frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Missing only we hope and pray... They made be in the tent cities the city wants to close down.....

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Then you would know they are not there.

rhadams824 Loc: Arkansas

It is a fact that a beetle and disease killed millions (or more) of trees in the west adding to the fuel load. One of the principles of insect and disease prevention and control is to maintain healthy, vigorously growing trees that can ward off attacks and infections. This requires thinning as the trees grow to reduce competition to avoid suppressed and stagnate stands that are more susceptible to attack and infection. That and prescribed burning to maintain a low fuel load would aid in fire prevention and help reduce the devastation effect of fires that do occur. It also increases wildlife by maintaining browse near ground level providing more cover for small animals and food for browsers.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Whatever our differing opinions on this thread may be, I know that we are all together in hope and prayer with you, Frank, that so many of the missing are found safe.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

CNN.com had an article today on the very issue we have been discussing. I look for this to be a hot topic in the months to come with Congressional inquiries as well.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/20/politics/ryan-zinke-radical-environmentalists-california-fire/index.html

gerdog

The facts about the fire that destroyed Paradise seemingly are being ignored and replaced with an argument over forest logging. The facts actually indicate that this deadly fire had nothing to do with overgrown, neglected forests. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/sd-me-wildfire-logging-trump-20181112-story.html Quoting from that article, which is similar to other articles I have read: "The blaze did start in the foothills of Sierra Nevada mountains, but not in an overly dense patch of woods. On the contrary, the fire spread through an area that had been recently logged. It then burned through grassland and sparse woodland oak habitat." There are areas of forest in the state that are a great fire threat due to drought, beetle infection, and overgrowth, but that is not what caused the Paradise fire. Thinning the forests may be necessary, but it won't prevent wild fires.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Whether it would have helped in the case of this one particular fire, California seems to be besieged by fires. Not just one. It's an epidemic. I'm not necessarily blaming the wildfires on one cause. However, the question must be raised as to whether forest management could have attenuated California's problems.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

The more fuel you have the hotter and longer your fire grows.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Lets face it, its California They never seem to get anything right.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Controlled burns are not just trees being burned. I think some people are misconstruing what they are.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Exactly.

Diocletian

....I would be the last to point out they have the 5th largest economy of the world...yet they can’t seem to get anything right...

gerdog

The area in question hadn't had any appreciable rain in more than 200 days. Their dry conditions have been ongoing for several years. You can't stage a "controlled" burn without the help of an immediate soaking rain to extinguish the hot embers and ashes, which will remain flammable for several days or longer. I notice that the gentleman who thinks that California can't "seem to get anything right" is from Pennsylvania, a beautiful state where I lived as a young boy. I assume that he must also blame Pennsylvania for the flooding rains there this past year. https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2018/08/13/pennsylvania-flooding-drenching-rain-wreaks-havoc-across-state/980889002/ Pennsylvania has some beautiful forests as well. They don't have the extreme heat and drought that California has had to deal with. The biggest help for firefighters battling a forest fire is rain. Without rain, the fires just rekindle. Without rain, a controlled burn over a large area just isn't possible or safe. California is currently making plans for more controlled burns. However, whether it will be successful remains to be seen. https://www.foxnews.com/us/36-homes-destroyed-when-controlled-burn-goes-out-of-control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfqrvvTRmXo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjYSR3etwlU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyJ8pm9uetw
https://www.outsideonline.com/1988971/playing-fire-feud-grows
https://www.kxii.com/content/news/Out-of-control-burn-477702553.html
blob:https://www.ksbw.com/2d539f30-1b42-427e-8f10-eec4c964520a
https://www.wect.com/2018/10/21/controlled-burn-sparks-out-control-brunswick-county/
This article from Australia points out the fact that the weather HAS to be right for a controlled burn to go right. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-13/is-the-prescribed-burn-window-closing-in-australia/10236048 Burns that get out of control usually do so because of an unanticipated change or increase in the wind. The practice is not a quick, safe fix.

cascoly Loc: seattle

controlled burns are also not as likely to be done near developments -- yet another factor for CA was the rain they did get in the spring which led to MORE brush that became fuel as the summer dried it out

this is a cycle that isnt going to end soon

gerdog

That's the scary part; no end in sight. Doesn't take long for brush to grow back, especially in a state with long growing seasons. Most of the land in California is privately owned as well. (About 48% private, 46% federal, the rest state). How many of those land owners are willing to pay for the cleanup of their property? Are Californians willing to invest in a huge new year-round industry for brush eradication? Is the federal government ready to ante up for the huge sum it will take for federal areas? It will not be easy.