Wildfire is increasingly becoming a matter of grave concern in national forests, especially in the West. The nation has experienced some of the worst wildfire seasons on record over the last decade, and the conditions that led to several of the most catastrophic fires are still prevalent this year.
In addition to generally warmer, dryer weather, large portions of forest lands in the West have been invaded by bark beetles, leaving them tinderbox vulnerable to sweeping wildfires.
Tom Tidwell, the chief of the U.S. Forest Service, gave a statement before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on June 4 about the challenges the Forest Service is facing in the wake of rapidly changing climates.
For the full story, see the Wednesday, June 19, edition of The Camp Verde Journal or the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
