Exceptional article, thanks for boldly reaching outside your normal contributors.
These fires command the news because the LA County population, 9.6+ million is larger than the population of a super-majority of US states. (Imagine pounding 9.6+ million in Minnehaha or Pennington County.)
'The problem' is local governments' addiction to permitting almost any development in the wildland-urban interface zone. Let's get accountable. Fires like these are the future of the Black Hills and many western communities. The Jasper fire was a remote wake-up call that is ignored by federal, state, and local governments. Since governments are incapable and unwilling to police the WUI developments or sustainable development it's incumbent on the insurance companies to police them - much as they are with selfish developments in hurricane prone zones and floodplains. One ought be all for 'freedom' to build on one's property - along with the 'freedom' to self-insure. It is not society's duty to save one from ones' selfish and bad judgment. No house, or life in a WUI or floodzone is worth the life of a firefighter or one tax payer dollar. My pines are little more than the potential energy of Roman candles awaiting a spark and wind.
Exceptional article, thanks for boldly reaching outside your normal contributors.
These fires command the news because the LA County population, 9.6+ million is larger than the population of a super-majority of US states. (Imagine pounding 9.6+ million in Minnehaha or Pennington County.)
'The problem' is local governments' addiction to permitting almost any development in the wildland-urban interface zone. Let's get accountable. Fires like these are the future of the Black Hills and many western communities. The Jasper fire was a remote wake-up call that is ignored by federal, state, and local governments. Since governments are incapable and unwilling to police the WUI developments or sustainable development it's incumbent on the insurance companies to police them - much as they are with selfish developments in hurricane prone zones and floodplains. One ought be all for 'freedom' to build on one's property - along with the 'freedom' to self-insure. It is not society's duty to save one from ones' selfish and bad judgment. No house, or life in a WUI or floodzone is worth the life of a firefighter or one tax payer dollar. My pines are little more than the potential energy of Roman candles awaiting a spark and wind.
Interesting and helpful comparisons. Thanks.