A new book contemplates nature, solitude, grief and grace.
Wildfire
Posted inJune 10, 2019: 'None of this happened the way you think it did'
Wildfire escape routes? There’s (almost) an app for that.
Scientists are using crowdsourced data to help firefighters flee dangerous flames.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Fires are indiscriminate. Recovery isn’t.
The disparate timeframes of rebuilding in California’s wine country and its poorest county, shown by data.
Posted inArticles
Western forests have a ‘fire debt’ problem
Planned burns can reduce wildfire risks, but expanding use of ‘good fire’ isn’t easy.
Posted inMay 27, 2019: Public Pushback
Fire-starting ranchers get a new blessing from BLM
The agency hopes the Hammonds’ cows will reduce fire risk in eastern Oregon.
Posted inApril 15, 2019: Scene of the Crime
The Karuk Tribe fights a growing wildfire threat and a lack of funding
Surrounded by forests they often can’t manage without breaking the law, California tribes struggle to protect themselves from wildfires.
Posted inMarch 18, 2019: Arizona's Wild Horse Paradox
‘Things are not going to get better for a long time’
PG&E’s bankruptcy complicates an already difficult recovery for Camp Fire survivors.
Posted inMarch 4, 2019: El Nuevo Movimiento
New bill leaves lands protected, lawmaking neglected
A bipartisan public lands bill punts on overhauling environmental policies.
Posted inArticles
Western voters care more about climate than ‘energy dominance’
An annual survey reveals a leap in support of conservation policies.
Posted inFebruary 4, 2019: Nizhoni Girls
Update: Forest thinning won’t stop destructive fires
Fire-proof structures can prevent homes from adding to fuel loads in wildfires.
Posted inArticles
What happened with your insurance after wildfire?
Help us investigate the opaque wildfire insurance industry by sharing your experience.
Posted inJanuary 21, 2019: What Killed Washington's Carbon Tax?
After natural disasters, workers rebuild — and face exploitation
Immigrant workers and day laborers are especially vulnerable to health risks and wage theft.
Posted inArticles
The stories that defined the West in 2018
The year in essays, analysis and investigations from across the Western U.S.
Posted inDecember 10, 2018: Critical Mass
Batsh*t bafflegab?; flatearthers not on a ball; trolling the troll
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inDecember 10, 2018: Critical Mass
Rep. Raúl Grijalva intends to force a reckoning with climate change
A Democratic spitfire takes the helm of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Posted inArticles
Wildfire recovery is possible — for some Westerners
Resilience depends on economics and history as much as fuel.
Posted inArticles
After the Camp Fire, forensic teams seek the lost
For response teams in Paradise, physical and emotional risks remain.
Posted inArticles
California wildfires weren’t always this destructive
Indigenous residents say traditional practices and careful burns could temper blazes.
Posted inArticles
How to prepare for a wildfire
Some basic steps to stay safe if you live near Western wildlands.
Posted inArticles
California’s Camp Fire, in photos
As of Nov. 13, the disaster has claimed 42 lives as the search for missing people continues.