"What do we do now, Ollie?"

Abstract

A personal overview of why California is suffering billion-dollar-per-year costs and losses from wildland fire is presented. Two primary and ten supplemental factors contribute to the huge losses. The primary factors are lack of planning effectiveness and lack of adequate fuels management on a sustained basis. Supplemental factors target organizational and political weaknesses that contribute to the destructive consequences of the primary factors. Correction or elimination of the dozen factors can significantly reduce costs and losses in the future. Actions to make the needed corrections are suggested.

Parent Publication

• The Biswell symposium: fire issues and solutions in urban interface and wildland ecosystems; February 15-17, 1994; Walnut Creek, California

Citation

Irwin, Robert L. 1995. "What do we do now, Ollie?". In: Weise, David R.; Martin, Robert E., technical coordinators. The Biswell symposium: fire issues and solutions in urban interface and wildland ecosystems; February 15-17, 1994; Walnut Creek, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-158. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 17-22