(Missoula) New research out of the University of Montana suggests that suppression of wildfires can actually make wildfire occurrences worse.
This study was based on computer simulations rather than “real-world” observations, because during real life fires there are too many confounding variables that may skew data or otherwise taint research.
The scientific journal “Nature Communications” this week published a UM research project that used computer simulations to show that fire suppression increases the likelihood that subsequent wildfires will be worse than if the area had been allowed to burn under the right conditions.
Instead, UM researchers say, smaller fires should be allowed to burn where safely possible.
