The National Forest Service has canceled a bidding process that would allow the Four Forests Initiative to move forward.
That’s a major blow to the state’s ability to manage wildfires.
The primary goal of 4FRI is to reduce wildfire risk by removing small-diameter trees from the forest.
But there is not much of a market for those trees, and the Forest Service has struggled to find one.
A bidding process to solve the problem has dragged on for years, and on Tuesday, the agency pulled the plug.
Congressman Tom O’Halleran blasted the Forest Service for its failure to act.
The Forest Service’s failure to continue the 4FRI contracting process jeopardizes the health of our forests & the safety of #AZ01 communities. USFS must do more reduce the risk of wildfires with the resources & authority we've provided in Congress. https://t.co/6gqbPt6NbE
— Archived: Rep. Tom O'Halleran (@RepOHalleran) September 14, 2021
To learn more about the cancellation, KJZZ's The Show Ryan Heinsius, executive producer at KNAU in Flagstaff.
Hear Ryan Heinsius' Interview With Host Lauren Gilger On The Show
