Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming. A prevalent belief is that wildfires can be managed by detection and early suppression, but historical evidence suggests otherwise. The 1910 policy of total fire suppression in the U.S. aimed to eliminate blazes but altered ecosystems, leading to increased high-intensity fires. This suppression resulted in dense thickets of young trees, which were not natural to the Ponderosa pine forests. Additionally, the fire exclusion led to biodiversity loss and diminished Indigenous knowledge of fire management, impacting ecosystem stewardship.
In 1910, after a series of catastrophic wildfires in the northwestern United States, fire managers adopted a policy of total suppression: preventing ignitions as much as possible. The aim was to extinguish any blaze by 10 a.m. the next day.
Exclusion of fires in various countries for decades protected homes and businesses to some extent - but it drove key changes in ecosystems.
Over time, such intense burning caused loss of biodiversity and altered the structure and composition of the forests in ways that increase the risk of large fires.
Fire exclusion has also led to a loss of Indigenous culture and knowledge about managing landscapes with fire.
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