Hot spot at end of day during Trapper Ridge Fire, Idaho. Photo by John McCarthy.
It’s one of the most difficult environmental concepts to understand, yet the word is starting to get out: some fires are good things. A look at a recent poll conducted by a coalition headed by The Wilderness Society and The Nature Conservancy revealed that the American public better understands that fire, under the right conditions, helps restore forests and protect communities and firefighters alike.
- Three-fourths of people agree that “some fires in natural areas are beneficial.”
- Two-thirds of people understand that “putting out all fires in natural areas can create conditions that will make later fires burn faster, hotter and more out of control.”
The message is starting to resonate with the media, too.
The 2008 fire season produced an array of media reports and editorials from the Denver Post to USA Today that leaned away from the sensational coverage fires had been known for — and toward level-headed stories recognizing the importance, ecologically and economically, of evolving all-out, all-the-time firefighting to case-specific fire management — including using fire as a management tool.
National and local media also focused on the need for Congress to provide a new, permanent source of funding to agencies responsible for suppressing fires (primarily the Forest Service). The percentage of the Forest Service’s budget spent on fire suppression has skyrocketed during the past 10 years — forcing the agency to take money away from a host of vital programs and services.
“People get these issues” says TWS National Fire Program Lead Tom Fry. “We’ve made great strides in approaching fire in a more common sense fashion over the last few years. But we have a long way to go.”
About Christopher Lancette
Christopher Lancette joined the Wilderness Society as Communications Director in 2007 after running his own Atlanta-based PR firm that specialized in serving the nonprofit sector and departed in 2011. His portfolio included forests, wildfire... More about Christopher Lancette
Legacy Comments
Wildfires
I disagree that fires are good in any way , mainly because all the animals die terrible deaths. It is not fully clear to me that proper emissiaries
to through the fire & rescue the spirits before the horror-pain has to be experienced. if someone believes fires are needed to have better subsequent plabts & flowers to attract some stupid tourists & make bad money - then this is unethical. Any person ot plantlife or animal
has their own sacred mystical immortal fire inside their body , this is supposed to be permitted to allow their rights of self-enlightenment .At the same time , mystical - fire practises could cool the heat of the sun & of course prevent gross , killing real destructive physical fires. Mystical or shaman or evangelical fires should be taught , & all the nature can have days off to have their own private fire - immortal experiences in secret.
I live by a small hill in Sea Point cape town , south africa . when these crazy people start fires here, afterwards one finds the shells of thepoor tortioses who died excruciating slow deaths . The snake epidemic caused by global warming was eradicated - but today , there are even more snakes than ever before, plus ticks - zillions . So the fire is really bad, evil , only lures perverts & tourists .
The fire brigades all over the world can still keep all their jobs & salaries , just for patrolling or whatever, or making firebreaks , or whatever there is no need to have to have fires to justify those jobs.
When the newspapers say a fire broke out caused by a match of a person's cigarette - lies . Always intentional , & they just want to kill the trees & build blocks of flats for elitists - they don't even replant any more .
And the non-indigenous trees or pines should not be eradicated as aliens - they are special pine trees & tahrs.
suzanne
Good news
It's good that people have an intuitive recognition of the ecological role of fire. The challenge will be to persuade them to become comfortable with, and even support, policies that let fire play its vital natural role.
Fire
Thank you TWS for helping people understand the importance and need for wildfires. Education is key!
Wildfire benefits
I have long held the belief that wildfires are a vital part of the ecosystem, and that man's meddling and stupidity have often upset the "balance of nature" in the name of safety or progress. Glad to see your organization feels the same way.
Wildfire
Good to see that people are recognizing the import role that wildfire plays in ecosystem function.
This let the fire burn
This let the fire burn attitude was practiced before and failed miserably. Since we have cut down everything we can find, forests are limited,now. I can't agree with the let it burn anymore. We screwed up by over logging, destroying the forest floors and therefore animals homes and food supplies. This isn't 75 years ago. This is not a replaceable source due to the forest floor. Replanting doesn't work to replace what we have destroyed. Man starts too many fires, wwwaaaayyy tooooo many. At one time it was feasable, but not now. We are losing places to visit and places for our animals. We continue to build and destroy more areas. We need to start protecting all we can and keep all alive. I am sick of people building right up to the forest edge then cry whine and gripe about the wild animals that "are in their territory", demanding we kill them. They also arent' protecting our old forests by leaving the newer forests in place as a buffer for the old forests.
Response to SandyV
Forest fires are a natural process that serve an important function to the ecosystem. Animals are not hurt by the fire, in fact there are numerous beneficial impacts of forest fires to animals. Please consider all the facts and look at the problem from a holistic viewpoint not just an, "Oh dear god, think of the cute fuzzy animals," perspective.