It has been part of the American lexicon since 1947: “Only you can prevent wildfires.”
Actually, until 2001, the favored catchphrase of Smokey Bear was “only you can prevent forest fires,” but the meaning behind the U.S. Forest Service marketing slogan has remained unchanged for more than seven decades. With early indications that the state might be in for a devastating fire season, that meaning is especially relevant this summer.
According to the state Department of Natural Resources, more fires have been sparked between January and June this year than the same period for any year over the past decade. That is disconcerting given our recent history; 2015 saw a record of more than 1 million acres burned by wildfires, breaking the 2014 record of about 387,000 acres. To place that in context, 1 million acres is about 2 1/2 times the size of Clark County.
Last year’s Eagle Creek Fire, primarily on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, reminded Southwest Washington residents of the ease with which wildfires can start and the toll they can take. Sparked by a teenager throwing fireworks, the blaze burned for three months and devastated 50,000 acres of landscape. For days, Vancouver was besotted by smoke and ash — even though the fire was more than 30 miles away.
The Eagle Creek Fire was representative of our new normal. With climate change drying out forests and other rural areas, creating more susceptibility to blazes, increased attention upon fire prevention and forest management is required.
Congress took steps to address those concerns earlier this year, passing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act and making much-needed changes in how the federal government approaches fires. Previously, federal agencies would often fight fires by borrowing funds earmarked for prevention, creating a cycle in which even more money was required the following year because maintenance was overlooked. The bill signed by President Trump is designed to halt that practice.
Throughout Washington, the Department of Natural Resources typically is on the front lines of battling wildfires. The department oversees 13 million acres of private, state and tribal lands, working with communities and local firefighting agencies on prevention and suppression. “In the face of wildfire seasons that are getting more difficult, we need to partner with each other and our neighbors if we are to overcome this great threat,” Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz recently said.
There is a school of thought that says wildfires should be allowed to burn until they threaten residents or structures. After all, fires are part of nature. While that philosophy is worthy of discussion, it would come with a heavy cost. Wildfires in remote areas are devastating to the environment, to wildlife habitat, and to nearby irrigation. And with an ever-increasing population, it doesn’t take long for a fire to threaten lives and buildings.
While wildfires are part of nature, many of them are started by human activity. Which is why the mantra bears repeating: “Only you can prevent wildfires.” That calls for caution when using fireworks, diligence in putting out campfires, and care in dousing burn piles. It also calls for awareness of the fire danger in your area, which can be checked through the Department of Natural Resources (https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/firedanger/).
Fire season is here. It is up to all of us to limit its impact.
