CHICO, Calif. – Days after his boss generated controversy for suggesting poor forest management is to blame for California’s latest wildfires, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is pledging President Trump’s “full support” to help the torched state recover.
But the former Montana lawmaker is still insisting forest management is key to curbing future disasters.
“I don’t want to finger point. What I want to do, is how do we go from here? As you look at what’s happening in Yosemite Park, we are doing prescribed burns late in the season. We’re collecting timber. We’re moving dead and dying timber. We brought our best scientists and best practices. That’s important,” Zinke said.
Zinke was flanked by Democratic California Gov. Jerry Brown, who has frequently tangled with the administration over climate change. He visited the Incident Command Center for the Camp Fire in Chico, Calif., on Wednesday.