Skip Navigation

Forest fires rage across the western US, how vulnerable is Pennsylvania to fire risk?

Area damaged by the Bootleg Fire smolders near the Northwest edge of the blaze on Friday, July 23, 2021, near Paisley, Ore. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

 Nathan Howard / AP

Area damaged by the Bootleg Fire smolders near the Northwest edge of the blaze on Friday, July 23, 2021, near Paisley, Ore. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 9am and 7pm on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”

Airdate: Thursday, July 29, 2021

Forest fires are ravaging the western US, burning more than 1.5 million acres in 12 states. Wildfire smoke is so extensive it has created hazy sky conditions as far east as New York State.

Firefighters are struggling to respond to the changing fire situation, including weather forecasts that do little to improve the poor conditions in the drought-stricken states. 

How vulnerable is Pennsylvania to wildfire risk and what resources does the state have to combat the threat to forests and residents?

Mike Kern, Bureau of Forestry’s Division of Forest Fire Protection chief within the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources appears on Smart Talk Thursday to detail their plan to prevent and suppress wildfires.

Support for WITF is provided by:

Become a WITF sponsor today »

Support for WITF is provided by:

Become a WITF sponsor today »

Up Next
Smart Talk

Author Phillip Rucker on the final year in the Trump White House