Life on the Range examines impact of Elk Complex Fire in Idaho

"There was lightning everywhere, and I was listening on the fire channel frequency to the Danskin Lookout, and he started calling in fire reports everywhere. And we just went, 'Oh my god.' And then it went crazy from there."

Those are the words of Randy Davison, a rancher in the path of this past summer's massive Elk Complex Fire in Idaho, which ultimately consumed 281,000 acres.

Although Western states have lived through this scene all too often, we don't always see what happens after the fire. Now, a story on the Life on the Range website by Steve Steubner takes you from the beginning of the wildfire through the frantic efforts of ranchers to save livestock and buildings. And once the fire is contained, the story examines the challenges faced by ranchers who have lost their grazing land.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and others discuss the value of active range management (Here's what Western Governors have proposed in a similar area). There's also discussion of the other damages caused by the fire, including the loss of sage grouse habitat.

Learn more by watching the story and visit Life on the Range.

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