“California’s historic wet winter risks making wildfire season even worse”
Today’s News Herald / Havasu News by Tribune News Service, April 16, 2023
SYNOPSIS
California’s heavy rain and snow will increase vegetation growth that some claim may increase the likelihood and severity of wildfires.
CONTENT
TRUTH: “…elevated moisture is now fueling an explosion of plant growth unlike anything the state’s seen in years.” More precipitation can increase vegetation.
EXAGGERATION: “Soon, that growth will dry out, transforming buds and blossoms into kindling.” Many studies show that the main contributor to wildfires is not vegetation growth but hot temperatures, drought and dry weather, and high winds.
FALSE: “…forests have been ravaged by recent blazes.”
Wildfire—including high-severity fire—is a natural and essential component of western forest ecosystems and does not “ravage” the land.
OMISSION: Leaves out how industry has been exploiting the “overgrown fuels” narrative to log public forests.
GRADES
BALANCE: C
Quotes California Department of Forestry along with climate scientists but no environmental advocates to counter industry/agency push to log.
SCIENCE: B-
Some climate science, but no mention of studies debunking industry “fuels” narrative.
OBJECTIVITY: C+
While focusing on the alleged threat of “fuels,” the article does acknowledge that “wet winters don’t guarantee historic fire seasons.”
ETHICS: C
Promotes industry/agency “fuels” narrative used to log western forests without including any opposing view.
FINAL GRADE: C+
CONCLUSION
The article relies almost entirely on guesswork, overplays the role of vegetation in wildfire, and ultimately gives industry and agencies yet another excuse to log forests.
Eco-Integrity Alliance 