California: Catastrophic wildfires can be prevented

By Dr. Dave Daley, Chairman of Public Lands Council Forest Committee

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To prevent wildfires, California must work diligently to reduce hazardous fuels from overstocked forests and chaparral. Livestock grazing naturally clears much of the ground fuel found on the forest floor. When livestock are given access to the land, they act as a lawnmower, clearing overgrown forage that accelerates wildfire.

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Ranchers, who pay annual grazing fees directly to federal agencies, turn out specific numbers of livestock on allotments based on available resources. These livestock graze firebreaks, ensuring fuel loads do not build up year-over-year. These fuel break techniques reduce the concentration of flammable vegetation and provide safe places for firefighters to stop wildfires while reducing the financial burden of government agencies.

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Yet every time one of these projects is proposed a NEPA process must be initiated—and frequently takes years to complete. Governor Gavin Newsom recognized the unacceptable costs of lengthy environmental reviews, prompting him to suspend California’s state equivalent to NEPA on several fuels management and fire prevention projects to expedite management. The Forest Service has proposed revamping their own NEPA reviews, a process they need to conclude quickly so that Californians and others who live near our forests and rangelands can breathe a little easier and keep the lights on.

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This past week was Fire Prevention Week. It served as a time for us to ask whether we should be forced to decide between powering our home or protecting it from a raging wildfire. If the answer is no, then tell your elected officials to support proactive management of these landscapes.