** Wildfire season heats up in the West
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Thursday, May 13, 2021
Wildfire, U.S. Department of the Interior ([link removed])

Across the West, wildfire season has already started. In Arizona, a fire in the Prescott National Forest has already burned ([link removed]) thousands of acres and evacuated several nearby communities. With no precipitation on the horizon, two other Arizona national forests have imposed fire restrictions ([link removed]) .

After last year's catastrophic wildfire season, persisting drought throughout the Southwest signals that another active season is likely. The region is experiencing the worst drought in 400 years ([link removed]) , driven by rising temperatures due to climate change.

Other states, including California, Utah, and New Mexico, are gearing up for a busy fire season. New Mexico State Forestry Wildfire Prevention and Communications Coordinator Wendy Mason said ([link removed]) , “Right now, New Mexico is facing one of the worst droughts on record. Increasing temperatures and lack of moisture due to climate change have left our lands parched and primed for wildfire. While the Forestry Division and its local, state, federal, and tribal partners are well prepared, we can’t predict when the next catastrophic wildfire will occur.” After a record 4.2 million acres burned in California ([link removed]) last year, the state has hired an extra 1,399 firefighters for the upcoming season. Utah
([link removed]) started training nearly a month earlier than usual in order to be prepared for early season fires.

In Colorado, leaders from all levels of government, including U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, visited ([link removed]) the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar last week. The 2020 Cameron Peak Fire was the largest in the state's history, burning more than 200,000 acres. Governor Jared Polis and other state officials used the visit to express the urgency of wildfire preparedness across agencies and action on climate change.
Quick hits


** U.S. has entered unprecedented climate territory, EPA warns
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** Revival planned for conservation network dismantled by Trump
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E&E News ([link removed])


** In a visit to the Cameron Peak fire burn scar, Colorado leaders want to spark climate urgency
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Colorado Public Radio ([link removed])


** Tribal Nations feeling the heat of climate change
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Indian Country Today ([link removed])


** Leave No Trace principles help preserve national parks
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KZMU ([link removed])


** Bureau of Land Management, state agencies prepare for upcoming wildfire season
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ABC4 ([link removed]) | Mercury News ([link removed]) | Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])


** Group urges U.S. to give Joshua trees immediate protection, citing threat from heat, wildfires
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Palm Springs Desert Sun ([link removed])


** New Mexico strengthens proposed regulations to reduce greenhouse gases
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Capital and Main ([link removed]) | Albuquerque Journal ([link removed]) (opinion)
Quote of the day
We want to reach people in every corner of this country because there is no small town, big city or rural community that’s unaffected by the climate crisis. Americans are seeing and feeling the impacts up close with increasing regularity.”
—EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Washington Post ([link removed])
Picture this


** @GlacierNPS ([link removed])
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Happy Birthday, Glacier! A lot has happened in the century that's passed since 1910—but even at the venerable age of 111, you look as good as ever.

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