controlled burn

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After Years of Research, Expert Advice: Burn California's Forests

Burning, thinning, or a combination of both found to make trees more resilient to wildfire, drought

(Newser) - The findings of a 20-year study on the health of California forests will come as no surprise to Native Americans, whose ancestors traditionally managed land through controlled fires . The study out of the University of California-Berkeley confirms that prescribed burning, the use of controlled fire to clear debris; restoration thinning,...

Huge New Mexico Wildfire Was Sparked by ... Forest Service

Prescribed burns got out of control; latest report was a wildfire that almost burned Los Alamos

(Newser) - Sometimes it takes fire to fight fire, and sometimes it takes fire to make fire. The US Forest Service, in service of the former instead achieved the latter, and may as well have stayed home and left New Mexico alone last year. As the Santa Fe New Mexican reports, the...

Report Describes Mistakes That Caused New Mexico Fire

The report may help prevent future disasters, but NM is still burning

(Newser) - It started as two prescribed fires that merged, and now the Calf Canyon/Hermit Peak fire is the largest in New Mexico’s recorded history. In late May, officials with the US Forest Service admitted that the fire was their fault, and on Tuesday, "the agency quietly posted" a report...

Special Blankets Helped Save World's Biggest Trees

Recent controlled burns also kept sequoias safe in California

(Newser) - The general is safe, for now. The reference is to the world's biggest tree, known as General Sherman, in California's Sequoia National Park, reports NPR . Encroaching wildfires had forest workers scrambling to protect the ancient trees last week, and their efforts appear to have paid off. Not only...

'Controlled Burn' in Florida Torches 36 Homes

A fire that was supposed to clear 480 acres spread across 800

(Newser) - Dozens of homes in Florida’s panhandle went up in flames when a controlled burn that was supposed to clear 480 acres spread across 800 acres, reports CBS News . Controlled burns are a forest management tool where a fire is deliberately set to prevent destructive wildfires. The fire—which was...

Uncontrolled Colorado Wildfire Kills One

Lower North Fork Fire has burned more than 3K acres

(Newser) - A wildfire in Colorado was still burning uncontrolled this morning after claiming the life of one person, the Denver Post reports. The 3,050-acre Lower North Fork Fire has also destroyed as many as 25 structures in the mountains west of Denver, and winds of up to 45mph will likely...

Should We Torch the Wetlands?
 Should We Torch the Wetlands? 
May 25, 2010 4:00 AM CDT

Should We Torch the Wetlands?

Controlled burn may be 'least bad' option

(Newser) - There are no good options for dealing with the oil soaking Louisiana wetlands but setting it on fire may be the best of the bad options available, scientists say. A controlled burn in a marsh area soaked in oil during Hurricane Katrina removed around 90% of the oil and allowed...

Defying Cops, Brothers Save Home From Fire

Amateurs' risky controlled burn lands Big Sur man in jail

(Newser) - When wildfires threatened their 55-acre family compound, two brothers in Big Sur, Calif., fought back with a risky tactic—a controlled burn. The plan saved the homes on the property they've cultivated for decades, but one of the brothers is now facing jail time for disobeying police orders, reports the...

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