Controlled Burns Seen as a Way to Reduce Large Forest Fires
2021-06-28
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1In the 1950s, University of California professor Harold Biswell experimented with controlled burns in the state's forests.
2At the time, many people thought he was insane to do so.
3Now, however, Biswell is seen not as insane but as someone whose research could ease wildfire dangers and save the forests of the American West.
4Large areas of forest have become overgrown in the American West.
5These lands have had wildfires that have damaged towns, forced large evacuations and covered the West Coast in thick smoke.
6Today, officials want to greatly increase prescribed fires - fires set on purpose and under carefully controlled conditions.
7Prescribed fires help clear surface fuels in forests.
8Last month, four U.S. senators proposed legislation called The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021.
9It calls for federal officials to substantially increase the number and size of prescribed fires on federal lands.
10One of the bill's supporters, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, said the legislation would double the budget for controlled burns.
11It took years for forest managers to come around to accept prescribed burning.
12In the first half of the 20th century, fire was seen as the enemy.
13Federal and state forest managers believed prescribed burning damaged the environment, especially timber, wood manufactured to build things.
14But in the late 1960s and 1970s, federal forest managers began using prescribed burns.
15Yet the increase in prescribed burns has been slow.
16From 1995 through 2000, an average of 566,560 hectares were treated with prescribed fire each year.
17That amount is far short of the 28 million hectares that in 2001 were in great need of fuel reduction to avoid serious wildfires, scientist David Carle wrote in his 2002 book "Burning Questions: America's Fight with Nature's Fire."
18The latest prescribed burning plans face several problems.
19The periods between wildfire seasons when prescribed burning can happen safely are shrinking.
20Some forests are too overgrown to burn without thinning.
21And prescribed fires can fill nearby towns in smoke.
22Tim Holschbach is deputy chief of policy and planning with Oregon's Department of Forestry.
23"We have to be mindful of not pouring smoke into communities because that's a violation of the Clean Air Act," Holschbach said.
24Prescribed burning has prevented disasters.
25In 2017, a wildfire threatened the town of Sisters, Oregon.
26But firefighters were able to control it because, months earlier, workers had removed trees and brush and then carried out prescribed burns.
27"The fire came to a halt, both because it had less fuels and also because in the thinned, more natural forest, there was a lot more space for the firefighters," said Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
28He leads the Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.
29However, sometimes prescribed burns become uncontrollable.
30One of the most destructive burns happened in 2012.
31The Colorado State Forest Service did a 20-hectare prescribed burn near the small town of Conifer, southwest of Denver.
32The fire appeared to go out as expected. But, high winds brought it back to life.
33Several people died in the fire, which burned 15.5 square kilometers and destroyed over twenty homes.
34Scott Stephens, a professor of wildland fire science at the University of California, Berkeley, wants a big increase in prescribed burns.
35But Stephens predicts such burns will only slowly increase due to a lack of both trained workers and public support.
36"Once you get areas treated, you have to come back in around 15 years for maintenance treatments. And this never ends," Stephens said.
37"This is a key point: The program has to last forever."
38I'm John Russell.
1In the 1950s, University of California professor Harold Biswell experimented with controlled burns in the state's forests. At the time, many people thought he was insane to do so. 2Now, however, Biswell is seen not as insane but as someone whose research could ease wildfire dangers and save the forests of the American West. 3Overgrown Forests 4Large areas of forest have become overgrown in the American West. These lands have had wildfires that have damaged towns, forced large evacuations and covered the West Coast in thick smoke. 5Today, officials want to greatly increase prescribed fires - fires set on purpose and under carefully controlled conditions. Prescribed fires help clear surface fuels in forests. 6Last month, four U.S. senators proposed legislation called The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021. It calls for federal officials to substantially increase the number and size of prescribed fires on federal lands. One of the bill's supporters, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, said the legislation would double the budget for controlled burns. 7It took years for forest managers to come around to accept prescribed burning. In the first half of the 20th century, fire was seen as the enemy. Federal and state forest managers believed prescribed burning damaged the environment, especially timber, wood manufactured to build things. But in the late 1960s and 1970s, federal forest managers began using prescribed burns. 8Yet the increase in prescribed burns has been slow. From 1995 through 2000, an average of 566,560 hectares were treated with prescribed fire each year. 9That amount is far short of the 28 million hectares that in 2001 were in great need of fuel reduction to avoid serious wildfires, scientist David Carle wrote in his 2002 book "Burning Questions: America's Fight with Nature's Fire." 10The latest prescribed burning plans face several problems. The periods between wildfire seasons when prescribed burning can happen safely are shrinking. Some forests are too overgrown to burn without thinning. And prescribed fires can fill nearby towns in smoke. 11Tim Holschbach is deputy chief of policy and planning with Oregon's Department of Forestry. 12"We have to be mindful of not pouring smoke into communities because that's a violation of the Clean Air Act," Holschbach said. 13A Complex Issue 14Prescribed burning has prevented disasters. In 2017, a wildfire threatened the town of Sisters, Oregon. But firefighters were able to control it because, months earlier, workers had removed trees and brush and then carried out prescribed burns. 15"The fire came to a halt, both because it had less fuels and also because in the thinned, more natural forest, there was a lot more space for the firefighters," said Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon. He leads the Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. 16However, sometimes prescribed burns become uncontrollable. One of the most destructive burns happened in 2012. The Colorado State Forest Service did a 20-hectare prescribed burn near the small town of Conifer, southwest of Denver. The fire appeared to go out as expected. But, high winds brought it back to life. 17Several people died in the fire, which burned 15.5 square kilometers and destroyed over twenty homes. 18Scott Stephens, a professor of wildland fire science at the University of California, Berkeley, wants a big increase in prescribed burns. But Stephens predicts such burns will only slowly increase due to a lack of both trained workers and public support. 19"Once you get areas treated, you have to come back in around 15 years for maintenance treatments. And this never ends," Stephens said. "This is a key point: The program has to last forever." 20I'm John Russell. 21Andrew Selsky reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 22_________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24evacuation - n. The act of removing (someone) from a dangerous place 25brush - n. a thick growth of small trees and shrubs 26maintenance -- n. the act of keeping property or equipment in good condition by making repairs, correcting problems, etc. 27key - adj. extremely important