Forest Service changes ‘let it burn’ policy Agency’s move comes days after criticism from Western state politicians By Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times Published: August 4, 2021, 5:07pm Share: A scorched truck rests on a roadside as the Tamarack Fire burns July 17 in the Markleeville community of Alpine County, Calif. The fire began July 4 and was allowed to burn for several days. (noah berger/Associated Press) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Facing criticism over its practice of monitoring some fires rather than quickly extinguishing them, the U.S. Forest Service has told its firefighters to stop using the strategy for now, to help prevent small blazes from growing into uncontrollable conflagrations.