Retro Report: Summer of Fire (video)

Retro Report ^ | Sep 2, 2013

[JerseyanExile]

The lessons learned from the summer of 1988 when fires burned nearly one third of Yellowstone National Park continue to shape the way we fight wildfires raging across the West today.

“Part of our national heritage is under threat and on fire tonight.”

That was how CBS’s Dan Rather described the fires raging through Yellowstone National Park in 1988 but it was only part of the story.

The continuing narrative that summer was that park officials had negligently let the fires burn out of control and destroyed the legendary national park, which had supplied generations of visitors with fond memories and colorful snapshots.

But the story that played out on national television was incomplete.

[Carriage Hill]

And in 5-6yrs, the park was growing back into better shape than it was before. Amazing what ‘natural burns’ can do to rejuvenate a forest. Nature is nothing, if not resilient.

[DeWalt]

I was there working that fire in 88 as part of a team out of Florida. I can tell you first hand no one let that fire get out of control. Conditions that year were extreme and we took an a$$ kicking.

[Flintlock]

The ‘letting things alone’ plan doesn’t work.
These idiots don’t realize that forests have to be managed—just like the indians did before us ‘white men’ showed up to spoil it all.

Will they ever learn?
Am I kidding??

[RetiredTexasVet]

You will notice that most of the devastating fires occur on Federal lands and forests. The managers and rangers have no incentive to do much of anything because their salaries and bonuses (yes, bonuses) come regardless of their actions. Oh sure, if Yosemite or Yellowstone have to cut back personnel because of declining visitors; temporary, contractor and summer hires will be cut but no permanent staff or rangers. In fact, most have the attitude that they are doing you a favor allowing you to visit “their parks”.