Climate Change Creating ‘Longer, More Intense’ Fire Seasons: Jewell

"Climate change is a burning issue for the United States and particularly the American West, according to U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, whose department has to fight increasingly intense forest and range fires.

In a tweet Friday, Jewell warned: 'Fire seasons are longer and more intense from climate change. They damage landscapes vital for wildlife and people.'

The nation’s fire policy has veered in recent years.  With the campaign symbol of Smokey Bear — described by western writer Ed Abbey as a 'notorious ursine bore' — the policy used to be that all fires were to be suppressed."

Joel Connelly reports for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer June 12, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"As an ‘Acute’ Wildfire Season Looms, White House Sends $110 Million To Drought-Stricken West" (Washington Post)

"Obama Meets With Western Governors on Drought" (The Hill)

"$110 Million in Drought Aid Going To California, Other Western States, White House Says" (Los Angeles Times)