In some areas, controlled fires can prevent runaway blazes




PBS NewsHour - Segments show

Summary: As massive fires continue to rage in California, firefighters are setting backfires, dropping flame-retardant from planes and hoping for a break in hot, dry conditions. Another method is to intentionally set fires to tamp down the prospect of larger blazes. Jeff Mapes, senior political reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss.