Gongratulations to the environmentalists

Here we are in the middle of summer, with more than 2.5 million acres of forests already burned, with more than 30,000 people and visitors evacuated and fleeing their homes and hotels, and firefighters putting their lives on the line. A new fire seems to break out every other day.

While the environmentalists garner the headlines for their attempts to disrupt our businesses, little is heard in the press or from environmentalists about how and why they should take the blame for the destruction of the very thing they pledge to save-our forests.

By the way let's add Washington also. There is no doubt that a series of environmental laws passed over the last 10 years has contributed mightily to the state of our public forests today. In fact these laws have fueled the fires. No one can be blamed for the seven year drought, but the environmentalists and government can be blamed for pursuing policies that were clearly disastrous and have led to as much as 400 tons of undergrowth per acre covering the tinderbox dry forest floor.

Environmentalists have recently stated that it is unfair to make them scapegoats for blocking efforts to thin forests. But, why not? They have been making this industry scapegoats for years.

They can unfurl their banners, they can sit in trees, they can disrupt association events, or go to court, but nowhere do I hear them taking accountability for the sorry state of our public lands and forests. We are ablaze thanks to the kowtowing of government to the minority who always manage to grab publicity while presenting a false picture to the confused public. For sure there are many who are well meaning, but unfortunately it is the extremists who steal the thunder. While progress