By contrast, studies show the vast majority of western public lands, including rangelands, chaparral, and ponderosa forests, burned historically every 10 to 50 years. Unless we want to build up an unproductive national tinderbox, fire cycles should be brought closer to historical levels. Still others say there's no political support or guidance from the top. I don't buy it. The Yellowstone fires of 1988 catalyzed national opinion into widespread support.
Fire can and does renew our landscape.
In a recent poll, American Forests magazine confirmed this trend toward support of controlled fire. For example, in California, fifty-five percent favor controlled burning, as do two thirds of respondents in the Inland West. And in the South, timber companies and woodlot owners are already routinely and safely burning back the hardwood understory to stimulate germination and growth of longleaf pines. Southern Californians now know it's a bigger risk NOT to have regular prescribed burns before the seasonal Santa Ana winds become an uncontrollable bellows. Finally, any doubts regarding support and direction at the top are now resolved.