LIVING WITH WILDFIRES

THERE’S NOTHING NEW ABOUT WILDFIRE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, ONLY THE SEVERITY OF IT.

Fire is nature’s way of clearing overcrowded trees and underbrush, so that larger trees can thrive.  For generations, Indigenous peoples lived in harmony with these lands by periodically setting burns.  Today, fire professionals often use that same strategy, initiating controlled burns to help avoid future wildfire catastrophes.  Manual timber thinning and brush remova is also successfully utilized.

What is causing the increased frequency and intensity of western wildfires is widely debated. Some warn of climate change, some point to increased population levels and others explain that years of fire suppression has created unsustainable levels of fuel in our forests. IV-FROG does not exist to argue any of those points. Instead, we are here to promote concrete action to lessen the effects of wildfire in our communities.