Save the forest.
The evidence continues to grow that vigorous use of prescribed fire â especially when combined with thinning projects â remains the only way to prevent sweeping changes in unhealthy, fire-prone forests throughout the west.
Unfortunately, this yearâs record-breaking drought forced the Forest Service to all but skip a season of controlled burns, since the fall never got wet or cool enough to allow a safe season of managed fires.
However, a growing number of studies have underscored the need to embrace prescribed fires throughout the region â despite the short-term political and economic risks. One of those risks centers on the refusal of forested communities like Payson and Show Low to adopt building codes for fire-harden buildings and make it much safer to employ prescribed fires close to those communities.