SPOKANE, Wash. — As fire victims across the Spokane area begin cleanup, many face a critical question: what do you do with burned trees?
The answer is more hopeful than expected. Experts say numerous trees can recover from fire damage, and some species are naturally built to withstand intense heat.
Riverside State Park and the surrounding area are home to ponderosa pines — trees that have survived fires for hundreds of years. While their bark appears damaged and leaves are charred, the interior often remains mostly healthy…