Another dry summer sparks memories of past wildfires — and worries for the future.
Wildfire
Posted inArticles
In a time of division and hate, wildfire unites a community
Disaster response offers an antidote to the era of “me.”
Posted inArticles
A fiery Fourth of July threatens Southwest economies
Wildfire, forest closures and canceled fireworks displays keep tourists at bay.
Posted inJuly 23, 2018: Pay for Prey
Saving baby Jo from the smoke
A mother grapples with her decision to flee the 416 Fire with her infant daughter.
Posted inAugust 6, 2018: What Are We Doing Here?
In the Southwest, ‘drought’ doesn’t tell the whole story
Why ‘aridification’ is a better term for our new, more parched reality.
Posted inArticles
The 416 Fire reminds us there’s no escape from climate change
Rumors that a popular tourist train sparked the fire have forced a reckoning.
Posted inArticles
There’s nothing normal about ‘the new normal’
The phrase is the linguistic equivalent of a shrug.
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Exploring the West? Don’t start a wildfire.
Here are some tips on how to stay safe.
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The Forest Service faces a century-old call for equality
As early as 1924, women were asking the agency for equal treatment.
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How to celebrate Earth Day
Stand up for public lands, fight climate change and get outside this April 22 — and all year long.
Posted inArticles
Firefighters, it’s time we led the way on ending harassment
Allegations that the Forest Service enabled a culture of harassment were no surprise.
Posted inArticles
Fire funding fix comes with environmental rollbacks
The legislation sets up an emergency disaster fund but also weakens protections for trees and wildlife.
Posted inMarch 5, 2018: Drilling Chaco
From bears to condors, the West’s wildlife is finding ways to survive
Five ways science is finding unexpected resilience in animals.
Posted inJanuary 22, 2018: A Separatist State of Mind
Climate change forced me to leave the place that I love
After finding their dream town, a family fled drought and fire.
Posted inArticles
Logging isn’t the solution to our wildfire problems
We can’t ‘solve’ fire any more than we can ‘solve’ hurricanes.
Posted inArticles
2017 in natural disasters
From massive wildfires to melting ice, the calamities that affected the West this year.
Posted inDecember 11, 2017: Scorched Earth
Nothing about future fires is guaranteed
Except that they will come.
Posted inDecember 11, 2017: Scorched Earth
A ‘selfish’ decision
As neighbors evacuated, one family stayed behind.
Posted inDecember 11, 2017: Scorched Earth
‘Will my tears cool the ash?’
A firefighter contemplates the fire season.
Posted inDecember 11, 2017: Scorched Earth
Why Western wildfires are getting more expensive
This year’s fire season was the costliest on record, burning more than 9 million acres.