Private land used for logging is more prone to severe fire than public lands. A new study shows why

LOS ANGELES — In the Sierra Nevada, private lands used for logging are more likely to experience high-severity fire that devastates forest ecosystems compared to public lands like National Forests.

It’s a fact that’s been known for years— but what exactly causes this discrepancy has remained elusive.

Consequently, the factoid has served as fuel for the longstanding California debate of “who is to blame for our wildfire problem?” while providing little insight for forest managers hoping to address it.

A new study published Wednesday finally offered some answers. By studying detailed data around Plumas National Forest north of Tahoe both before and after a series of devastating wildfires burned 70 percent of the land in just three years, researchers identified the common practices respons