Laboratory
of
Tree-Ring Research

Southwest Fire:

General Overview

Fires of the past were different from those of today.

• Read on for scientific and media overviews of the forest fire dilemma of the Southwest:
   
  1. Barrett, S.W. 1999. Why burn wilderness? Fire Management Notes 59(4):18-21. This article discusses why fire should be returned to forest ecosystems, at least in wilderness areas. (4-page, 182-Kb pdf file, with color photos, password protected)
      
  2. Weise et al. 1996. Rx fire research for Southwestern forests. Fire Management Notes 56(2):23-25. This article discusses returning fire specifically to Southwest forest ecosystems. (3-page, 614-Kb pdf file, password protected)
      
  3. Talking fire: This 1996 Arizona Daily Star editorial opinion summarizes the forest fire management issue, with a historical note on how and why Southwest forests are unhealthy ecologically, a listing of various current management alternatives, and a call for policy decision making. (527-word html file)
      
  4. Southwest aspens succumbing to years of firefighting: This 1995 Arizona Daily Star article documents how tree species composition changes as a result of changes in fire behavior and frequency. (675-word html file)
      
  5. Rash of 1994 forest fires blamed, in part, on blaze policies of past: This 1995 Arizona Daily Star article describes the opinion of many forest managers that past fire suppression policies have led to the current forest fire management dilemma. (825-word html file)
      
  6. Overgrazing fuels wildfires, environmentalists charge: This 1995 Arizona Daily Star article describes a response to the article just above; in this case, effects of overgrazing are identified as a source of the forest fire management problems in the West. (450-word html file)
      
  7. Forest fire prevention cost put in billions: This 1994 Arizona Daily Star printing of an Associated Press news story puts a high price tag on solving the current dilemma of forest fire management in the West. (100-word html file)
      
  8. Burn and let burn: This 1994 Arizona Daily Star editorial comment argues for a change in fire management policies, from complete and total fire suppression to a strategy that includes prescribed burning and let burning. (536-word html file)
      
  9. Options weighed to halt fire hazard in Pinalenos: This 1993 Arizona Daily Star article describes a call for public comment on fire management strategies that the U.S. Forest Service might consider. Options include harvesting and firewood collecting as well as prescribed burning. (354-word html file)
      

Southwest Fire Home

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Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721 USA
Main Office: (520) 621-1608, Fax: (520) 621-8229
Comments to Paul Sheppard: sheppard @ ltrr.arizona.edu

Copyright © 2000-2007, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
Revised — November, 2007
URL: http://www.ltrr.arizona.edu/~sheppard/swland/overview.html