Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(107,111 posts)
Wed Sep 23, 2020, 01:46 PM Sep 2020

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 state’s 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 agency’s 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; that’s five times the amount of acres that had burned in 2019,” Franz said. “And it’s 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 state’s public schools, state-level trusts and county-level districts.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-franzs-efforts-will-assure-healthier-forestlands/

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Washington»Hiliary Franz, as public ...