Is The Forest Services Ready For Wildfire Season? Bentz Isn’t Sur

Eastern Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz questioned the head of the U.S. Forest Service about wildfire readiness. While Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said his agency has hired more firefighters, overgrown forests and infestations put public lands at risk.

"So, we have significant forest health issues across the country, predominantly in the west.

Bentz blames the Endangered Species Act for preventing logging he believes would improve forest health.

"What I need from you is a summary of how many lawsuits have been filed, the amount of tons of wood that have been prevented from being removed from the forest and the foundation for those lawsuits," Bentz noted last week.

The Center for Western Priorities responded to Thursday’s hearing, saying massive layoffs at the Forest Service led to a reduction in fuels reduction work that would have better prepared Oregon’s forests for the impending fire season.