Fighting Fire With Fire: A New Approach

The decades-long practice of stamping out all forest fires is blamed for the large destructive forest fires of recent years. A new strategy would allow planned burning and logging to prevent such disasters. Some environmental groups oppose the plan.

1 minute read

August 24, 2001, 8:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


For 90 years, forestry officials have raced to extinguish any fire on public lands, part of a federal policy that saw forest fires as an enemy that warranted constant vigilance. But state and federal officials now acknowledge that those policies were misguided and must be replaced by a new strategy focused on preventing out-of-control fires... Experts believe that thinning the forest will minimize the chances of a fire burning out of control by giving it less fuel to burn. It also will help restore open spaces to the nation's forests, much as they were before the region was The strategy faces political opposition from some environmentalists who believe it is a way to advance logging interests by allowing trees to be removed from forests.settled...

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Thursday, August 23, 2001 in The Chicago Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

SMall backyard cottage ADU in San Diego, California.

San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs

City council voted to limit the number of units in accessory buildings to six — after confronting backyard developments of up to 100 units behind a single family home.

June 18 - NBC San Diego

Large tower under construction with crane with American and Texas flags in downtown Austin, Texas against sunset sky.

Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing

Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.

June 18 - The Texas Tribune

Red brick five-story multifamily housing building in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Even Edmonton Wants Single Staircase Buildings

Canada's second most affordable major city joins those angling to nix the requirement for two staircases in multi-family buildings.

June 18 - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)