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Land on Fire

Hot show crew faces a fire along a forest road.
U.S. Department of Agriculture / Public Domain
Geronimo Interagency Hotshot Crew along forest road

Nature writer Gary Ferguson says we are facing a “perfect storm” when it comes to wildfires. Climate change has led to less snow, longer droughts, and more wind and there’s a lot of fuel on the forest floors. The result is ten more weeks of fire season than we saw in the early 70s, and those fires are hotter and often beyond control. Ferguson joins us Wednesday to talk about the role fire should play in a healthy ecosystem and the new reality of wildfire in the West.

Gary Ferguson has written many books on nature and science, including Hawks Rest and The Carry Home. His new book, due out June 21, is called Land on Fire: The New Reality of Wildfire in the West. [Indie bookstores|Amazon]

On Saturday, June 17, Gary Ferguson will be at The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City to read and sign his book. The event begins at 2:00 p.m., and you can get more details here

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Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
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