In 2001, I was the USDA author of the report entitled, “Managing the Impacts of Wildfires on Communities and the Environment” — the National Fire Plan.
As per my comment on your interview with former deputy chief Jim Hubbard, we have been talking about this subject for a long time.
But because of will, lack of patience, some ability gaps and a non-corporate stance (read, we cannot reach a consensus on what to do), nothing really changes – except the wildfires.
Now they are larger and angrier and more costly than ever before. At an average of $1 million-plus per hour for fire suppression, the USDA Forest Service will become the USDA Fire Service if nothing significantly changes.
Clearly, we are at a crossroads.
I just want to say, great job and keep talking about this critical subject.
Michael T. Rains
Broomall, Penn.
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