When regular, low-intensity fires occurred in forests, they helped burn away smaller trees and brush that could serve as fuel for future wildfires. As a result, when another fire burned through those same forests, it was less likely to become large and destructive.
But as Oregon’s population grew over the past century and the threat that fire posed to human life and property increased, firefighters grew skilled at quickly putting out all wildfires. Without frequent, smaller fires, Oregon’s dry forests grew unnaturally dense, creating the ideal conditions for more intense wildfires.
How is Oregon dealing with the "new normal" of more frequent, more intense forest fire? How can active forest management mimic the historic role of fire to increase fire resiliency?