The Magazine

America Is Burning: The Fight Against Wildfires Gets Real

By David H. Freedman Aug 2014
Years of cima!e change" drough!" and rec#ess deveo$men! have !ransformed neary a of !he
American %es! in!o a gian! !inder&o'. (s !here any!hing )e can do !o #ee$ from going u$ in fames*
Traffic +ams are a fac! of ife in ,ou!hern -aifornia. Bu! fe) mo!oris!s have seen !he i#es of !he one
!ha! s!randed !housands of vehices in May on (n!ers!a!e . near ,an Marcos" a&ou! /. mies nor!h of
,an Diego. As vehices ided" )as of fame arcing as high as .0 fee!" and )hi$$ed &y )inds of u$ !o
00 mies $er hour" raced aong an ad+acen! hiside" ri$$ing !hrough acres of $arched !rees and shru&s
and &o!!ing ou! !he s#y )i!h roiing" go)ing" !hic# smo#e. And !ha! )asn1! !he ony ou!2of2con!ro
&aze raging3 A! one $oin!" ,an Diego -oun!y firefigh!ers )ere gra$$ing )i!h nine se$ara!e )idfires 4
and si' of !hose &azes )ere )inning.
The fires &urned for nine days" scorching 5"000 acres" forcing !he evacua!ion of 120"000 residen!s from
homes and &usinesses" and sending neary 670 miion )or!h of $ro$er!y and firefigh!ing funds u$ in
smo#e. Bu! )ha! reay made !he ,an Diego fires scary )asn1! !heir feroci!y so much as !he !iming. 8%e
usuay don1! see !hese #inds of condi!ions un!i a!e in ,e$!em&er"8 says -a$!ain 9ichard -ordova of
-a Fire" !he s!a!e1s )idfire2figh!ing agency. 8(! caugh! a o! of $eo$e off guard.8
(! $ro&a&y )on1! ca!ch anyone off guard ne'! year" !hough" &ecause &ig" ou!2of2season fires are s!ar!ing
!o oo# i#e !he ne) norma. For as ong &ac# as !here are records" -aifornia1s )idfire season hasn1!
!ruy go!!en under )ay un!i fa. Bu! !hrough mos! of 201/ and 2014" )idfires have &een raging
amos! cons!an!y" essen!iay eaving !he s!a!e )i!h a 122mon!h )idfire season.
And i!1s no! +us! -aifornia. (n May" Arizona" :#ahoma" and even Aas#a a )ere hi! &y arge
)idfires" mon!hs ahead of schedue. More &azes are occurring in fa and )in!er" as )e. 8(n
;ovem&er" a fire in !he -oorado 9oc#ies &urned across a sno)2covered fores! )hie firefigh!ers
)a!ched" as!ounded"8 says -har Mier" a $rofessor of environmen!a anaysis a! <omona -oege" in
-aremon!" -aifornia" )ho s!udies )idfire. 8Tha! may &e some!hing no one has ever seen &efore.8
:ver !he $as! !hree years" neary every )es!ern s!a!e has e'$erienced i!s mos! devas!a!ing )idfires in
more !han .0 years. (n 2012" -oorado1s %ado -anyon Fire )as!ed 1="000 acres of )idand" dis$aced
/2"000 $eo$e" and &urned more !han /40 homes. Tha! fire &ro#e a record !ha! had &een se! +us! a fe)
days &efore i! s!ar!ed" )hen !he High <ar# Fire &urned more !han 2.0 homes" #ied one $erson" and
&urned do)n =0"000 acres. And i! )as a record !ha! )oud s!and ony un!i !he foo)ing year" )hen !he
201/ Bac# Fores! Fire incinera!ed .05 homes.
(n 2011" Arizona os! haf a miion acres in a singe fire> !)o years a!er" a massive &aze caimed !he
ives of 15 ho!sho!s. (n 2012" ;e) Me'ico sa) /02"000 acres &urned" and :regon os! 1.2 miion
acres. Tha! same year" singe fires cos! (daho /41"000 acres and Mon!ana 2.0"000 acres" )hie a
%ashing!on fire &urned do)n 71 homes. -aifornia1s 201/ 9im Fire &urned in!o Yosemi!e" des!roying
2.0"000 acres of some of !he s!a!e1s mos! $ris!ine )iderness.
These &ig fires no! ony s$read far!her" !hey !end !o &urn ho!!er and are harder !o $u! ou!" ma#ing !hem
more dangerous !o !hose )ho $u! !hemseves in harm1s )ay. 8They &ecome 1cano$y fires1 !ha! +um$ fas!
from !ree!o$ !o !ree!o$" )i!h !em$era!ures reaching a !housand degrees"8 says Bernhard ?oe#e!" a
-aifornia )idfire ris# consu!an!. 8They are horrific for firefigh!ers.8
"In military terms, what these fires do is encircle the community. Then they close in," says fire-safety
expert Bernhard Voelkelt, on land scorched by the May !"# $tiwana %ire in &ancho 'ucamon(a,
'alifornia. )*hoto(raph by *eter Bohler+
(!1s !he same s!ory !hroughou! !he ,ou!h" much of !he ,ou!heas!" and even $ar!s of !he ;or!heas! 4 a of
!hese regions have e'$erienced record )idfires. Firefigh!ers" fores! managers" communi!y eaders" and
scien!is!s !e !he same !ae3 They1ve never seen so many fires of such size" in!ensi!y" and des!ruc!ion.
Ano!her $oin! of agreemen!3 (!1s going !o ge! much )orse. 8%e can1! manage )idfire any onger"8 says
Mier. 8(! is ou! of our con!ro.8
Dave Cleaves has been sounding !ha! aarm for neary 2. years. An economis! and former $rofessor"
-eaves has s$en! more !han !)o decades he$ing !he @.,. Fores! ,ervice deveo$ economic modes !o
he$ de!ermine )he!her !he amoun! s$en! on firefigh!ing )as +us!ified &y !he amoun! saved in $ro$er!y
damage &y $u!!ing !he fires ou!.
(n !he a!e 15=0s" -eaves found himsef )ondering3 %hy )as !he @.,. &eing hi! &y more and more
uncon!roa&e fires* @$ un!i !hen" increasing inves!men!s in firefigh!ing seemed !o have rendered
)idfires !ama&e. Bu! in 15=5" =0/ s!ruc!ures &urned do)n in -aifornia )idfires. (n 1550" 741
s!ruc!ures )ere os! in a singe fire. (n 1551" more !han /"/00 homes )ere !orched in a fires!orm near
:a#and. Throughou! !he 15=0s" an average of / miion acres had &urned each year in !he @.,.> &y
1551" !he num&er e'ceeded . miion acres. 8Aarge $ar!s of )hoe coun!ies in !he %es! )ere going u$
in singe fires"8 says -eaves. 8%e1d never seen fires i#e !ha!.8
-eaves $ored over !he da!a and came !o a dis!ur&ing concusion" one !ha! seemed amos! $re$os!erous
a! !he !ime3 A so) &u! acceera!ing rise in average !em$era!ures in !he %es! )as !i$$ing !he )idands
in!o a s!a!e of un$receden!ed vunera&ii!y !ha! )oud render fires increasingy uncon!roa&e. Today"
)e ca i! cima!e change. A! !he !ime" -eaves1 insigh! )as mos!y ignored.
The ,.-. %orest -er.ice/s 0a.e 'lea.es has been warnin( about the link between climate chan(e and
wildfires for the past two decades. )*hoto(raph by 1ohn 2oomis+
Throughou! !he 1550s" s!a!e and federa officias s!rugged !o ge! a gri$ on !hese ne)" massive fires &y
engaging in an ever2escaa!ing firefigh!ing arms race. The ran#s of )idfire figh!ers s)eed !o more
!han 10"000" and !hese !roo$s )ere eBui$$ed )i!h fee!s of aircraf! and ground vehices for
!rans$or!a!ion and for s$raying )a!er and fire su$$ressan!s" and es!a&ishing !he enormous mo&ie
infras!ruc!ure needed !o su$$or! i! a. The na!iona firefigh!ing command and coordina!ion cen!er in
Boise" (daho" )as &eefed u$ so !ha! cre)s and eBui$men! coud &e shuffed &e!)een !he mu!i$e fires
!ha! )ere &rea#ing ou! across !he %es!. These effor!s $roved successfu in sBueching 5= $ercen! of a
)idfires. @nfor!una!ey" !he remaining 2 $ercen! $roved !o &e ca!as!ro$hic &azes ca$a&e of
conver!ing miions of acres of fores! and !housands of homes in!o ash.
-eaves1 insis!ence !ha! some!hing &ig )as ha$$ening )as $aid i!!e a!!en!ion !o &y !he Ceorge %.
Bush adminis!ra!ion" )hich ignored cima!e change. 8( )as +us! someone running around crea!ing
$ro&ems"8 -eaves says.
Today" -eaves1 !i!e is cima!e change adviser !o !he chief of !he @.,. Fores! ,ervice. And he is finay
&eing heard" and a! !he highes! eves. <residen! :&ama has &een ou!s$o#en !his year on !he
rea!ionshi$ &e!)een cima!e change and )idfires. And many in -ongress have &een caing a!!en!ion
!o !he $ro&em. 8%idfires are ge!!ing more in!ense" more dangerous" and more e'$ensive !o figh!"8
says ,en. 9on %yden" an :regon Democra! )ho has &een $ushing for changes in )idfire $oicy.
The average )arming in !he %es!" says -eaves" has &een dece$!ivey sigh! 4 +us! a sma frac!ion of a
degree $er year for !he $as! severa decades. Bu! !ha! !iny increase has crea!ed a gro)ing is! of
conseBuences3 !rees and soi drying ou! from drough!> a s!ee$ reduc!ion in !he )in!er sno)$ac# cri!ica
!o inhi&i!ing fire> an invasion of &ar# &ee!es" moun!ain $ine &ee!es" and o!her insec!s !ha! !urn iving
!rees in!o highy famma&e dead ones> !he encroachmen! of more2famma&e $an!s from !he ,ou!h>
and !he e'$anding of !he fire season &y neary !hree mon!hs. 8These are mu!i$e" in!erac!ing sources of
s!ress on our fores!s" and !hey1re a increasing !he fire hazard"8 -eaves says. 8( !hin# !he resu! )i &e
!ha! )e1re going !o see an average of may&e 10"000 )idfires &urning 10 miion acres a year.8 He
concedes he1s $ro&a&y &eing conserva!ive. :!her e'$er!s $redic! an annua )idfire des!ruc!ion of
coser !o 12 miion acres 4 an area !)ice !he size of Maryand.
Tha!1s four !imes as many acres as &urned annuay in !he 15=0s on average. The si' )ors! fire seasons
in !he $as! haf2cen!ury have occurred since 2000. And a decades2ong series of increasingy in!ense
)es!ern drough!s )i con!inue !o ma#e !he si!ua!ion much )orse. (n a s!udy $u&ished in !he
$res!igious +ourna ;a!ure Ceoscience" a !eam of researchers s!udied !he )es!ern 200042004 drough!
and concuded i! had &een !he mos! severe of !he $as! =00 years 4 a !rend !ha! is e'$ec!ed !o con!inue
!hroughou! !he cen!ury.
3 fast-mo.in( wildfire burns in the hills abo.e 4lendora, about 5 miles northeast of downtown 2os
3n(eles. 6othin( unusual there except for the date7 1anuary "8, !"#. In fact, in much of the 9est, fire
season is now a yearlon( e.ent. This bla:e, the 'olby %ire, consumed almost ,!!! acres and forced
the e.acuation of ;,8!! people. )&in(o <. 9. 'hu = 3*+
Many o!her regions !ha! are no! associa!ed )i!h )idfires are aso seeing a gro)ing ris#. :ver !he $as!
fe) years" Te'as has seen grassand fires of such des!ruc!ion !ha! Cov. 9ic# <erry )as moved !o reach
$as! his an!i4&ig governmen! $rinci$es !o reBues! federa he$. Drough! has $ushed far enough eas! !o
$rovide Aa#e Michigan and Aa#e Huron )i!h record2o) )a!er eves. ?irginia had one of i!s )ors!
)idfire years ever in 2012" )i!h neary .0"000 acres &urned. Dven ;e) Eersey1s $ine &arrens are $rone
!o fire" a fac! os! on !he na!iona media un!i a &aze !here in A$ri ef! Manha!!an igh!y dra$ed in
smo#e. (n fac!" !he ;or!heas! e'$erienced 1/"000 )idfires in 201/. And !he ,ou!heas! aso is
vunera&e. 8The )idands around A!an!a have !he same s!ressors )e see in ,ou!hern -aifornia"8 says
Mier. 8%e used !o !hin# of i! as a )es!ern $ro&em" &u! i!1s no) a na!iona one.8
As !he num&er and in!ensi!y of )idfires gro)" !rying !o $u! !hem ou! has &ecome an e'$ensive
$ro$osi!ion. The Fores! ,ervice curren!y has 10"000 firefigh!ers on ca and access !o a fee! of 1= arge
air !an#ers" incuding !)o D-210s" !o s$ray fire re!ardan!. (! aso has more !han 1.0 arge heico$!ers
and is s$ending haf a &iion doars !o ge! more" higher2!ech !an#ers. Figh!ing a singe arge )idfire
cos!s a&ou! 61 miion a day" and a! !he $ea# firefigh!ing eve" !he service has s$en! 6100 miion a
)ee#. (n recen! years" !he !o!a firefigh!ing &i !o !he na!ion from !he service has hi! cose !o 62 &iion
4 a neary !enfod increase from !he eary 1550s. Mean)hie" s!a!es have se$ara!ey &een s$ending an
average of a&ou! 61.. &iion a year on figh!ing )idfires.
Ye! a !hese resources s!i aren1! enough. 8(!1s !oo difficu! !o manage fires under some of !he
condi!ions )e1ve &een seeing" no ma!!er )ha! !oos are avaia&e"8 says Dric Fna$$" a research ecoogis!
)i!h !he Fores! ,ervice1s <acific ,ou!h)es! 9esearch ,!a!ion in 9edding" -aifornia. He no!es !ha! as!
year1s 9im Fire in -aifornia !ore !hrough a&ou! 40"000 acres a day. 8A! !ha! ra!e" you +us! have !o &ac#
off and )a!ch i!"8 he says.
Dven )hie s$ending on fire su$$ression has s#yroc#e!ed over !he $as! 1. years" !he money aoca!ed !o
fire $reven!ion has remained fairy fa!. (n fac!" much of !he money )e1ve s$en! on figh!ing fires )as
su$$osed !o go !o $reven!ing !hem. Bu! over !he $as! seven years" !he Fores! ,ervice has &een forced !o
s!ea 62.2 &iion from !hose $reven!ion funds !o #ee$ i!s su$$ression effor!s going. -ongress has aso
gra&&ed fire2$reven!ion funds !o ma#e u$ for o!her governmen! shor!fas.
;egec!ing $reven!ion" of course" con!ri&u!es !o !he fires1 )orsening in !he foo)ing years" )hich eads
!o more s!eaing of $reven!ion funds. 8The massive &azes !ha! ma#e u$ 1 $ercen! of fires on average
consume /0 $ercen! of !he &iions in fire cos!s"8 says ,en. %yden. 8Bu! ins!ead of !rea!ing !hose fires
as na!ura disas!ers" +us! i#e hurricanes and !ornadoes" !he governmen! is s!uc# in a cyce of &orro)ing
money from !he very $reven!ion )or# !ha! coud ma#e !hese fires ess dangerous and ess e'$ensive.8
In the wake of the 'olby %ire. )6ick ,t = 3*+
The :&ama adminis!ra!ion is !rying !o change !ha!. (!s $ro$osed 201. &udge! incudes a mechanism !o
$ro!ec! a&ou! 61 &iion in )idfire $reven!ion and damage2reduc!ion effor!s. The ;a!iona -ohesive
%idand Fire Managemen! ,!ra!egy" as !he :&ama $an is caed" see#s !o $rovide funding !o he$
$ro!ec! 47 miion homes in 00"000 communi!ies a! ris# from )idfire. The s!ra!egy s$ecificay cas
ou! !he im$or!ance of res!ora!ion and mi!iga!ion" and i! ceary ac#no)edges cima!e change as a
cri!ica fac!or.
The $ro$osa is facing fierce o$$osi!ion. 9e$. ,!eve <earce" a ;e) Me'ico 9e$u&ican" has &een a
$ar!icuary ou!s$o#en cri!ic of !he adminis!ra!ion1s in!en!ion !o do)n$ay firefigh!ing in favor of fores!
managemen! and fire $reven!ion. He and some o!her $oi!icians from !he %es! )an! !o #ee$ a2ou!
firefigh!ing as !he !o$ $riori!y 4 har#ing &ac# !o !he 15/0s" )hen !he Fores! ,ervice1s so2caed 810 am
$oicy8 $romised !o e'!inguish ne) fires &y !he ne'! morning. They aso )an! !o &ring in more ogging
and grazing as a sef2funding form of !hinning. 8( )an! you !o go &ac# !o !he 10 am $oicy" 8 <earce said
in one congressiona s$eech. 8Then e!1s go in and e!1s s!ar! cearing our fores!s and cu!!ing !he fues
ou!.8 Among <earce1s 9e$u&ican coeagues echoing !ha! ony2ogging2can2$reven!2fores!2fires
sen!imen! is Aas#a 9e$. Don Young. 8@n!i )e can $ro$ery reduce fire ris#s on !hese ands !hrough
!he modes! harves! and cearing of a!2ris# !im&er"8 says Young" 8)e )i con!inue !o see our agencies
sash !hrough miions in federa and managemen! doars in order !o com&a! )idfires.8
Bu! fe) e'$er!s &eieve !he 10 am scheme is )or#a&e in !he curren! environmen!. And )hie ogging
and grazing migh! in fac! do some good &y reducing !he densi!y of !rees and grass" mos! &eieve !ha!
over !he ong !erm" such $rac!ices conver! fores!s and grassands in!o ess hea!hy" more fire2$rone
andsca$es. ;eedess !o say" !he !im&er and ives!oc# indus!ries are &ig &ac#ers of <earce and Young1s
$oin! of vie)> so are rea2es!a!e deveo$ers" )ho fear !he ne) adminis!ra!ion $oicy )i ma#e i! harder
!o &uid ne) homes in and around )idands. <earce has a &i &efore -ongress !o ma#e his $ro$osed
s!ra!egy !he a). ,u$$or!ers incude conserva!ive 9e$u&ican re$resen!a!ives from -oorado"
%ashing!on" and Arizona.
(f :&ama1s $oicy does &ecome a) and shif!s !he &udge! and s!ra!egy in favor of $reven!ion" coud
enough &e done !o ac!uay $reven! )idfires* (n fac!" i! coud. Bu! )he!her !he $u&ic )i su$$or! !he
$residen!1s $oicy is ano!her Bues!ion.
Hiing through a sliver of the endless! roing fores! !ha! &an#e!s -aifornia1s ,an Bernardino
Moun!ains" Bernhard ?oe#e! $oin!s ou! !he fire2invi!ing $a!hoogy !ha! surrounds us. 8This is an
overcro)ded s!and of !rees"8 he says. 8There1s no s$ace for sunigh! !o ge! !o !he ground. (! hasn1!
&urned here in .0 or 70 years" may&e 100.8 %i!hou! sunigh!" !hese smaer !rees die and &ecome
#inding. 8They have !o &e !a#en ou! from under !hese ma!ure ones"8 ?oe#e! says.
A sor! of Teu!onic in!eec!ua moun!ain man )ho ives in Aa#e Arro)head" one of !he many !o)ns and
!iny viages !ha! do! !he moun!ains" ?oe#e! s!ar!ed off $romo!ing rene)a&e energy &u! over !ime his
focus )idened !o incude an o&session )i!h !he gro)ing ris# of )idfire in !he region. ;o) he devo!es
his ife !o nudging and he$ing communi!ies and governmen! agencies do )ha!ever i! !a#es !o #ee$ fires
from s$ringing u$ and )rea#ing havoc. (n some cases" he is $aid reasona&y )e" such as )hen he
consu!s for s!a!e and oca agencies. Bu! much of !he !ime he isn1! $aid a! a" &ecause fe) communi!ies
have $u! aside money for !his sor! of !hing.
9oaming !he )inding roads !ha! sna#e &e!)een and !hrough !he various canyon2!o$ communi!ies in a
&a!!ered CM- ,u&ur&an" ?oe#e! can1! seem !o ma#e i! =00 yards &efore s$o!!ing some affron! !o fire
safe!y !ha! ins$ires him !o urch !o !he side of !he road and s!a# off for a coser oo#.
8These !rees are !urning red 4 !ha!1s !he &ar# &ee!e. They1 die and ro! and &ecome fue"8 he says.
8These grasses )i igni!e ins!an!y" and !hen !he fire )i oad u$ on !he dead vege!a!ion on !he ground
here> !hen i!1 igni!e !he dead &ranches o) on !he !ree !run#s" and !he !ree )i go u$ i#e a 9oman
cande" sho)ering !he area )i!h em&ers. You1d have a cano$y fire here" )i!h !he fire +um$ing fas! from
!ree!o$ !o !ree!o$" !em$era!ures reaching a !housand degrees. . . .8 He s!ar!s !o oo# as if he migh! himsef
s$on!aneousy com&us!.
The hear! of !he $ro&em is !ha! )e have &ecome a vic!im of our remar#a&e success a! figh!ing
)idfires. ;a!ure in!ended for fores!s !o &urn. Dense" un&ro#en" un&urned fores!" such as !he one !ha!
?oe#e! is decrying" is argey a modern inven!ion. Many ;a!ive American !ri&es reguary $u! !orches
!o fores!s and vege!a!ion )herever !hey ived 4 mos!y !o ma#e i! easier !o hun!" ga!her" and se!!e" &u!
aso &ecause !he and !hrives )hen i! $eriodicay &urns. Fire" )hen i! comes freBuen!y enough" !ends
!o $ass rea!ivey igh!y !hrough !he )idands" cearing ou! cho#ing undergro)!h and re!urning
nu!rien!s !o !he soi )hie eaving arger !rees mos!y unharmed. ,uch fires !end !o die ou! fairy
Buic#y" !oo" sim$y &ecause !here1s ess !o &urn.
Eus! ho) $rofoundy fores!s change )hen fire is !a#en ou! of !hem for ong $eriods of !ime )as
reveaed in a s!udy reeased as! year &y !he Fores! ,ervice" &ased on )or# in !he ,!anisaus ;a!iona
Fores!" eas! of ,an Francisco. 8%hen you have a fores! !ha! used !o &urn every si' years or so" and !hen
you #ee$ fire ou! for a cen!ury"8 says Fna$$" 8you ge! more and more &iomass !ha! &urns more and
more in!ensey )hen i! finay does go.8 The s!udy found !ha! !ree s!ands are )e over !)ice as dense
!oday as !hey )ere in !he 1520s. <erha$s even )orse" much of !he e'!ra &iomass has !a#en !he form of
faen &ranches and )ood dus! $ied dee$ on !he fores! foor 4 !he sor! of s!uff a hi#er )oud eagery
ga!her as #inding for a cam$fire. 8Any fire is going !o &urn more in!ensey" over a arger area"8 Fna$$
says. 8You1re going !o ose an en!ire andsca$e in an af!ernoon.8
,!udies com$aring -aifornia fores!s )i!h simiar areas in Me'ico !ha! haven1! e'$erienced a cen!ury of
fire su$$ression confirm !ha! fires in !he Me'ican fores!s !end !o &e much smaer and ess in!ense.
%hie differences in cima!e and vege!a!ion &e!)een !he !)o regions com$ica!e !he com$arison" !he
differences are s!ar#. ?oe#e! es!ima!es !ha! !he mider Me'ican fires !y$icay eave !hree2four!hs of
!he arger" oder !rees in good sha$e" resu!ing in a hea!hier fores! 4 )hereas fires in !he American %es!
of!en des!roy 50 $ercen! of !hose !rees. Adds Fna$$" 8The science has ceary $oin!ed ou! !ha! )e need
!o have more good fires !o $reven! &ad ones.8
You don1! have !o &urn a !ha! much of !he fores! 4 +us! $a!ches !ha! can serve as fire&rea#s. <rescri&ed
&urns" as !he !echniBue is caed" aren1! as dangerous as one migh! !hin#. The ris# can &e minimized &y
doing i! )hen and )here !here are mois!" )indess condi!ions amena&e !o smaer" so)er fires" and !o
have $en!y of $eo$e and cre) on hand !ha! can $re$are fire&rea#s ahead of !ime and !am$ ou! any
fames !ha! ge! ou! of !he in!ended &urn area. The :&ama adminis!ra!ion" !he Fores! ,ervice" and
vir!uay everyone in )idand managemen! is a for $rescri&ed &urns. Af!er a" as Fna$$ no!es" our
fores!s are going !o &urn one )ay or ano!her> i!1s $rac!icay unacy !o )ai! for !hem !o do i! as raging
#iers ra!her !han as nea!y managed $ussyca!s.
Bu! !here is a! eas! one dra)&ac# !o !he a$$roach3 :nce in a grea! )hie" a $rescri&ed &urn si$s a)ay.
Tha!1s rare 4 ou! of more !han 17"000 $rescri&ed &urns recorded in 2012" ony 14 esca$ed. :ne #ied
!hree $eo$e and des!royed 20 homes in Eefferson -oun!y" -oorado. (! does i!!e good !o !e someone
)ho has os! a oved one or a home !ha! !he fire )oud have ha$$ened on i!s o)n. A !ha! $erson
#no)s is !ha! !he governmen! se! a fire !ha! ruined his or her ife. (!1s an image $ro2ogging conserva!ive
$oi!icians ge! a o! of mieage ou! of in !he )es!ern s!a!es 4 )hich s!and !o gain !he mos! from
$rescri&ed &urns.
Fores! !hinning 4 cu!!ing do)n and removing e'cess sma !rees and under&rush from an overoaded
)idand area 4 is a far ess ris#y form of $reven!ion. Bu! i!1s e'$ensive" and no one has come u$ )i!h a
good scheme for dis$osing of !he &iomass !ha! ge!s cu! do)n. And many e'$er!s dou&! !ha! !hinning is
)or!h !he effor! given !he magni!ude of !he !hrea!.
That might not matter much if it "eren#t for !he miions of homeo)ners )ho have i!eray $aced
!hemseves in !he ine of fire. ,an Bernardino is good e'am$e. ?oe#e! s!ands a! !he edge of a friend1s
&ac#yard" indica!ing )i!h a s)ee$ of his arm !he vas! maze of fog2#i!ed canyons sna#ing !hrough !he
,an Bernardino ;a!iona Fores!. The yard is on a $ro$er!y nes!ed in a communi!y of homes a! !he !o$
of a canyon> simiar communi!ies do! !he cro)ns of !he canyons a around us.
You have !o admi!3 (!1s a vie) !o die for. And !hen ?oe#e! $oin!s ou! ho) cose !he many homeo)ners
in !his region have come !o ac!uay dying for i!. There )as !he :d Fire of 200/" he says> !hen !he
,a)!oo!h -om$e' Fire of 107> !he Crass ?aey" ,ide" and Bu!er 2 fires of 100> and more. 8(n mii!ary
!erms" )ha! !hese fires do is encirce !he communi!y"8 he says. 8Then !hey cose in.8
These homes are essen!iay $un#ed on !o$ of a gigan!ic mound of ma!ches &a#ing a year ong in !he
sun. A &o! of igh!ning" a discarded &u!!" a s$ar# from a scra$ing muffer" and minu!es a!er a !sunamic
confagra!ion is racing u$ !he canyon )as 4 fire is a a&ou! u$ 4 !o !he !hough!fuy $aced and
ovingy furnished arrays of !im&er $an#s a! !he !o$. (! may &e $aradise" &u! i!1s one s$ar# removed
from he.
%ecome !o ife a! !he )idand2ur&an in!erface 4 or" as insiders ca i!" !he %@( G$ronounced )ooeyH.
There1s no!hing $ar!icuary s$ecia a&ou! !he ,an Bernardinos )hen i! comes !o &uiding homes )here
!hey1re mos! i#ey !o &urn. A&ou! one2fif!h of !he @.,. $o$ua!ion no) ives in areas !ha! are a!
significan! ris#" and !he num&ers are ony acceera!ing.
These homeo)ners are dra)n !o !he %@( for !he vie)s and !he soi!ude" and !o fee em&edded in
na!ure. The irony" says Mier" is !ha! !hese fo#s !end !o have a very" )e" unna!ura vie) of na!ure.
8They )an! s!ree!s" )a!er" and eec!rici!y"8 Mier says. 8They don1! see fire as $ar! of !ha! andsca$e"
and !hey1re shoc#ed )hen i! sho)s u$. And !hey e'$ec! !o &e $ro!ec!ed from i!.8
;a!ive Americans #ne) &e!!er !han !o ive in such areas. Bu! in !he years af!er %ord %ar ((" a )ave of
22 miion $eo$e moved )es!. Many chose !o se!!e in !he fores!ed canyons and moun!ains of
-aifornia" :regon" %ashing!on" (daho" -oorado" and Arizona. 8%herever !hey )en!" $eo$e #e$!
moving u$so$e" )here i!1s more &eau!ifu"8 says Mier. 8They )ere moving in!o !he fire zone.8 To
ma#e ma!!ers )orse" !he fire zone )as &ecoming more and more fire $rone as years of successfu
firefigh!ing ao)ed !he fores! !o &ecome dense )i!h fue.
9esiden!s in hi2" moun!ain2" and canyon2!o$ %@(s are +us! as#ing for i!" &asicay. Bu! !he governmen!
can hardy si! &ac# and e! !hem and !heir homes &e incinera!ed &y )idfires !ha! everyone shoud have
#no)n )ere inevi!a&e. :f course" !ha! $ro&em sugges!s a sim$e sou!ion3 Don1! &uid !here in !he firs!
$ace. (!1s !he same s!ra!egy !ha! is s!ar!ing !o gain !rac!ion in coas!a food areas" !han#s !o
mushrooming food2insurance cos!s !ha! force $o!en!ia homeo)ners !o confron! !he conseBuences of
iving in a ca!as!ro$he2$rone zone.
-an fire2insurance ra!e increases accom$ish !he same* @n!i recen!y" )idfire $ro$er!y2damage cos!s
)ere &arey a &i$ on !he insurance indus!ry1s radar screen> !he gro)ing des!ruc!ion is ge!!ing more
a!!en!ion no)" says -eaves. Bu!" he adds" ge!!ing homeo)ners !o acce$! more res$onsi&ii!y for !he
ris# of iving in a )idfire zone is s!i an u$hi &a!!e. 8%e )orry !ha! !he Fores! ,ervice has &ecome so
good a! saving homes !ha! homeo)ners don1! see any need !o !a#e care of !hemseves"8 he says. Ioning
a)s res!ric!ing !he deveo$men! of )idfire2$rone areas )oud he$" and encouraging such a)s is
foded in!o !he :&ama adminis!ra!ion1s ne) )idfire s!ra!egy.
A! !he very eas!" !hese homes and communi!ies can easiy &e 8fire2ada$!ed.8 The s!e$s are sim$e3
-ear ou! &rush" de&ris" and o) &ranches around homes" $u! u$ me!a roofs ins!ead of )ooden ones 4
mos! homes ca!ch fire )hen em&ers and on !hem 4 and avoid )ooden fences !ha! can nea!y conduc! a
fire from !he ou!side of !he $ro$er!y !o !he house.
(n !he ,an Bernardino Moun!ains" i!1s easy !o see !he difference such s!e$s can ma#e3 ,ome homes
s!and unsca!hed from recen! fires ne'! !o charred" em$!y o!s. 8The fire came righ! u$ !o !he edge of my
$ro$er!y and s!o$$ed"8 says Arend D)yer" a homeo)ner in -edar Cen )ho fire2ada$!ed his $ro$er!y.
He $oin!s over a! an em$!y o!. 8Tha! guy over !here )oudn1! do any of i!> no) !here1s no!hing ef!.8
,!udies sho) !ha! fire2ada$!ed communi!ies fared far &e!!er in -oorado1s %ado -anyon Fire" as )e"
and !ha! money s$en! on fire2ada$!ing $ro+ec!s $ays for i!sef hundreds of !imes over.
Ye!" incredi&y" i!1s s!i a figh! !o ge! communi!ies !o em&race !hese rea!ivey o)2cos! $recau!ions.
Michee ,!ein&erg" )idand fire $ro+ec!s manager for !he ;a!iona Fire <ro!ec!ion Associa!ion" )or#s
!o ge! a!2ris# communi!ies on &oard. ,he can $oin! !o !housands of communi!ies a over !he @.,. !ha!
have made a! eas! modes! effor!s 4 &u! !ha!1s ony a documen!ed 1.. $ercen! of 00"000 %@(
communi!ies in !he coun!ry. 8,ome $eo$e ca !hese red zones !he s!u$id zones"8 ,!ein&erg says.
Mean)hie" !he rush !o snugge u$ agains! na!ure is ony acceera!ing. A -oorado s!udy &ased on 2010
@.,. census da!a found !ha! a&ou! 10 $ercen! of !he s!a!e1s $o$ua!ion 4 amos! a miion $eo$e 4 ived
in high2)idfire2ris# areas. :f !he 0"000 homes in !he area evacua!ed for !he s!a!e1s 201/ Bac# Fores!
Fire" haf )eren1! !here a decade ago.
Bu! even if some com&ina!ion of $oicy and common sense s!ar!ed !o nudge $eo$e a)ay from !he
%@(" i!1s no! necessariy cear )here !hey coud move !ha! )oud eave !hem $ro!ec!ed from !he
caami!ies of cima!e change. 8%idfire is +us! !he &e)e!her for a )hoe se! of cima!e2change
dis!ur&ances" i#e foods" s!orms" and insec!s"8 -eaves says. 8(!1s !he firs! hoc#ey s!ic# in a )hoe
oc#er room of hoc#ey s!ic#s" and !hey1re a !igh!y cou$ed. Af!er you ge! !he &ig )idfires" you #no)
!he o!hers are righ! &ehind i!.8 Dvery region of !he coun!ry )i &e su&+ec! !o one or more of !hese
!hrea!s !o ife and home" he )arns.
And $erha$s !ha!1s !he &es! !ha! can &e said a&ou! !he inevi!a&ii!y of !he coming incinera!ion of much
of America1s )idands" and of !he communi!ies nes!ed aongside !hem3 (! migh! &e !he eas! of our
)orries.