Image Source: National Geographic “You can’t fireproof the forest,” John Gould, former smokejumper and manager of the Alaska Fire Service, told me. There is simply too much land to manage and not enough people to devote to the task. In this resource-constrained environment, the United States’ response to wildfire has typically been reactive and ad … Continue reading Pyrophobia: Confronting a National Resistance to Proactive Fire Use

Image Source: U.S. Fire Administration Wildfire in the United States is reaching a crisis point. As global climate change continues, every fire season is becoming longer and drier. However, despite the growing risk, the United States still relies on old methods of firefighting and inefficient organizations to coordinate responses. To prepare for a fire-filled future, … Continue reading Burnt Out: Rethinking U.S. Wildfire Fighting Strategy