A bill introduced at the beginning of January by representatives from Idaho and Oregon aims to change the way the federal government budgets for suppression, control and fighting wildfires. The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2015 (H.R. 167) would end the need to transfer funds from critical forest conservation and management programs. Florida State Forester and President of…
There are several ecosystem types which require fire for regeneration as well as those which, after years of fire exclusion (thanks to the success and influence of Smokey the Bear) have become unhealthy and pose a wildfire threat due to the fuel load build up. Stands of trees will become stressed by overcrowding, species dependent…
Smokey the Bear celebrated 70 years of helping Americans prevent forest fires on August 9th. And his message remains as relevant today as it was in 1944. The message conveyed by this icon: “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!” proved so powerful that is has helped reduce the number of acres lost to forest fires…
