Forest fire, like flooding, is natural

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Saturday, August 24. 2013

Forest fire, like flooding, is natural

Fast-moving Wildfire Enters Yosemite, Threatens San Francisco Water, Power

If you live in a flood zone, you should expect floods. If you build in a forest prone to fire, you should expect fire.

Flooding is nature telling you that you should not build a house there. Fire, likewise. Fire is part of a forest's natural cycle. Fire suppression only makes the next one hotter and more violent.

Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, forest fires. Mother Nature is a harsh school-mistress. As the sea-captain said, "I love going to sea, but I do not love the sea. The sea is my enemy because it is always trying to find a way to kill me."

The same goes for the deep woods.

If you recall, the last big fire in Yosemite was a boon to wildlife and to the forest's health. It's like a natural ecosystem, ya' know?

Posted by The News Junkie in Natural History and Conservation, Our Essays at 14:49 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

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"Young Men and Fire" - one of my favorite books.

I remember reading it and thinking "this hasn't happened in years, and they claim it can't now, so of course it will."

Sure enough, that summer, several firefighters died in LA. Then this summer, several more. It can't happen. So it will.

#1 Bulldog on 2013-08-24 15:28 (Reply)

Nobody wants to take the test. It's Pass/Fail Miserably.

#2 Sam L. on 2013-08-24 15:28 (Reply)

Nature is always trying to kill us, and, in the end, it always does.

#3 Bird Dog on 2013-08-24 17:50 (Reply)

That is what people seem to have forgotten.

#3.1 feeblemind on 2013-08-24 18:18 (Reply)

"If you recall, the last big fire in Yosemite was a boon to wildlife and to the forest's health. It's like a natural ecosystem, ya' know?"

Similar to what I tell the carbonphobic hippies...crude oil comes straight from mother earth chock full of organic goodness, so what the hell is your problem?

#4 model_1066 on 2013-08-24 18:15 (Reply)

At least some of the homeowners near Yosemite learned the lesson as you give it.

The more important question is whether or not the park rangers, planners, and the bureaucrats who lead them have learned the bigger lesson -- that small forest fires should be allowed to burn uncontrolled, to clear out the underbrush (and therefore that the remaining homeowners ought to be encouraged, or at least allowed, to maintain plenty of clear space around their homes).

If these latter lessons are not followed, then sooner or later we are sure to have another catastrophic fire season like the recent one in California.

#5 jdgalt on 2013-08-24 20:15 (Reply)

Death, too, is natural. But, it doesn't mean we like it.

#6 Mark on 2013-08-25 00:20 (Reply)

Life is a terminal disease. Try not to get the cure....

#6.1 dorf on 2013-08-25 07:50 (Reply)

So glad we visited in June!
What was amazing to me (coming from the PNW) was how much time can be spent above 5,000 fms and higher.
Got a link earlier today that states that terrorist are now trained to start fires in the West to bankrupt the Country.
Economic Warfare Super panel - William Scott.
So this would mean that Homeland Security could show up before the firefighters? That depending on the definition, you could be "aiding" terrorists if you are opposed to allowing wildfires to do their thing?
Damn, the world is getting crazier by the minute.

#7 Jerry on 2013-08-25 01:03 (Reply)

Forest fires and natural and needed for a healthy forest but we could do something to lessen their severity. We could reopen forest roads. We do not use roads to fight fights but they could be used for the purpose of selling dead standing timber to lumber companies. Leaving these trees to rot just adds to the kindling.

#8 Freddie Sykes on 2013-08-25 04:41 (Reply)

There's too much oxygen in the forests, fed by high CO2 levels.

#9 rhhardin (Link) on 2013-08-25 07:22 (Reply)

Oh no! Fires threaten stuff that burns!

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1442361302655807480#editor/target=post;postID=5409304049340049429

#10 SgtBob (Link) on 2013-08-25 11:23 (Reply)

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Saturday, August 24. 2013

Forest fire, like flooding, is natural