The 150 Year Debt

The 150 Year Debt examines the role of wildfire in the landscapes of the Western US, and how a new, more fire-friendly view is taking hold after 150 years of fire suppression.

For the last 10 months, I have covered a seismic attitude shift radiating through the American West; our society is starting to embrace the idea that wildfires are a healthy, inevitable part of the landscape. After 150 years of prevention & suppression, we are recognizing the need to adapt to live with fire, even as climate change contributes to wildfire severity.

I have searched for and found concrete initiatives that are unlocking a livable future in the region, which involve respect for and acceptance of fire’s natural role. The project also examines how past decisions have contributed to our current wildfire circumstances, and how current stakeholders are driving new programs of public education, risk reduction, and active landscape management into organizations and communities that have historically resisted change.

The concept of wildfire acceptance is controversial in a time of rampant risk aversion, but is absolutely necessary for a sustainable future. Those in the American West need to take advantage of a relatively quiet 2023 fire season in order to improve home defenses and to educate themselves on the positive impacts of low-intensity fire cycles.