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I didn't see a title that reflected we in the west have more than a million acres burning. The loss of property, livestock, crops and residences etc. is unknown currently.. Three fire fighters died Monday in WA state wit four more injured. This is an exceptionally bad year for fires in the west. Smoke is filling our usual clear skies hundreds of miles away.
Thank goodness the recording setting Soda fire burning in Idaho and OR is finally starting to get contained. Residents have lost everything......
The National Guard or other military are being deployed in three or more states.
It is sad to hear about those 3 firefighters, the problem is this is only going to get worse as the weather warms. I have mixed views when it comes to wildfires. First, I think we should protect homes and infrastructure and not worry about fires burning that pose no threat to lives. Wildfires are benefit in creating healthy forest and wild life habitat by keeping the undergrowth under control, it's natures way of forest management, when we step in and suppress these fires all it does is upset the natural order and over the last 150 years of fire suppression all we have done is to create a monster. The only recourse we have now is proper forest management and hands off management isn't going to tame the monster because we have already let it out of the bottle.
Those fires up in WA are insane. I had family come to visit in Salt Lake and they said the smoke was thick for the whole ride down and it is very smoky in the city. They literally drove 12 hours to get away from the smoke but couldn't.
It is sad to hear about those 3 firefighters, the problem is this is only going to get worse as the weather warms. I have mixed views when it comes to wildfires. First, I think we should protect homes and infrastructure and not worry about fires burning that pose no threat to lives. Wildfires are benefit in creating healthy forest and wild life habitat by keeping the undergrowth under control, it's natures way of forest management, when we step in and suppress these fires all it does is upset the natural order and over the last 150 years of fire suppression all we have done is to create a monster. The only recourse we have now is proper forest management and hands off management isn't going to tame the monster because we have already let it out of the bottle.
Terryj,
I don't know where you live (what area of the country). There are small communities, not in Wilderness, destroyed because the wind carried the fire sparks. In some aspects, most of the west is wilderness, given drought conditions. Would you prefer the power lines, the food crops and feed crops just burn so more people can't work? Check where the Pacific Northwest provides power to other areas. i doubt those people want to lose electricity and more.
You are also mentioning several areas near large cities and National Parks too. Areas that are usually "moist enough" so they don't burn are burning this year given how dry it is and where lightening has started fires.
The entire point of the last link I originally posted is Idaho and Oregon members of Congress are going to be asking FEMA to cover the costs of extinguishing these fires, both so all those programs FEMA provides are available to those who have destruction from the wildfires the same as those who are in a tornado's path or a hurricane's and lose everything.
Secondly, FEMA hasn't covered wildfires which meant the BLM has used ALL of their various budgets to pay for the fire fighting efforts. There is no money left to do the preventive programs that they want to do.
You are certainly entitled to your point-of-view. However, it is important to make sure you have the latest facts. I don't think BLM is happy with what they haven't been able to do to prevent the spread of fires.
The west gets fires. Rarely, if ever, are they discussed here. Without the products of the west, would your life change? Or how many different ways would it change?
I'm not trying to be difficult. I truly appreciate those who commented. Often when we live elsewhere we don't understanding of how come cities are located where they are, or even individual houses. Folks who have had zero experience with tornadoes or hurricanes wonder the same questions. The bottom line is I don't think anyone wants to have their home or belongings or livestock or their livelihood destroyed by weather events. I somewhat agree with you about a natural cycle or natural order. However, when the highways through these forests lead to cities who will be cut off from the delivery routes and their goods can't be exported out to those who are waiting for timber, certain minerals, power and other exports, more people will be hurt if fire fighters don't stop the spread, airports will be closed due to the smoke and tourism to the west will stop, given the risk.
People building homes in the forest areas to escape the cities and the lumber industry come to mind.
Exactly. Then there are power lines and all the areas tourists want to visit.
Great post, catdad. I hope you'll continue posting here
MSR
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