Paul Hessburg and Chris Chambers

Wildfires have burned more than 100 million acres and rangeland since 2000, and most of those fires were “megafires,” according to Paul Hessburg, a research landscape ecologist who at an Ashland talk Wednesday defined megafires as wildfires burning more than 100,000 acres. …His research, coupled with the short documentary-style clips created by North 40 Productions, shaped an invigorating multi-media presentation. …By suppressing fires and eliminating this natural cycle, the forests are facing an epidemic of too many trees, according to Hessburg. …Through his presentation, he proved prescribed burning to be one of the most beneficial ways of keeping wildfires away from our residential areas. …However, prescribed burning isn’t accepted as it should be, he said.