So... If you grew up in Southern California, you grew up with images like these from the local brush fires:pic.twitter.com/syQodclUJL
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Zero homes burned down because, again, people weren't entitled enough to think they could build a home in the middle of fireland.
But over time (maybe spurred by fear of black/brown neighbors), rich people somehow thought it a good idea to build homes in the mountains.
And, because rich people wield incredible influence, federal, state, and local authorities came to try to eliminate wildfires.
Like... they're actually called wildfires. They're wild. And we somehow think we can tame them? Nah.
In the past, fires used to burn slowly, and in patches: old growth would burn a lot... but it would get restricted by new growth.
Letting fire burn in the sage and chaparral regions of Southern California is the only way we avoid the GIGANTIC fires we're known for now.
Look at Mount Wilson: The LA Times documented long, slow burning fires there in 1896. And 1898. And 1900. That's what's BEEN happening.
But now, the forestry puts fires out in an INSTANT. Our policy is one of fire *suppression* that only makes things worse.
We're so busy sinking money into saving rich people's desires to live in nature away from the riff raff that it's costing LIVES!
As someone who knows that climate change is spurring all kinds of disasters, I also know that it's not spurring these Southern Cali fires.
It's almost certain that the drought here is a consequence of climate change... But that drought isn't the reason we've these crazy fires.
Reason Southern Cali fires are out of control is a direct consequence of the idea that we can suppress wildfires. Umm, hello? They're WILD.
Anyway... I talked to a fire ecologist about a lot of this; he can explain it much better than I can:http://grist.org/article/smokey-was-wrong-you-cant-prevent-wildfires-and-you-shouldnt-try/ …
The next time you see a SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES ARE THE END OF THE WORLD story, please pause, and come back to this.
Nature will take its course. Fuel-filled sage and brush ALWAYS burns; either slow, long burn now, or GIGANTIC quick burn tomorrow. You pick.
Here's what they've done at Lake Arrowhead, where they haven't had a proper fire in 137 years. I just...pic.twitter.com/QwrYJ44BJB
To clarify: I've been tweeting about Southern California brushfires specifically; other regions/vegetation = other explanations.
Might be interested in the book Wilderburbs, from a former forest service firefighter.
Thank you. Will check it out! @JesseKenn
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