As wildfires in the U.S. grow in size and complexity, officials pivot to a new management model, marking a significant shift in strategy.
Ty Oneil reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- More than 2,669 square miles have burned in the U.S. in early 2024, indicating a potentially prolonged and severe wildfire season.
- A shortage of specialized firefighting teams has led to the formation of 44 leadership teams to manage the nation's largest fires.
- Federal agencies aim to hire around 11,300 firefighters this year to combat the increasing wildfire threats and fill crucial vacancies.
Key quote:
"We're going to be busy. I couldn't tell you exactly where right now, but we are going to be busy."
— Alex Robertson, acting director of fire and aviation at the U.S. Forest Service
Why this matters:
Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts, both effects of climate change, have led to drier conditions that fuel larger and more intense wildfires. These conditions are exacerbated by past forest management practices, such as fire suppression policies that have allowed for the accumulation of underbrush and smaller trees, which act as kindling in fire situations.
The impacts of wildfires are more far-reaching than you may realize.
