Controlled burns, logging create healthy forests

In the last two days, there have been two letters about the Rough fire that suggest how it could have been prevented. One suggests that the forest service’s “failed hands off let it burn” policy has and will cause “catastrophic” wildfires. The other says we should spend more money on controlled burns and logging.

Controlled burns combined with responsible logging is the answer. A forest is just like a lawn. If if you don’t mow it every once in a while, it will get out of control. Our forests have been neglected for so long that controlled burning is no longer a viable option, so the only option we have is logging. If you want to see a healthy forest, takes a walk from Shaver’s Sierra Marina to Tunnel Creek. You will never have an out-of-control fire in this area because the Edison Company knows how to maintain a forest.

The Indians, after the fall hunt for deer, would set fires on their way out of the forests. We need to log our forests so a controlled burn can be an effective tool, and not cause the destruction we are seeing today.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 9:46 AM with the headline "Controlled burns, logging create healthy forests."