“However, what is not discussed in the full story is that the Forest Service was prohibited from taking actions like thinning and logging due to endless lawsuits from environmental groups claiming endangered species protections were needed for the northern spotted owl, a field mouse and various other flora and fauna. The anger of the affected residents should also be directed at those groups who continually shrill for money while making little progress in their goals but end up displacing jobs and people from making a living.”
Several years ago, out west the Forest Service had been tied up in court for years trying to get a burn permit. This allowed excess fuel to accumulate on the forest floor. They finally got a burn permit but the weather for the entire time was too windy to use it. Finally, it was down to a day or so left on the permit and then it would have been back to court for the next five years. The weather that day was marginal but because of how the fuel accumulation might look in another five years when they next got a permit, they decided to risk it and start the burn. The weather changed back to windy, and it was the worst fire in decades. All blamed on the Forest Service, of course.
Exactly environmental groups and the courts allow these things to happen.
“The weather that day was marginal but because of how the fuel accumulation might look in another five years”
No, the forecast wind THAT DAY was TRIPLE the maximum speeds a prescribed burn may be conducted in. Additionally it was unusually dry and humidity was extremely low. Someone should go to prison for this.
This was reckless to the point of criminal.