Reduced Public Access in the Name of Safety

[SAJ-99]

I personally don’t care much for the “just in case, you never know, better safe than sorry, see something say something” lame safety culture in this country.
Safety has been hyper prioritized like it’s some kind of obtainable goal. According to science, women place a much higher priority on safety and security than men do. As women’s roles in leadership positions continue to increase, we can probably expect more emphasis on safety.

In AZ they will close USFS roads during the Nov hunting season because it is forecasted to snow or did snow a couple of inches. Incredibly lame

I think litigation is part of the problem. If you look at another industry, let’s say medical care, it becomes more obvious.

 

[Irrelevant]

I brought this up in another thread, but I think it warrants its own thread.

Here in Eastern WA we're seeing increased regulations restricting public use and recreation on public lands due to the wildfire risk. While I think everyone is in agreement that wildfire suck and that we shouldn't go out of our way to start them. The "safety third" in me, gets more and more irritated at this concept that we need to do everything possible to get a zero result (that's my perception of where we're going). When you combine those heavy-handed front-end restrictions with the fact that the FS almost categorically refuses to "put out" fires, you end up with drastically less "access" than we think we have to our public lands.

Example: The Pomas Fire in the Glacier Peak Wilderness area (Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest), it started on June 13, they closed down 100+ sq miles, and are already stating publicly that it'll "burn" until Oct. It's only grown to 1,700 acres in over two weeks, even though it's been 100+ degs the last two days. The nearest MODIS detection is 15 miles from the edge of the area closure. Just a few years ago, a fire like this would have caused some trail closures over maybe a 10-20 sq miles area all in the wilderness. Now it's just ridiculous.

Since I posted that, the fire has doubled to a whopping 3,468 acres! And yet, they increased the closure area to ~333 square miles (213,120 ac.). It has not had a heat signature in weeks. AND... 0% containment.

This is hands down the biggest unjustifiable "taking" of public access I've ever witnessed.

 

[Treeshark]

This is hands down the biggest unjustifiable "taking" of public access I've ever witnessed.

May be some political gamesmanship/retaliation for the DOGE actions at play here.

We have unfortunately seen this strategy used before during government shutdown periods on certain Federal lands.

 

[Forkyfinder]

May be some political gamesmanship/retaliation for the DOGE actions at play here.

We have unfortunately seen this strategy used before during government shutdown periods on certain Federal lands.

Where?

 

[Treeshark]

Where?

Federal Wildlife Refuges are one that I can remember being affected off the top of my head.

Here is a bit more discussion on the topic:

HT Thread

 

[Forkyfinder]

Federal Wildlife Refuges are one that I can remember being affected off the top of my head.

Here is a bit more discussion on the topic:

HT Thread

Guess im not seeing it.