California Wildfires

[Dave Gray]

I think these questions are mostly for Spider, but anyone might know.

I have been following this story a little bit, but not extensively and I have a few questions.

The fire that's raging now, is this the same fire that was intentionally set, but got out of control?
Regarding the concept of intentionally setting a fire to clear debris to prevent a large, uncontrolled fire, I was under the impression that this was a common practice that is completely accepted as the correct course of action.  So, for the fire that got out of hand by accident, why are people upset? (other than the obvious that their houses are getting burned down) -- I understand that the result is bad, but are there accusations of malice or malpractice?  Are there people arguing that the fire shouldn't have been started in the first place or are they saying there was incompetence or carelessness???

Any heads up from people locally might help me understand the nuances.

[Spider-Dan]

The only stories I can find about intentionally set fires are from back in May, and none of the stories I found about the current fires mention anything like that, so I don't think it's related.

It is very common in CA to see fire breaks, where portions of dry grassy areas are sectioned off for a controlled burn.  My understanding of the way those are executed is that it is very unusual (but not impossible) for those to get out of control.

As the climate gets hotter, controlled burns are a vital tool to limit the reach of wildfires.  After about a century of laws restricting the use controlled burns, CA has recently embraced their usage.

I'm personally in favor of them.

[CF DolFan]

The only stories I can find about intentionally set fires are from back in May, and none of the stories I found about the current fires mention anything like that, so I don't think it's related.

It is very common in CA to see fire breaks, where portions of dry grassy areas are sectioned off for a controlled burn.  My understanding of the way those are executed is that it is very unusual (but not impossible) for those to get out of control.

As the climate gets hotter, controlled burns are a vital tool to limit the reach of wildfires.  After about a century of laws restricting the use controlled burns, CA has recently embraced their usage.

I'm personally in favor of them.

We do controlled burns in Florida and it really does seem to help.

[Spider-Dan]

Interesting.  I would have expected FL to be wet enough that wildfires aren't really a problem.

[Dave Gray]

Interesting.  I would have expected FL to be wet enough that wildfires aren't really a problem.

It's wet here average-wise, but we definitely go through droughts sometimes....probably nothing like you guys.  I'd never heard of controlled burns here, but I do know that sometimes we can't water our lawns until specific times and stuff like that.

So, I'm trying to find what I was originally asking about and I think I caught the news about a government started New Mexico wildfire that was set in May and raged into June.  ...not the fire that's going on now, like you said.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Controlled burns are a very useful tool as they get rid of a lot of fallen leaves, twigs, and logs that would otherwise cause a forest fire to burn out of control.   Whether or not whoever was doing the controlled burn lost control of this fire is beyond me, but if that is the case, they are in for one helluva liability lawsuit.

[CF DolFan]

It's wet here average-wise, but we definitely go through droughts sometimes....probably nothing like you guys.  I'd never heard of controlled burns here, but I do know that sometimes we can't water our lawns until specific times and stuff like that.

Kind  of funny but I didn't realize south Florida didn't do much of this. It's pretty common here in central Florida as well as north Florida.

Prescribed fire is one of the most versatile and cost-effective tools land managers use. Prescribed fire is used to reduce hazardous fuel buildups, thus providing increased protection to people, their homes and the forest. Other uses include disease control in young pines, wildlife habitat improvement, range management, preservation of endangered plant and animal species and the maintenance of fire-dependent ecosystems.

The Florida Forest Service oversees one of the most active prescribed fire programs in the country. In an average year the Florida Forest Service will issue approximately 88,000 authorizations allowing landowners and agencies to prescribe burn over 2.1 million acres.  https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Prescribed-Fire