lawmakers are considering two bills that aim to prevent the kind of catastrophic wildfires that tore through the state last year.
Senate Bill 287 and Senate Bill 248 would require mapping wildfire risk across the state and working to reduce it with more funding for wildfire response and a variety of policy changes.
Oregon lawmakers are considering two bills that aim to prevent the kind of catastrophic wildfires that tore through the state last year.
Senate Bill 287 and Senate Bill 248 would require mapping wildfire risk across the state and working to reduce it with more funding for wildfire response and a variety of policy changes.
Burning Idaho to save it: Why one solution to our raging wildfires can’t gain traction
When fire scientists talk about prescribed burns, the discussion often turns to the Forest Service. Critics say the agency clings to a century-old “suppression culture” that resists deliberately starting fires. “For the Forest Service, the only good fire is a dead-out fire,” said Ingalsbee, a former firefighter with the agency in Oregon.
When fire scientists talk about prescribed burns, the discussion often turns to the Forest Service. Critics say the agency clings to a century-old “suppression culture” that resists deliberately starting fires. “For the Forest Service, the only good fire is a dead-out fire,” said Ingalsbee, a former firefighter with the agency in Oregon.
Burning California to save it: Why one solution to raging wildfires can’t gain traction
On a crisp, breezy February morning near Lake Tahoe, a crew of five firefighters descended on a snow-covered, heavily-forested park straddling the California-Nevada border. They came to start fires, not put them out.
On a crisp, breezy February morning near Lake Tahoe, a crew of five firefighters descended on a snow-covered, heavily-forested park straddling the California-Nevada border. They came to start fires, not put them out.
Environmental groups call on Oregon’s congressional delegates to stop post-fire logging
Federal land managers are working to auction 10,000 acres of fire-affected public forest for timber sale in Oregon, but environmentalists are pushing back.
Federal land managers are working to auction 10,000 acres of fire-affected public forest for timber sale in Oregon, but environmentalists are pushing back.
Report: Los Alamos National Laboratory not managing forests to prevent wildfires
Los Alamos National Laboratory has failed to properly manage its forested lands, increasing the threat of wildfires at lab sites and surrounding areas, according to a federal watchdog.
Los Alamos National Laboratory has failed to properly manage its forested lands, increasing the threat of wildfires at lab sites and surrounding areas, according to a federal watchdog.
Oregon conservation groups call for protection from post-fire logging
A coalition of environmental groups sent a letter to Oregon’s congressional delegation this week urging them to stop proposed post-fire logging on federal lands that burned during the 2020 wildfire season.
The letter was signed by 38 conservation groups including the Native Fish Society, Sierra Club and Oregon Wild.
A coalition of environmental groups sent a letter to Oregon’s congressional delegation this week urging them to stop proposed post-fire logging on federal lands that burned during the 2020 wildfire season.
The letter was signed by 38 conservation groups including the Native Fish Society, Sierra Club and Oregon Wild.
The age of the “megafire.” Wildfires shattered records across a number of U.S. states in 2020, with scientists and state officials placing much of the blame on climate change.
Wildfires shattered records across a number of U.S. states in 2020, with scientists and state officials placing much of the blame on climate change.
Wildfires shattered records across a number of U.S. states in 2020, with scientists and state officials placing much of the blame on climate change.
Opinion: Federal agencies should disclose number of firefighters hospitalized with coronavirus
The U.S. Forest Service and the four land management agencies in the Department of the Interior have refused to disclose how many of their firefighting personnel have been hospitalized due to the coronavirus.
The U.S. Forest Service and the four land management agencies in the Department of the Interior have refused to disclose how many of their firefighting personnel have been hospitalized due to the coronavirus.
Burning questions about the future of Pacific Northwest forests
In a year filled with wildfire, which started with Australian and Amazonian forests burning with horrifying scope and severity and continued this past September as the smoke from America’s vast wildfires circled the globe -- the dire implications of the climate crisis have become a reality for many.
In a year filled with wildfire, which started with Australian and Amazonian forests burning with horrifying scope and severity and continued this past September as the smoke from America’s vast wildfires circled the globe -- the dire implications of the climate crisis have become a reality for many.
Colorado’s East Troublesome Wildfire May Signal A New Era Of Big Fire Blow-ups
Grand Lake Fire Marshal Dan Mayer never thought the East Troublesome Fire would make it to town.
On the morning of Oct. 21, 2020, the fire was still about 20 miles away from the vacation spot on the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. The perimeter had crept east at a predictable pace for days. In the worst case, Mayer imagined it would lose momentum against Lake Granby, a large reservoir in the area.
Grand Lake Fire Marshal Dan Mayer never thought the East Troublesome Fire would make it to town.
On the morning of Oct. 21, 2020, the fire was still about 20 miles away from the vacation spot on the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. The perimeter had crept east at a predictable pace for days. In the worst case, Mayer imagined it would lose momentum against Lake Granby, a large reservoir in the area.
Biden climate plan to address worsening western wildfires, but it will take years
If every person in the United States started driving electric cars powered by wind turbines tomorrow, and each country on earth agreed to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions, the West Coast would still see catastrophic wildfires in the coming years and decades.
If every person in the United States started driving electric cars powered by wind turbines tomorrow, and each country on earth agreed to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions, the West Coast would still see catastrophic wildfires in the coming years and decades.
Biden climate plan to address worsening Western wildfires, but it will take years
If every person in the United States started driving electric cars powered by wind turbines tomorrow, and each country on earth agreed to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions, the West Coast would still see catastrophic wildfires in the coming years and decades.
If every person in the United States started driving electric cars powered by wind turbines tomorrow, and each country on earth agreed to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions, the West Coast would still see catastrophic wildfires in the coming years and decades.
Oregon lawmakers reluctantly make $17 million downpayment on wildfire preparedness
If anything illustrated the need for Oregon to invest more in wildfire preparedness, it was last year’s cluster of Labor Day infernos that chewed through a million acres of forestland, destroyed thousands of homes and structures and killed nine people.
If anything illustrated the need for Oregon to invest more in wildfire preparedness, it was last year’s cluster of Labor Day infernos that chewed through a million acres of forestland, destroyed thousands of homes and structures and killed nine people.
Reading the Landscape for Fire
In the aftermath of the extensive fires that burned across California and the West in the 2020 fire season, there is a lot to reflect upon. People grappling with the trauma of disaster. Communities trying to recover and plan for future fires. Ecosystems responding to fire within the landscape. More carbon dioxide released through combustion and thus further contributing to our already troubling atmospheric conditions. Fires that reinforce the likelihood of more fire by decreasing forest cover, damaging the soil’s health and moisture retention, and contributing dead and dying vegetation to the landscape. These are just some of the cycles that are perpetuating fire until we make change.
In the aftermath of the extensive fires that burned across California and the West in the 2020 fire season, there is a lot to reflect upon. People grappling with the trauma of disaster. Communities trying to recover and plan for future fires. Ecosystems responding to fire within the landscape. More carbon dioxide released through combustion and thus further contributing to our already troubling atmospheric conditions. Fires that reinforce the likelihood of more fire by decreasing forest cover, damaging the soil’s health and moisture retention, and contributing dead and dying vegetation to the landscape. These are just some of the cycles that are perpetuating fire until we make change.
Wildfires fueled by climate change threaten toxic Superfund sites
For Jake Jeresek, a leader of the U.S. Forest Service’s firefighting operation in the Kootenai National Forest of northwest Montana, blazes in the woods 4 miles east of the town of Libby demand the most urgent response. But, before his crew can snuff any flames in those woods, they must recite a poem.
For Jake Jeresek, a leader of the U.S. Forest Service’s firefighting operation in the Kootenai National Forest of northwest Montana, blazes in the woods 4 miles east of the town of Libby demand the most urgent response. But, before his crew can snuff any flames in those woods, they must recite a poem.