Briana KoenemanThe head of the U.S. Forest Service says it's working to treat millions of acres of land across the U.S. in order to prevent deadly wildfires.
In an interview with NPR, Vicki Christiansen said wildfires are now a year-round phenomenon.
And she said her agency is working to prevent fires on 80 billion acres of public lands by prioritizing treatments like thinning, bush clearing and prescribed burning.
Christiansen told the outlet: "Our national priority is to improve the condition of our nation's forests and grasslands."
Late last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order promoting "active management" of U.S. forests, rangelands and other federal acreage to reduce wildfire risks. But experts say officials also need to address other issues — such as climate change — to truly tackle the growing wildfire problem.
Last year, wildfires caused significant damage in the U.S., especially in California. Blazes there destroyed thousands of structures, killing more than 90 people.
And this year has the potential to be dangerous as well. Data released by the National Interagency Fire Center this week shows above normal wildfire potential in Western Washington, Oregon and California.
