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

[Mark Solomon]

The Endangered Species Act was signed by that known environmental 
whacko Richard Nixon.

m.

At 3:19 PM -0700 10/26/07, Glenn Schwaller wrote:
>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 
><<mailto:sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>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 <<mailto:lfalen at turbonet.com> lfalen at turbonet.com>
>>Reply-To: lfalen <<mailto:lfalen at turbonet.com>lfalen at turbonet.com>
>>To: <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>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" 
>><mailto:sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>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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