[Vision2020] Fw: Re: Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity

[Sunil Ramalingam]

Roger,

I don't disagree that there's a lot of underbrush in lots of national 
forests, along with a lot of skinny trees that will never get big, that are 
great fuel for fires.  This has little if anything to do with the actions of 
environmentalists.  This is from a century of putting out fires when they're 
small, and a lot of that had to do with preserving timber.  Firefighting has 
been in transition away from that practice for a while now, but there's 
plenty of brush out there.

I disagree that it's the USFS policy to not clear out brush.  Prescription 
fires are lit to clear out brush, and a lot of those take place every spring 
and fall.

This is a separate issue from the SoCal fires.  The vegetation in these 
areas is primarily brush, not timber.

I think you're making blanket statements about environmentalists here.  Some 
don't want any intervention, some agree there should be some intervention.  
Those saying there should be no intervention aren't making any of the 
policies currently in place.  I consider myself an environmentalist, but I 
don't think we should let all fires burn freely.  At the same time, even 
though I fought wildland fires for ten summers, I don't think we should be 
putting them all out either.  I certainly think anyone living out in the 
urban-rural interface should be clearing out the brush around their 
property.

Sunil


>From: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>Reply-To: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: [Vision2020] Fw: Re:  Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity
>Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:08:02 -0700
>
>Sunil
>There seems to be a problem with "reply all" for this email so I am 
>forwarding it instead.
>
>The underbrush problem is a general one. Not clearing out underbrush is 
>part of the Forest Service's policy. It has been well documented that at 
>least some vocal environmentalist do not want any intervention by man or 
>management of the forests. This includes thinning out underbrush  or insect 
>control. Dead trees due to insect infestation adds to the fire hazard 
>provided by underbrush. They are partly right in that before man's 
>involvement ther were small fires that cleared the underbrush which 
>prevented a hotter fire from wiping out the entire forest. Not all 
>environmentalist or forest managers see it this way. There is legislation 
>being proposed at the state and national level to change this policy.
>Roger
>-----Original message-----
>
>From: "Sunil Ramalingam" sunilramalingam at hotmail.com
>Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:05:05 -0700
>To:
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity
>
>Roger, what is the basis of your statement:
>
>'The extent of the fires we exacerbated by the dense underbrush that
>resulltd from environmetalist not allowing it to be cleared out,'
>
>and which fires are you talking about?
>
>Sunil
>
>
>
>