Should This Fire Be Left to Burn?

The flames can reach 150 feet and travel miles in just minutes, leaving behind millions of acres of blackened forest. As the blazes invade neighborhoods, tens of thousands of people are driven from their homes, forced to abandon almost everything they own. At the same time, crews of firefighters try desperately to stop the flames from spreading—if they can.

In all, more than 5.6 million acres have burned in wildfires so far this year. States such as California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into putting out the blazes. 

Some firefighters have paid the ultimate price. Over the years, hundreds of firefighters have died trying to extinguish wildfires, including at least six in northern California this past summer.

The flames can reach 150 feet and travel miles in just minutes. They leave behind millions of acres of blackened forest. The blazes invade neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of people are driven from their homes. They are forced to leave behind almost everything they own. At the same time, crews of firefighters try desperately to stop the flames from spreading.

More than 5.6 million acres have burned in wildfires so far this year. States such as California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into putting out the blazes.

Some firefighters have paid the highest price. Hundreds of firefighters have died trying to extinguish wildfires over the years. This number includes at least six in northern California this past summer.

The enormous toll of fighting wildfires has led some experts to make a proposal that many people find shocking: Allow certain wildfires to burn. 

It may sound unbelievable, but many scientists say wildfires can be helpful—as long as they’re not in an area where people’s lives or property are at risk. 

For one thing, scientists point out, forests need fires to stay healthy: The blazes clear the ground so new trees can grow. Many animals also make their homes in burned-out forests.

With that in mind, some scientists are suggesting that we stop fighting fires in remote areas. Instead, they argue, the blazes should simply be left to burn.

“Everything I’ve learned teaches me this is a good idea: Stop putting out fires,” says Jennifer Marlon, an environmental studies professor at Yale University in Connecticut. “These forests are made to have fire.”

The huge toll of fighting wildfires has led some experts to make a proposal that many people find shocking: Allow certain wildfires to burn.

It may sound unbelievable, but many scientists say wildfires can be helpful—as long as the fires are not in an area where people’s lives or property are at risk.

Scientists point out that forests need fires to stay healthy. The blazes clear the ground so new trees can grow. Many animals also make their homes in burned-out forests.

With that in mind, some scientists are suggesting that we stop fighting fires in remote areas. Instead, they say, the blazes should simply be left to burn.

“Everything I’ve learned teaches me this is a good idea: Stop putting out fires,” says Jennifer Marlon. She is an environmental studies professor at Yale University in Connecticut. “These forests are made to have fire.”

Despite such benefits to the environment, many people still assume that all wildfires are bad, even those in remote areas. As a result, communities spend a tremendous amount of money to fight them. Federal and state firefighting costs can reach $2 billion in one year alone.

Some of that money would be better spent on prevention, many scientists say. For example, research has shown that fire-proofed homes, such as ones with metal roofs, sustain less damage.

Plus, experts note, many people put themselves at risk by building homes in places where wildfires are likely. Those who choose to live near such areas—forests or dry grasslands, for example—should take steps to protect themselves. That includes regularly clearing leaves and other materials that can easily ignite during lightning storms from roofs, gutters, and porches.

Fire safety may become even more important as global warming—a rise in Earth’s average temperature—increases. Most scientists agree that global warming will make droughts and hot weather more frequent, creating more opportunities for wildfires to start. 

Despite such benefits to the environment, many people still assume that all wildfires are bad. This includes wildfires in remote areas. As a result, communities spend a tremendous amount of money to fight them. Federal and state firefighting costs can reach $2 billion in one year alone.

Some of that money would be better spent on prevention, many scientists say. Research has shown that fire-proofed homes, such as ones with metal roofs, suffer less damage.

Experts note that many people put themselves at risk by building homes in places where wildfires are likely to occur. Those who choose to live near such areas, including forests or dry grasslands, should take steps to protect themselves. That includes regularly clearing leaves and other materials that can easily ignite during lightning storms from roofs, gutters, and porches.

Fire safety may become even more important as global warming increases. Global warming is a rise in Earth’s average temperature. Most scientists agree that it will make droughts and hot weather more frequent. That will create more opportunities for wildfires to start.

In recent years, officials in some parts of the country—such as the Rocky Mountains—have begun to allow certain wildfires to burn. In California, officials are drafting plans for three new national forests that may call for letting fires caused by lightning strikes to burn in some remote areas there.

That’s a good start, says Randy Moore of the U.S. Forest Service, the federal agency in charge of the nation’s national forests: “We need to move toward fire as being not necessarily an enemy.” 

With reporting by The New York Times

In recent years, officials in some parts of the country, such as the Rocky Mountains, have begun to allow certain wildfires to burn. In California, officials are making plans for three new national forests. These plans may call for letting fires caused by lightning strikes to burn in some remote areas there.

That is a good start, says Randy Moore of the U.S. Forest Service. That is the federal agency in charge of the nation’s national forests. “We need to move toward fire as being not necessarily an enemy,” he says.

With reporting by The New York Times