The White House on Monday will convene a meeting with dozens of fire chiefs from across the country to discuss climate change’s affects on forest fires, and to unveil the findings of a task force established last March on the issue.
The task force recommended establishing a Federal Fire Science Coordination Council that would: “ensure regular exchange among the leaders of those federal organizations that either produce or use fire science; strengthen coordination and collaboration among the organizations that produce wild land-fire science and technology; establish mechanisms to systematically assess user needs and priorities for science, research and technology support; and define national-level needs for federal fire science in support of the fire-management community.”
The task force was convened because of the increase in forest fires. From 2000-13, almost 300 firefighters have been killed combating wild fires, the White House stated.
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The White House said every western state has seen an increase in the number and intensity of wildfires, and in the length of fire season, which, on average, is now 78 days longer.
In 2012, approximately 68,000 wildfires claimed more than 9.3 million acres — the third highest since national statistic collection began in 1960, the White House said.
Although “no single fire can be blamed on climate change,” lengthening season and severity can be, the White House said. In addition, more forest fires affect air quality and water supplies.
At the roundtable, which Vice President Joe Biden will address, the chiefs will commit to ensuring that “firefighters have the information, training and resources required to face the current and growing threats that climate impacts are having … and to ensure community resilience by encouraging wild-land fire prevention and mitigation practices by property owners, communities and local governments,” The White House stated.
“President Obama has made clear that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing our country and our planet,” a White House statement issued Monday read. “With a changing climate comes more extreme weather, including droughts and wildfires.”
