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In the News

Federal Grant Supports UI Logger Safety Research

The University of Idaho received $825,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop techniques to save the lives of those working in the woods.

Researchers from the College of Natural Resources working in UI’s Experimental Forest will use the funds to install GPS technology on the heavy equipment used in logging. The technology will allow other equipment operators to track the locations of their fellow workers without leaving the equipment cab.

“Federal support of research to improve the safety of employees engaged in this dangerous, yet highly necessary, industry is timely and relevant to the industry,” said Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho. “I can’t think of anywhere more suited for conducting this research than on the UI Experimental Forest.”

“Logging safety is always a concern, and being able to conduct research to save lives of our Idahoans is the most important research we can do,” said Rob Keefe, assistant professor at the College of Natural Resources.

SPI Mostly Unscathed

Capital Press reported that Sierra Pacific Industries has to date lost less than 1,000 acres to wildfires burning throughout California. This year is a bit of a reprieve for the company that lost many acres to fires in 2012 and 2013.

SPI crews have been helping Cal Fire battle nearby blazes by providing maps, opening gates, laying out the best locations for firelines, and giving water locations, said company spokesman Mark Pawlicki in an email.

“Also we are building a network of fuel breaks across our ownership and trying to tie them into similar breaks on other lands,” he added.

Tracking Wildfires

As of mid August, 50 large wildfires were raging in primarily the western states. If you are interested in following the large incidents, just log on to http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/#. There you can find the latest updates on fires throughout the country. Information includes acres burnt, location, cause, incident team type, containment status, and more.

Beetle-Killed Forests Aren’t More Prone to Fire

A new study from Oregon State University shows that forests damaged by insects are not prone to more fires.

“As an insect outbreak progresses, the forest is actually experiencing tree mortality, and that results in dead trees that have reduced foliage in the canopy,” said Garrett Meigs, a coauthor of the study. “So you have less fuel available for a fire.”

The study looked at more than three decades of fire and insect dynamics in the Northwest. When it comes to wildfires, it turns out that drought and snowpack have more impact.

Wooden Skyscrapers Could Fuel Timber Demand in Washington and Oregon

The International Business Times reported that a growing number of architects and designers predict that Americans will soon see a new breed of wooden high-rise buildings take shape that could shore up the struggling forestry industry in states such as Washington.

Major architectural firms and government agencies are promoting the wood structures for their ability to generate jobs in rural areas and improve the sustainability of cities and towns.

In fact, the U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition has just wrapped up. The sponsors announced that the winners will soon be announced. The competition sponsors have provided notice through the Federal Register that the prize purse for the competition is now $3 million due to the contribution of an additional $1 million from the Softwood Lumber Board. For more information, visit www.tallwoodbuildingcompetition.org.

July/August 2015

In the News

Federal Grant Supports UI Logger Safety Research

SPI Mostly Unscathed

Tracking Wildfires

Wooden Skyscrapers Could Fuel Timber Demand in Washington and Oregon