The Ritzville Adams County Journal - Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887

Regenerating millions of western forested acres scorched by large wildfires is a herculean task costing hundreds of billions. However, healthy growing woodlands are essential to reducing atmospheric CO2 and providing abundant clean air and fresh water for people, crops, fish, and wildlife.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center nearly 3 million acres have already burned this year in the U.S. mostly in Arizona, New Mexico and Alaska. By year’s end, that total may exceed 2019, when over 5 million acres of forest lands were charred in California, Oregon and Washington.

Wildfires...