Running Out of Time

"America is facing a wildfire and smoke crisis that is needlessly destroying our communities and natural environment. Based on exhaustive research, this book describes our broken systems of forest and wildland fire management and offers a variety of innovative and proactive solutions. It’s time for our elected officials to stop making excuses and start addressing this crisis so we can finally bend the curve of today’s mega-fires." —Nick Smith, Founder, Healthy Forests / Healthy Communities, www.healthyforests.org

"Who would have ever guessed that two guys from California and Georgia could write an exceptionally well researched book explaining the underlying causes of the West’s wildfire pandemic?

Well, they did it. David Auchterlonie – a corporate turnaround specialist and Jeffrey Lehman, a propeller head with impressive aviation credentials – have assembled the finest wildfire primer to come down the pike in many years.

Indeed, data rich Running Out of Time: Wildfires and Our Imperiled Forests is a terrific desk reference for anyone who needs “grab and go” information concerning the nation’s wildfire crisis.

Their earthy writing style is easy to understand and it gains towering strength from their generous use of well-illustrated federal data sets that will leave you wondering why in the world our wildfire pandemic wasn’t corralled years ago. They answer that question too. Buy the book!" —Jim Petersen, author, First, Put Out the Fire!, Founder and Chairman, The Evergreen Foundation, www.evergreenmagazine.com

"Neglected for decades, America’s public forestlands are highly vulnerable to increased catastrophic wildfires, insects and disease which threaten the health of the nation’s private forestlands as well. Communities, wildlife, water resources and natural landscapes face increased jeopardy without additional human and capital resources. At least 100 million acres of national forests are at risk of severe wildfire without active forest management.

Unfortunately, our communities have suffered from the lack of effective forest management, wildfire suppression and timber harvests. Today, anti-forestry obstruction and litigation prevent public land managers from implementing forest projects that reduce the risks of wildfires and the carcinogenic smoke they create. Regardless of the misguided good intentions behind these efforts, they are literally loving the forests they wish to protect to death! This book thoroughly examines how our federal and state firefighting agencies lack the funding to meet today’s wildland fire crisis. It provides insights into current firefighting and forest management practices and proposes solutions.

The authors suggest using novel private-public partnerships to muster the resources needed to act now to implement practical and necessary solutions as were accomplished in Texas. The book offers the opportunity to time-test scientifically proven alternatives and emerging technological advancements to determine the best forest management practices based on regional forest conditions. The incentives identified also allow ample investment to address our neglected forest management and wildfire suppression needs." —Tom Boggus, Chairman, National Association of State Foresters Foundation,  Director Emeritus, Texas A&M Forest Service (2008 – 2021), www.stateforesters.org/foundation