New forest plan, hot weather could be recipe for disaster

I don't need to tell anyone that it's hot outside. Dry, too.

If it weren't for the mountains and the lake, I'd swear I was back in the Tri-Cities and the "dry" heat of Washington's desert country. Not that I'm complaining, on a personal level mind you, because I'd rather be too hot than too cold.

However, it's a weather recipe that could pose major problems as the woods continue to dry out and the fire danger index keeps inching upward. Which is why the U.S. Forest Service plan to allow fires to burn freely in some areas of North Idaho doesn't make complete sense.

The plan, outlined earlier this month, would give fire managers on the St. Joe Ranger District the option of using lightning-caused fires to improve forest health and lessen the danger of out-of-control wildfires. Idaho Panhandle National Forest fire management officer say that only a handful of fires may end up being managed as wildland fire use events and that on-the-ground conditions, weather and access to fire suppression resources will play key roles in any such decisions.

All human-caused wildfires will continue to be suppressed and firefighter and public safety remain primary objectives in all actions related to wildland fires and less than 4 percent of the forests fall under the new policy, said Mark Grant, IPNF fire management officer.

I understand the need to rejuvenate wildlife habitat and allow for a more natural fire process in the region's forests. Back in the day, nature didn't have access to hundreds of fire crews or the ability to send planes to dump fire retardant on out-of-control wildfires and nature managed just fine.

However, it's a major shift in policy and I don't blame Shoshone County officials from being concerned over how reality is going to play against theory.

After all, the 1910 fires devastated much of the county and laid the groundwork for current policy of fire suppression. And folks in Bonner County still vividly recall the destruction caused by the Sundance Fire.

Which is why, in theory, the policy make sense. Unfortunately, reality tends to play havoc with theory when we least expect it.

Let's hope, in this case, the theory is sound and helps eliminate the potential for another Sundance. That's something that we definitely don't want to see here ever again.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Bonner County Daily Bee.