Decades of over-logging and fire suppression set the stage
for deadly, destructive forest fires throughout the West.
Magazine
March 6, 1995
It's not a fluke, it's not just the drought, and it's not careless smokers. Decades of all-out logging and all-out fire suppression torched Yellowstone in 1988, ignited the fatal Colorado fire last summer, and set the stage for the thousands of fires in between.
Feature
Sidebar
Peter M. Leschak reminisces about firefighting in his book
Hellroaring: The Life and Times of a Fire Bum.
The trauma caused by super-hot fires continues long after
the flames are put out.
Quotes from Stephen J. Pyne and Bruce Babbitt acknowledge
the need to change attitudes toward fire.
A report by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration blames Forest Service and BLM "indifference" and
"willful safety violations" for deaths of 14 firefighters in
Colorado.
Quote from smokejumper Kevin Erickson depicts dramatic
scene as fire overcomes 14 firefighters in the South Canyon Fire in
Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig proposes a bill to give fast-track
approval to timber sales in forests at "high risk" for fire
danger.
Seeing Yellowstone by snowmobile is understandably
entertaining.
Essays
Former firefighter Louise Wagenknecht says the rush at
firefighting is as powerful as any drug.
Perspective
Alaska Republican Don Young, new chairman of the House
Resource Committee, denounces environmentalism and offers his own
conservative philosophy.
Dear Friends
Odds and ends; change of address advice
News
Activists face arrest for protesting Cove-Mallard timber
sale.
Cyanide from a defunct gold mill has contaminated Jan and
David Zimmerman's well water.
A Forest Service plan to close roads made by all-terrain
vehicles provokes angry reaction from ATV users.
Former Interior Secretary James Watt is indicted by a
federal grand jury for lying to Congress and obstructing an
investigation of fraud.
The winter influx of snowmobiles into Yellowstone creates
problems.
Arches National Park uses pilot program to measure how
many people are too many people at Delicate Arch.
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe seeks to harvest troublesome sea
lions.
The Supreme Court refuses to overturn Montana's
"hunter-harassment" law.
Opinion
Formerly powerful California Democrats George Miller and
Henry Waxman are lost in the new, Republican Washington.
Letters
Featured stories
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mountain Time Arts, a Bozeman-based nonprofit, is seeking an Executive Director. MTA advocates for and produces public artworks that advance social & environmental justice in...
-
BEND AREA HOME WITH AMAZING CASCADE PEAKS VIEW Enjoy rural peacefulness and privacy with one of the most magnificent Cascade Mountain views in sunny Central Oregon! Convenient location only eight miles from Bend's...
-
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER High Country News, an award-winning media organization covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks a Marketing Communications Manager to join our...
-
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF High Country News, an award-winning media organization covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks an Editor-In-Chief to join our senior team...
-
RESEARCH FELLOW (SOUTHWESTERN U.S. ENERGY TRANSITION) 
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) in partnership with the Grand Canyon Trust is seeking a full-time Fellow to conduct topical research...
-
LENDER OWNED FIX & FLIP
2 houses on 37+ acres. Gated subdivision, Penrose Colorado. $400k. Possible lender financing. Bob Kunkler Brokers Welcome.
-
ONCE OR TWICE A short historical novel set in central Oregon based on the the WWII Japanese high altitude ballon that exploded causing civilian casualties. A riveting look...
-
HISTORIC LODGE AND RESTAURANT - FULLY EQUIPPED Built in 1901, The Crazy Mountain Inn has 11 guest rooms in a town-center building on 7 city lots (.58 acres). The inn and restaurant...
-
HOUSE FOR SALE Rare mountain property, borders National Forest, stream nearby. Pumicecrete, solar net metering, radiant heat, fine cabinets, attic space to expand, patio, garden, wildlife, insulated garage,...
-
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER- NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL Want to organize people to protect Montana's water quality, family farms and ranches, & unique quality of life with Northern Plains Resource Council? Apply now-...
-
CONSERVATION MANAGER The Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust (RiGHT) is hiring an energetic and motivated Conservation Manager to develop and complete new conservation projects and work within...
-
POLLINATOR OASIS
Seeking an experienced, hardworking partner to help restore a desert watershed/wetland while also creating a pollinator oasis at the mouth of an upland canyon. Compensation:...
-
ELLIE SAYS IT'S SAFE! A GUIDE DOG'S JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE by Don Hagedorn. A story of how lives of the visually impaired are improved through the love and courage of guide dogs. Available on Amazon.
-
COMING TO TUCSON? Popular vacation house, furnished, 2 bed/1 bath, yard, dog-friendly. Lee at [email protected] or 520-791-9246.
-
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY All positions available: Sales Representative, Accountant and Administrative Assistant. As part of our expansion program, our University is looking for part time work from home...
-
RUBY, ARIZONA CARETAKER S. Az ghost town seeking full-time caretaker. Contact [email protected] for details.
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Powder River Basin Resource Council, a progressive non-profit conservation organization based in Sheridan, Wyoming, seeks an Executive Director, preferably with grassroots organizing experience, excellent communication...
-
ADOBE HOME Passive solar adobe home in high desert of central New Mexico. Located on a 10,000 acre cattle ranch.
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition, based in Ely, Nevada is looking for a new executive director to replace the long-time executive director who is retiring at...
-
STEVE HARRIS, EXPERIENCED PUBLIC LANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY Comment Letters - Admin Appeals - Federal & State Litigation - FOIA -
