When Controlled Burns Go Bad
“When Controlled Burns Go Bad, The Deadly Lessons of California’s 2020 North Complex Fire”. This article by Dr Bob Zybach and Frank Carrol examines the 2020 North Complex Fire in northern California, exploring how a lightning-sparked wildfire that was initially left unstaffed eventually grew into a catastrophic event. It highlights the risks of wildfire management decisions and controlled burn strategies when conditions allow fires to rapidly expand and threaten nearby communities.
Burned Out: Deadly National Forest Fires Now Entering Towns
Dr. Bob Zybach examines recent National Forest wildfires that have burned into Western communities, comparing recent losses with historical trends and arguing that current forest conditions and management practices have increased wildfire risk to towns and rural landscapes.
A GROWING SEA OF SNAGS
North Umpqua River Wildfires, 2002–2022: Risks and Recommendations by Dr. Bob Zybach examines the causes and impacts of catastrophic wildfire in the North Umpqua basin following the 2020 Labor Day Fires. The report analyzes fuel conditions, prior fire effects, and landscape management factors contributing to fire behavior, and offers recommendations aimed at reducing future wildfire risk to communities, infrastructure, and forest ecosystems.