June 22, 2023
Lee Frelich was recently a guest on WCCO's Talking Points with Esme Murphy. The episode, which aired June 21, 2023, focuses on the health risks of smog caused by forest fires and other forms of air pollution in Minnesota. As a forestry expert, Frelich provides context for why wildfires are getting bigger and more frequent. He discusses how our warming climate creates shorter springs and later falls, as well as more episodic precipitation, resulting in more time for vegetation to dry out and longer fire seasons. He also clarifies the role forest management can – and can't – play in wildfire prevention.
Watch the full segment" Talking Points: The health risks from Minnesota's hazy skies.