In remote Northern California, witnessing a prescribed burn conducted by Len Nielson, chief of prescribed burns for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, underscores the value of controlled fires. Nielson emphasizes that such burns reduce fuels that lead to catastrophic wildfires. The practice, rooted in ancient traditions, contrasts sharply with the more modern suppression policies. Through careful instruction in a tense moment of smoke and flames, Nielson demonstrates the critical balance between risk and safety within wildfire management, asserting that trust is vital to the process.
"Prescribed fires are a lot about trust." Nielson emphasized the importance of confidence in the controlled burn process to reduce hazardous wildfires in California.
"Good fire," as Nielson called it, is essential for reducing the fuel available for bad fire, the kind that makes the headlines.
The principle of using fire to manage landscapes is ancient and effective, having been practiced long before the suppression policies of European settlers.
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