Andrew Yang Policy on REDUCE WILDFIRES

[Sherman A1]

The last 4 years have been the 4 hottest on record. Based on current emission levels, that trend is likely to continue. The extended summer season coupled with the hotter temperatures is causing the premature deaths of millions of trees and leaving our forests drier, making them more susceptible to megafires.

At the same time, decades of fighting the spread of all wildfires has prevented a natural cycle of thinning that had kept forest fires under control. Before European settlement of the West, 1.5m acres would burn each year; since then, it’s about 57k acres/year. Less than 2% of California forestland saw proactive treatment in some recent years, and one of the most effective means at controlling future fires – prescribed burns – is limited by cultural and legal hurdles, EPA standards and the Endangered Species Act. However, this takes a short-term view on the dangers of uncontrolled wildfires to both environmental quality and animals in these habitats.

We have a problem in this country, and it’s costing us billions of dollars a year. We need to start listening to what the experts recommend on how to control these fires.

More money needs to be spent on prevention, and we need to properly fund the US Forest Service in order to proactively address threats before they become fires. We also need to shift our cultural view that all wildfires must be stopped in order to allow the natural cycle to regain control.

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/reduce-wildfires/

[oldsoftie]

1. People have complained about controlled burn prohibitions for years.

And something SHOULD be done about it.
Here in Ga, we have them often and its been some time since we had a major forest fire. And that one was in the okefenokee swamp, so it was a lot of bog fires too.

[FM123]

2. I like what I read - he has some very good ideas about dealing with this problem.

Quintuple the budget for the U.S. Forest Service, and specifically tailor it to focus on fire prevention.
Appoint a Secretary of Agriculture who recognizes the importance of preventing megafires using science-backed techniques.
Work with federal agencies such as the EPA to adjust how specific metrics are measured to take a more long-term view of the costs and benefits of prescribed fires.
Work with Congress to pass legislation aligning incentives for states, developers, and homeowners towards fire prevention and avoiding high-risk areas.

[RussellCattle]

3. Remember when that idiot Ronald Reagan went to Yellowstone National Park....

....after wildfires had heavily damaged the park and said
"we will work to ensure that this never happens again", but
he meant better fire fighting equipment and procedures.
He blamed the fires on Jimmy Carter, because, you know he
blamed everything on Jimmy Carter.
I was in Yellowstone later that year and, I when asked about
it, the park rangers were unanimous that Ronnie had not a
clue about the true cause of those fires and the fact that years
of fire suppression had created a tinderbox.