Maya Khosla: Those brown trees are no more susceptible to fire than green ones

Re “Dead trees in Sierra pose serious fire risk” (Page 9A, July 16): We all have serious concerns about the flammability of beetle-affected trees – browned trees that look like kindling waiting to burn. Such concerns have been voiced in recent articles.

Scientists, too, have grown concerned, and have been checking the facts on fire and beetles. For example, Sarah Hart and colleagues used U.S. Forest Service records and fire data from the western States – 12 years of records. They found that “the annual area burned across the western United States is unaffected by mountain pine beetle infestation.”

Several other researchers who have used actual fire data have reached similar conclusions. These findings could assist agencies who are considering major removals of beetle-affected trees.

Of course, we must continue to be aware of fire dangers during drought years – but it’s a relief to realize that beetle-affected trees are no more flammable than live trees.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Maya Khosla: Those brown trees are no more susceptible to fire than green ones."