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U.S. Forest Service Says Record Wildfires Put It at Dangerous ‘Tipping Point’

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A firefighter stands near a wildfire in Middletown, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. Two of California's fastest-burning wildfires in decades overtook several Northern California towns, killing at least one person and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
A firefighter stands near a wildfire in Middletown, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2015.Elaine Thompson—AP
By Sarah Begley

The U.S. Forest Service says it is at a “tipping point” after fighting the nation’s increasingly common wildfires accounted for 65% of the agency’s $5 billion budget last year.

After 10 million of the agency’s 193 million acres were burned last year, the service is planning to ask Congress for more funding, the Guardian reports. Thanks to climate change and the drought conditions it brings, the average wildfire season has reportedly increased by 78 days in the past 30 years, and is likely to continue in that direction, meaning even more funding will be necessary to fight fires in the future.

Photographing California’s Wildfires

The Lake Fire burns in San Bernardino County Wednesday night and Thursday morning after coming back to life and burning thousands more acres. The fire was over 20,000 acres and 27% contained, down from 38% containment and smaller acreage the day before. Rim Rock was under a mandatory evacuation and Pioneertown was under a voluntary evacuation
The Lake Fire burns in San Bernardino County after coming back to life and burning thousands more acres.Stuart Palley
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday June 18, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 10,000 acres and was 5% contained. The Lake Fire burns along it's northern flank at night in the San Bernardino National Forest Late Thursday night.The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday June 18, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 10,000 acres and was 5% contained.
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest on June 18, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 10,000 acres and was only 5% contained.Stuart Palley
The Lake Fire burns in San Bernardino County Wednesday night and Thursday morning after coming back to life and burning thousands more acres. The fire was over 20,000 acres and 27% contained, down from 38% containment and smaller acreage the day before. Rim Rock was under a mandatory evacuation and Pioneertown was under a voluntary evacuation
Rim Rock was under a mandatory evacuation and Pioneertown was under a voluntary evacuationStuart Palley—Stuart Palley
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Friday June 19, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 13,000 acres and was 10% contained.
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Friday June 19, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 13,000 acres and was 10% contained.Stuart Palley—Stuart Palley
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Friday June 19, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 13,000 acres and was 10% contained.
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest on June 19, 2015.Stuart Palley
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Friday June 19, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 13,000 acres and was 10% contained.
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest on June 19, 2015. Stuart Palley
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Friday June 19, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 13,000 acres and was 10% contained.
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest on June 19, 2015. Stuart Palley
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday June 18, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 10,000 acres and was 5% contained. The Lake Fire burns along it's northern flank at night in the San Bernardino National Forest Late Thursday night.The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Thursday June 18, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 10,000 acres and was 5% contained.
The Lake Fire burns along the San Bernardino National Forest's northern flank at night.Stuart Palley
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest Friday June 19, 2015. By evening the fire burned over 13,000 acres and was 10% contained.
The Lake Fire burns in the San Bernardino National Forest on June 19, 2015.Stuart Palley

“The whole U.S. Forest Service is shifting to becoming an agency dominated by wildfires,” the U.S.D.A.’s under secretary for natural resources and environment told the Guardian. “We really are at a tipping point. The current situation is not sustainable.”

[The Guardian]

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