I wrote the reporter her is what I had to say:
Although I do not live in your neck of the woods, so to speak, I am living directly next to land owned by the National Park Service. In the year of 1998 we had a major ice/snow storm that brought hundreds of trees down. They are still there. Heaven forbid that we suffer a major drought! These dead trees would send a flame to the Heavens! Their branches broken off, the ruble underneath them, would be a catastrophe! It would burn and destroy homes, heritages, and the some of the most beautiful land in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.
So why am I writing you? Because I can see this type of fuel-load every day of my life and I do understand why there has to be responsible thinning and logging and salvaging of fuel loads! Otherwise, especially in the West were you do have major droughts, the land will turn "crispy cream" if someone does not get the picture!
I am respectfully yours,
Sheila Davis
Sisters of the River
http://www.newriverfriends.orgOh, thanks so much for doing this, Sheila. I hope it gets printed.
Please let us know if you get a reply.
Hope all is well with you. You are one of my FReeper heroes :)