Hiliary Franz, as public lands chief, has led notable gains in forest health and fire prevention.
By The Herald Editorial Board
It would be an oversimplification to describe the job of state Public Lands Commissioner as fire chief of the states largest fire department but during a wildfire season that in just a matter of days this month threatens to be more destructive than a 2015 season that consumed more than 1.1 million acres and took the lives of three firefighters the title does fit much of what has recently occupied the time of the current commissioner, Hilary Franz.
Elected head of the state Department of Natural Resources, Franz does oversee the agencys wildlands firefighting forces, and in an interview with Herald staff last week provided a full report on ongoing efforts against fires throughout the state, noting acreage consumed and level of containment, while speaking grimly of the destruction she had witnessed.
Within 72 hours over 600,000 acres had burned; thats five times the amount of acres that had burned in 2019, Franz said. And its more than half of what had burned in 2015.
Beyond that responsibility, the office manages some 5.6 million acres of public lands 3 million in forest and other lands and 2.6 million in aquatic lands set aside for timber and other resource production and leases, conservation and recreation, among the sources of revenue for the states public schools, state-level trusts and county-level districts.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-franzs-efforts-will-assure-healthier-forestlands/