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Blame Uncle Sam for US megafires that turn money and jobs into ashes

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Since 1944, Smokey, a cartoon bear in a ranger hat, has told generations of Americans that “Only you can prevent forest fires.”

But that’s not entirely true. Because Smokey Bear, like the rest of us, has overlooked the biggest villain behind today’s wildfires.

In fact, the greatest threat to America’s forests isn’t the family around a campfire. For decades, it’s been a federal system waging war on logging, turning public forests into tinderboxes one blocked timber sale and lawsuit at a time.

This year alone, over 7 million acres have burned nationwide across more than 49,000 wildfires, 68% more than the 10-year average.

Fires have already destroyed over 1,000 homes and structures, displacing families and stretching firefighting resources across the West.

Nevada Hawk Fire explodes in size as it surges towards Reno, devours over 15K acres

Climate change activists want to make California insurance crisis even worse

Nevada governor declares state of emergency as Hawk Fire grows to over 10,500 acres

Oregon alone has seen more than 2.3 million acres burned this year, breaking the state record set two years ago.

The damage doesn’t stop at the fire line: Smoke has blanketed the West, with Prineville, Ore., hitting an Air Quality Index reading of 670 (under 50 is considered “good”) on Aug. 5 — so extreme it’s barely measurable on the standard........

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