jdub82 Loc: Northern California

They have been doing controlled burns over the past several years to thin out underbrush. However actual thinning of the forests meets strong resistance from environmental groups and is almost non-existent. One thing that has complicated the fire situation, is that due to the drought and a destructive beetle, millions of trees have died in the foothills and mountains of California over the last several years. Thousands have been removed, but not nearly enough. All those dead trees mean lots of dry fuel for wildfires.

wideangle Loc: Wisconsin

You reap what you sew. Californian liberals will never understand this statement, especially because of who said it.

RolandDieter

And letting infested trees slowly die lets the beetles multiply and expand territory. I can almost hear them marching to "Protect the beetles!" Remember, years ago they did march to "Save the Medfly," an invasive species that was devastating some California crops.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state