In this issue we examine the West’s relationship with fire after a difficult wildfire season. In the wildlands of California, we look at how fire is being used as its own management tool; we also look at the mounting impacts wildfire has on watersheds in the region and on public health in Montana. We break down why Congress hasn’t provided a fire-funding fix, and in an essay, a firefighter contemplates his own mortality.
Oregonians experiment with a new model to prevent megafire
A collaborative community-based project tackles overgrown forests.
Beset by drones; disappearing orcas; covering Indian Country
HCN.org news in brief.
Proper fire funding continues to elude Congress
Nearly everyone agrees it’s important. So what’s the hold-up?
Nothing about future fires is guaranteed
Except that they will come.
What fire researchers learned from California’s blazes
In California, land managers use fire as a tool.
The geography of the Southwest, painted and illuminated
An artist of Kiowa and Caddo descent blends traditional and modern styles.
Border lite
Weaponized landscape or great place to drink Tecate? The tone of this piece is way out of whack with the story it purports to tell: how author Francisco Cantú transformed himself from a (brutal? we never find out) Border Patrol cop to a teacher, writer and (we are led to believe) sympathizer with those he…
The season of celebrating begins, and a holiday party
The staff enjoy a long holiday with feasts and adventure.
We need a better social contract with wildfire
The 2017 fire season has made it clear our current policies don’t work.
A ‘selfish’ decision
As neighbors evacuated, one family stayed behind.
‘Will my tears cool the ash?’
A firefighter contemplates the fire season.
Car-eating marmots; poacher ring bust-up; a Tofurky surprise
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Why Western wildfires are getting more expensive
This year’s fire season was the costliest on record, burning more than 9 million acres.
Serving — and earning — on public lands
In the recent article “The Changing Face of Woods Work” (HCN, 10/30/17), the author describes the challenge of putting young Americans to work in the woods. Though the article was well-written, the author did not mention that there is indeed a new generation of Americans hungry to work outside, to rebuild and care for our…
The lens of time
The “books in the wild” theme brings back lovely memories (“Wild reading,” HCN, 11/13/17). What better companion than a book when weather locks you into a tent for hours by yourself? Books don’t take up much space, don’t smell or snore. I lean towards the classics: Plutarch, Livy, Thucydides, et al. Not only are they…
It’s not only trees — wildfires imperil water too
Sediment-choked watersheds and erosion could become more frequent as wildfire activity grows.
Ancestral Pueblo logging practices could save New Mexico pinelands
Researchers look to the past to better fight fire.
In a burning West, wildfire smoke threatens public health
Montana hospitals handled an increase of respiratory-related problems this year.