Letter to the editor: Fire policy needs another look
September 22, 2011 at 4:07 am in Lake County News-Chronicle
The utter foolishness of federal policies regarding forest fires is shown for all to see during the current BWCAW fire. Continue Reading
Letter to the editor: Fire policy needs another look
One Comment
You’re foaming at the mouth, Jerry. Calm down, and take a breath. The fire was not ignored at the beginning. A backfire was started, in an effort to keep it from spreading. This is ordinary practice on a small fire. The weather changed and the wind kicked up, spreading the fire.
The old days of trying to stop a fire as soon as possible are over. Nationwide. This has been found to be a counterproductive policy. Fire is an actual tool to help maintain a healthy forest. Some species of trees actually need some fire. If it were not for the possibility of the fire spreading to destroy private property outside the BWCA, it is likely that the fire would be allowed to run its course, and help clean up a lot of the deadwood which has built up over the decades of agressive fire suppression and storm damage blowdowns. It is not politicians who set these policies. They are guided and informed by forestry professionals who know more about the health of a forest than you or I will ever know.
tom koehler
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