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Letter to the editor- Burning mad about burns

To the editor:

I recently read in the View Point section of the Tahoe Daily Tribune an article by Linda Massey, spokeswoman for the Lake Tahoe Basin Forest Management Unit. In her article, Ms. Massey touts the attributes of controlled burns. I found this article replete with unfounded assumptions that bordered on total lack of intelligent analysis. Rather than attempt to assess each ill-founded assumption, I once again pose the question, “Since there are alternative methods to reduce this ‘fuel overloading,’ why does the Forest Service elect a method that is detrimental to humans?” The only answer I have heard so far that contains some logic is that it is cheaper to light a match to the forest than to remove the fuel in a more productive manner.

Mr. Frank Moffett, director of the Sugar Pine Project, brought to my attention that there are funds now available to remove this excess fuel in a manner other than with fire. Indeed, this alternative method will actually provide byproducts that can be used to produce energy or help in soil erosion. It is truly absurd to consider using fire when these funds are now available to address this fuel overloading situation in a sane manner. We do not allow agencies to pollute Lake Tahoe by dumping sewage into our water. Why should we allow an agency to pollute our air because it is cheaper than alternative methods of addressing this problem?



Jack L. Harrington, D.D.S.

Zephyr Cove


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