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

[Glenn Schwaller]

It has EVERYTHING to do with whacko environmentalists and the radical
policies implemented by the Clinton administration, which brought an abrupt
and unfortunate end to rational forest and brush management techniques.

Only a few short years ago these enviro-freaks successfully passed laws
prohibiting SoCal residents from clearing brush near their homes because of
an "endangered" kangaroo rat and the spotted mesquite weevil.  Do you think
that had controlled burns and brush clearing be allowed, these catastrophic
fires could have been avoided, or at least lessened in their intensity, thus
preserving homes, (as well as the legally-privileged weevils and rats, who
by the way lost their lives and homes as well . . )

As far as any "global warming" connection to the fires, I would think if
there was any influence at all it would be to REDUCE the incidence of brush
fires.  Global warming would create a more hot and arid climate with reduced
rainfall, hence reduced growth of brush to fuel the fires, hence less fire.
So what ya need is a long term drought to cut down on the amount of brush to
burn.

GS






On 10/26/07, Sunil Ramalingam <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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