AZ WEEK: Fire Burns, Benefits Southern Arizona

With monsoon season comes the risk of wildfires in Southern Arizona. Arizona Week looks at the consequences of wildfires, both positive and negative from the perspective of ranchers, fire managers, forest workers and biologists.

On the program:

• AZPM’s Zac Ziegler travels to Sycamore Ranch in the Peloncillo Mountains where Bill McDonald has used fire to spur healthy grass growth.

• Guest Host Christopher Conover discusses the role of fire as “nature’s cleaning service” with AZPM Reporter Zac Ziegler.

• Heidi Schewel, a spokesperson with the Coronado National Forest, discusses how the Forest Service revitalizes land burned to the soil – sometimes using airplanes.

• Joshua Taiz, a biologist explains how ecosystems adapt and recover from fire.

• Lightning sparked the Buster Mountain Fire in Catalina State Park this week and the Forest Service is letting it burn. AZPM's Lorraine Rivera spoke to locals about the fire.