The long-term solution to catastrophic wildfires is to
address their causes by reducing fuel hazards and returning
our forests and rangelands to healthy conditions. Tree thinning
and removal of dense underbrush can ensure thriving forests
while reducing risks of catastrophic fires and the dangers
they pose to firefighters.
The Administration is meeting the challenge. Last year, the
Administration set a record in the amount of fuels treatment
work done. More than 2.25 million acres were treated. This
is a million acres more than were treated in FY 2000. By the
end of FY 2003, even more acres – 2.5 million acres
– are projected to be treated. So far this year, 1.4
million acres have been treated, 133,000 acres more than had
been treated at this time last year and 531,000 acres more
that had been treated in 2001. Click here to see the Departments
of Agriculture and the Interior progress in treating flammable
forest materials. |