Photo essay: Communities embrace fire to protect against out-of-control blazes

Photo essay: Communities embrace fire to protect against out-of-control blazes

In less than an hour, this hillside will be ablaze — sparks flying, smoke swirling, the forest floor turning into a black carpet. That's all part of the plan. Here in the small town of Roslyn, Washington, local leaders have embraced prescribed burns as a tool to protect their community from wildfires. They're part of a growing effort across the West to empower residents to lead burns on private lands.