Putting out every fire is a recipe for long-term disaster. But increasingly extreme weather can turn even remote blazes into dangerous infernos.
On warm summer afternoons in southern British Columbia, thunderclouds bloom over high plateaus and towering mountain peaks. A flash of light. A sharp crack. And a blast of electricity is delivered to another remote hillside.
A new wildfire has started. It won’t be detected for hours or days. But when it is finally discovered, a pivotal decision will have to be made. Should the fire be immediately put out? Or can it be allowed to clear away brush on the forest floor, potentially reducing the intensity of a future blaze while making room for wildlife?
The question, which lies at the heart of BC’s wildfire crisis, isn’t new. But the answer has never been muddier ...
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