If you live in the West, you've experienced the impacts of wildfire. In the last few decades, as the effects of climate change, unhealthy forests, and a drier west merge together, catastrophic wildfires have become a significant part of our lives.
Communities across the West are threatened by massive, out-of-control wildfires. We're seeing wildfires outside of what we used to consider “wildfire season,” and those fires are burning hotter, faster, and longer than they used to.
Headline-making catastrophes like the Marshall Fire in Boulder or the Palisade Fires in Los Angeles, which both ignited during the winter, have shown us that the idea of a “wildfire season” isn't realistic anymore.
Colorado has over 14 million acres of national forest. Managing and protecting all of that from wildfire is complicated and challenging. Those national forests cover recreation areas, wildlife habitat, irreplaceable wilderness— and they border our homes and communities.
Wildfire is often misunderstood, even within the environmental community. As out-of-control wildfire becomes a more present threat , communities are having to learn to adapt. This means better understanding how fire actually works in the West, the threats and the benefits it brings, and how we can best limit risk and protect our communities.
To help clear up some of those wildfire misconceptions, we talked to WRA’s resident wildfire policy expert.
In this new podcast series, we are exploring the different threats to public land in the West and how we can conserve it for the future. We will be covering wildfire, wildlife, recreation, and the threats of new development.
2 Degrees Out West is a podcast from Western Resource Advocates, an environmental conservation organization that's focused on the Interior West. WRA works across seven states to protect our climate, land, air, and water. WRA protects and advocates for Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming.
2 Degrees out West is a podcast for advocates and decision makers who want to fight climate change and its impacts across the West.
On 2 Degrees Out West we talk with climate experts and advocates to bring you stories, experiences, and insights from their work in the places we call home.
It is Hosted by Dave Papineau
Want to be part of 2 Degrees Out West?
- Email us with thoughts, suggestions, and interviewees at [email protected].
- Follow us @westernresourceadvocates on Instagram.
- Create a clip sharing "our Bright Climate Future for the West" and send it to us at [email protected]. to be included in one of our next episodes.
- Join our email list to stay updated on when new episodes are released and calls to action on how you can help the West.
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