Writers on the Range: The West Heads for Wildfires Unprepared

Writers on the Range: The West heads for wildfires unprepared

The West is staring down a dangerous wildfire year. A dry winter and historically low snowpack have set the stage for a potentially...

The West heads for wildfires unprepared

By David Calkin WRITERS ON THE RANGE The West is staring down a dangerous wildfire year. A dry winter and historically low snowpack have set the stage for a potentially severe 2026 fire season. But the deeper problem is that the nation’s capacity to respond to wildfire has eroded. For decades, large wildfires were managed