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Burning Trees to Save Trees | National Geographic


it’s been protected from human impact

it’s been protected from human impact since 1909 with three million acres

since 1909 with three million acres

since 1909 with three million acres nearly a half-million underwater

nearly a half-million underwater

nearly a half-million underwater Superior National Forest is largely

Superior National Forest is largely

Superior National Forest is largely unspoiled but now the survival of this

unspoiled but now the survival of this

unspoiled but now the survival of this national treasure rests with those who’d

national treasure rests with those who’d

national treasure rests with those who’d see some of it burn when a massive

see some of it burn when a massive

see some of it burn when a massive windstorm flattened nearly a half

windstorm flattened nearly a half

windstorm flattened nearly a half million acres of trees in July of 1999

million acres of trees in July of 1999

million acres of trees in July of 1999 the Forest Service knew a major wildfire

the Forest Service knew a major wildfire

the Forest Service knew a major wildfire was inevitable they refer to this area

was inevitable they refer to this area

was inevitable they refer to this area simply as the blowdown over 700 square

simply as the blowdown over 700 square

simply as the blowdown over 700 square miles of kindling just waiting for spark

miles of kindling just waiting for spark

miles of kindling just waiting for spark yeah we’re kind of wondering why that

yeah we’re kind of wondering why that

yeah we’re kind of wondering why that hasn’t happened on when it’s twice as

hasn’t happened on when it’s twice as

hasn’t happened on when it’s twice as dry trace is warm and windy and and

dry trace is warm and windy and and

dry trace is warm and windy and and there’s lightning out there but so far

there’s lightning out there but so far

there’s lightning out there but so far we just haven’t had lightning in a good

we just haven’t had lightning in a good

we just haven’t had lightning in a good patch of timber to burn on this day this

patch of timber to burn on this day this

patch of timber to burn on this day this to let you know the magnetic rock burn

to let you know the magnetic rock burn

to let you know the magnetic rock burn is a goal the Forest Service will strike

is a goal the Forest Service will strike

is a goal the Forest Service will strike the match weather forecast for today is

the match weather forecast for today is

the match weather forecast for today is favorable but not before checking that

favorable but not before checking that

favorable but not before checking that conditions are just right pretty

conditions are just right pretty

conditions are just right pretty consistent mainly southwesterly 10 to 15

gusts of wind more than 15 miles per

gusts of wind more than 15 miles per hour in the wrong direction could be

hour in the wrong direction could be

hour in the wrong direction could be disastrous and if things go wrong if the

disastrous and if things go wrong if the

disastrous and if things go wrong if the fire gets out of control it will be

fire gets out of control it will be

fire gets out of control it will be burned boss Tim Norman who’s responsible

it will come from above the helicopter

it will come from above the helicopter disappearing over this Ridge will drop a

disappearing over this Ridge will drop a

disappearing over this Ridge will drop a flaming gel on the forest floor the

flaming gel on the forest floor the

flaming gel on the forest floor the natural fuel there does the rest for

natural fuel there does the rest for

natural fuel there does the rest for hours wave after wave of air assaults

hours wave after wave of air assaults

hours wave after wave of air assaults rain fire from above this is the time

rain fire from above this is the time

rain fire from above this is the time when all that planning to keep

when all that planning to keep

when all that planning to keep homeowners safe is put to the test

homeowners safe is put to the test

homeowners safe is put to the test before the burn during the burning after

before the burn during the burning after

before the burn during the burning after the burn we’re trying to look at as many

the burn we’re trying to look at as many

the burn we’re trying to look at as many angles as we can to try and outguess

angles as we can to try and outguess

angles as we can to try and outguess what could possibly happen and conduct

what could possibly happen and conduct

what could possibly happen and conduct this safely in the end a plan with

this safely in the end a plan with

this safely in the end a plan with promise gave way to some disappointment

promise gave way to some disappointment

promise gave way to some disappointment no safety problems but the Forest

no safety problems but the Forest

no safety problems but the Forest Service had hoped to burn 1300 acres

Service had hoped to burn 1300 acres

Service had hoped to burn 1300 acres shifting winds and problems with the

shifting winds and problems with the

shifting winds and problems with the flaming gel limited the burn to just 200

flaming gel limited the burn to just 200

flaming gel limited the burn to just 200 but that is still a significant amount

but that is still a significant amount

but that is still a significant amount of forest to burn how long will this

of forest to burn how long will this

of forest to burn how long will this area take the green up Oh it’ll be green

area take the green up Oh it’ll be green

area take the green up Oh it’ll be green by next spring this area now creates a

by next spring this area now creates a

by next spring this area now creates a much needed buffer between the blowdown

much needed buffer between the blowdown

much needed buffer between the blowdown and hundreds of homes and businesses on

and hundreds of homes and businesses on

and hundreds of homes and businesses on the edge of the wilderness burning the

the edge of the wilderness burning the

the edge of the wilderness burning the forest to keep a future wildfire in

forest to keep a future wildfire in

forest to keep a future wildfire in check it’s a huge job that’s only just

check it’s a huge job that’s only just

check it’s a huge job that’s only just begun

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