National Parks Traveler Episode 133: Wildfires In the Parks

By Kurt Repanshek - August 29th, 2021

Climate change has been a growing factor in the behavior of wildfires in the West. Shifting weather patterns have led to drier conditions across the region, forests that usually are accustomed to arid conditions are being stressed even more by the current situation.

During 2020 we saw the largest fires on record burn in Rocky Mountain National Park, and this year Lassen Volcanic National Park has endured the flames of the Dixie Fire.

To gain a better understanding of the wildfire situation in the West, and how climate change is affecting wildfires, we’ve reached out to an expert to discuss the situation. We're joined by Robin Wills, the National Park Service’s chief of fire and aviation for the Pacific West Region.

This conversation was recorded a week ago, so while the overall discussion about climate change and wildfires remains pertinent, to find the latest on the Dixie Fire and its impact on Lassen Volcanic National Park, visit the national Incident Information System.

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:05 No’Easter - Nature’s Symphony - The Sounds of Acadia
1:26 Western National Parks Association
1:48 Interior Federal Credit Union
2:23 Nova Scotia Tourism
2:52 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
3:16 Robin Wills, the National Park Service’s chief of fire and aviation for the Pacific West Region, discusses the Dixie Fire and how climate change is altering fire behavior.
22:29 Amaranth - Bill Mize - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
22:41 Grand Teton National Park Foundation
23:12 Friends of Acadia
23:38 North Cascades Institute
23:57 Potrero Group
24:23 Washington’s National Park Fund
25:03 Our discussion of the Dixie Fire and climate change continues.
44:11 The Horsemen - Randy Petersen - The Spirit of South Dakota
44:36 Episode Closing
45:00 Orange Tree Productions
45:34 Splitbeard Productions
45:45 National Parks Traveler footer

Lassen Volcanic National Park

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