Clearing fuels from forests needed

Massive forest fires in western parts of our country are not only choking us with layers of thick smoke but are leaving behind millions of acres of scorched hillsides, ridges, and valleys.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, record wildfire seasons in recent years have destroyed millions of trees. Many forests have burned so severely that natural regeneration isn’t possible, making replanting necessary.

Unfortunately, much of the U.S. Forest Service budget is diverted to fighting massive fires with much less funding left for site preparation and replanting. “This has left the Forest Service...