Payton Hampton
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Smokey Bear: He’s got it all wrong
Originally published by Deseret News. Everyone’s favorite forest mascot turns 74 this month. Smokey Bear has long been a staple of forest fire prevention with the slogan “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires.” Over his career, Smokey has spread this…
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Wildfire retardant is often ineffective. Here’s what communities should do instead.
Originally published by The Salt Lake Tribune. Right now air tankers are flying the skies above the western United States where wildfires threaten homes. When these massive firefighting airplanes drop gallons and gallons of retardant, it can seem like the cavalry…
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From a wildland firefighter — why we need more wildfires
Originally published by the Deseret News. In June 2015, less than 24 hours after answering a phone call, I was on a plane to Alaska. I had just received my first assignment as a member of a Utah-based Hotshot crew…