Editorial: Editorial Roundup: Take care with controlled burns

Yakima Herald-Republic, April 6

After decades of almost reflexive suppression of wildfires, land managers increasingly are turning to controlled burns, especially in forests. When done under proper weather conditions and oversight, the practice eliminates underbrush that could burn destructively in an out-of-control fire. Prescribed burning also helps some coniferous trees that require heat from fire to open cones and disperse seeds.

But it does come with caveats. Occasionally, a burn gets out of control with catastrophic results; in 2000, a prescribed New Mexico burn, which was designed to cover 900 acres, raced through 40,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes. More frequently, smoke from the burns can create air-quality issues that affect populated areas.

All these are concerns in Central Washington, which is fire country during the summer and early fall. In the just-completed legislative session, lawmakers directed the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a pilot project that will evaluate the benefits of controlled burns.

The impetus for the new law came from a legislator who represents Okanogan County, which endured especially destructive wildfires in the past two years. Under the legislation, the DNR will contract with groups to conduct the burns and then prepare a report to the Legislature by December 2018. The new law also directs the department to approve single-day or multiple-day permits if weather conditions indicate that air-quality violations will be limited.

The success of this program hinges on DNR conducting its due diligence and working with weather forecasters to avoid smoke drifting into cities and towns – and to avert a fire that blows up out of control.

Tri-City Herald, April 5

VETO STUNT. State history was made during this year’s legislative session, but not in a way we want to see repeated.

As the March 10 regular session deadline approached, it was obvious lawmakers once again would be heading into overtime. Gov. Jay Inslee, angry at another delay, warned he would veto every bill on his desk if they couldn’t hammer out a supplemental budget.

Well, lawmakers didn’t seem too bothered by Inslee’s threat, and negotiations continued until last week when the Legislature finally got the job done. Inslee, though, followed through with his ultimatum and vetoed a record 27 bills in a single night. Ironically, several were bills he had requested the Legislature approve, which made his veto decision all the more bewildering.

What good did it do? Judging by the reaction of lawmakers – no good.

The stunt actually added to the workload of lawmakers because both chambers ended up overriding the vetoes. It worked out, but these bills never should have been used like pawns in the first place – sacrificed for a political game the governor could not win.

We understand the governor’s frustration at the Legislature’s continued inability to meet the regular session deadline. But killing worthwhile legislation is an abuse of veto power, and it accomplishes nothing.