Native Americans in the Western United States used to conduct burns regularly, which helped reduce fuels in the forests that contribute to major wildfires. European settlers put a halt to the practice when they arrived, both because they didn’t understand the role of fire, but also to deprive Indigenous people of access to lands. Now there is a movement to bring back Indigenous burning practices, but it requires confronting an ugly history.
Fire Down Under
Australia ended 2019 with devastating bushfires that torched huge swaths of the country. Such fires are common in Australia, but the scale of the blazes this year was startling. The conditions fueling the flames built up for years, including Australia’s notoriously volatile weather, a prolonged drought, and climate change.