Conservation Group Works to Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires

Since Jan. 1st, 2006, state & federal employees have monitored more than 53,500 wildfires that burned 3.1 million acres in the U.S. Some fires destroyed personal property, including 1,366 structures to date. Currently, nearly 700 people are working to contain the Brins fire near Sedona, Ariz. The 3,256-acre fire is only about 15% contained & threatens numerous residences, forcing evacuations of Oak Creek Canyon & 2 subdivisions north of Sedona.

According to Dennis Daniel, USDA Forest Service’s Making Tracks national coordinator, catastrophic wildfires, which often destroy homes & property, occur because of unnecessary fuel loads on our nation’s forests. State & federal agencies often team up with nonprofit conservation groups, such as the National Wild Turkey Federation, to help the Forest Service make the forests & homes safer from wildfire. When moisture conditions are perfect, land managers initiate a prescribed burn, which is a safe, cool-burning & manageable fire - before fuel loads, like pine needles and dead branches, build to an unsafe level and catastrophic wildfire takes over.

Excessive amounts of fuel make it difficult to effectively manage wildfires. Combine dry weather conditions with unmanaged high fuel levels, & you have an area that is a likely candidate for catastrophic fire. Over time, pine needles & other woody material builds up on the forest floor & the bottom layers become dry tinder. This can lead to unnaturally intense & destructive fires. When ignited, this type of fire is difficult to control. However, controlled burns that are carried out when conditions are right & make for a burn with less heat & susceptibility to spread.

A Plan to Help

Currently, more than 7,875 people are working to control wildfires in the U.S. alone. The US Forest Service reported 125 new fires yesterday, burning more than 23,000 acres. The states most affected by the fires are Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas & Utah. Many of the fires could've been prevented by active land management practices such as prescribed burning.

Since 2002, NWTF state & local chapters have spent almost $250,000 in 23 states & one Canadian province to help fund prescribed fire projects. Through the NWTF's Hunting Heritage Super Fund, volunteers donate money to further the work that government agencies do on the ground. Last year, NWTF chapters spent more than $57,000 on prescribed burns & have already spent more than $52,000 on fire projects this year.

As nonprofit conservation groups continue to work with state & federal wildlife & land management agencies, the trend of devastating wildfires will decline. However, our forests must be actively managed or catastrophic wildfires will continue to unnecessarily burn homes, property & forests. To learn more about prescribed fire & how the NWTF works with state & federal agencies to prevent wildfires, call (800) THE-NWTF.