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California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

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Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#21
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the land burning is federal land: Forest Service and BLM, for instance.

Does California not have a role there? Or perhaps the suit should be against the federal government then, or both, but something needs to change. It doesn’t have to be this way.

California can't control federal land (that's why it's called federal).

Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember how it was a huge deal for weeks when our former president said something along these lines but to a large extent the administration was correct. I hate the fact that these changes to forestry management are going to be delayed or shot down just because of partisan bullshit. I’d say we’re better than this but I’m not quite sure nowadays.

The former president was very inarticulate about it, which I'd say was the problem. He told us California residents that we needed to sweep our forests and didn't acknowledge that the majority of the public forests were the responsibility of the Federal Govt. A more knowledgeable Republican president could have made a better case that wouldn't get ridiculed. Trump blames California for wildfires, tells state 'you got…

Let’s see, most of the giant fires, Shasta Trinity, Mendocino, Six Rivers, Lassen, Plumas are all National Forests. Lassen National Park, part of the Dixie fire.

I guess these people think Newsom was/is President or do not understand the difference between county, state and federal jurisdiction.

Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember how it was a huge deal for weeks when our former president said something along these lines but to a large extent the administration was correct. I hate the fact that these changes to forestry management are going to be delayed or shot down just because of partisan bullshit. I’d say we’re better than this but I’m not quite sure nowadays.

Most of California’s forests are managed by the Interior Department. Why wasn’t federal forest policy changed if the last administration believed that was the primary cause of fires?

Maybe the areas affected don't actually benefit anyone in power? Probably not enough graft coming out of the timber industry.

Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#25
The Federal Government, who has been partially in charge of the Dixie Fire, has a more relaxed approach to wildfires. The recent River fire was fought with California management and resources. It was put down within a day. I really don't think the Federal Government should be able to own so much land in a state. The state of California is closer to the land and could manage it better in my opinion. The forests need to be managed defensively and need to be cleared to recreate what an uncontrolled wildfire would have done in the past. There are parts of California that do manage their forests better than others. From my time in the woods, there has been more defensive forest management around the outskirts of Truckee, CA. They cut down dead trees and pile them in separate areas that could not have a chain burning reaction.

Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#26
post #24

what's so special about California that it's always on fire? Why don't we have this kind of issue in say Maine, Michigan or North Carolina which all have lots of forest?

California is prone to multi-decade droughts (see, East of Eden). I guess maybe that doesn't answer your question at all, but I'm sure lack of rain is mostly it, since bad forest management and global warming is everywhere.

Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#27
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the land burning is federal land: Forest Service and BLM, for instance.

Does California not have a role there? Or perhaps the suit should be against the federal government then, or both, but something needs to change. It doesn’t have to be this way.

The Fed Govt. is in charge of the overwhelming vast majority of the forest in Cali.

>It doesn't have to be this way

When you have one of two political parties that meaningfully exist in the US parroting the fact they "believe the Fed. Govt should be small enough you can drown it in a bathtub"

It does in fact have to be this way.

Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#28
post #5

At least we saw it coming and made some preparations. I think climate change is a massive problem but we can't put it all on climate change because droughts are part of California history and we can put some of the blame on forest management practices. 100 million dead trees in the Sierra are a massive risk for unpredictable wildfires https://news.berkeley.edu/2018/01/18/sierra-wildfire-risk/ Fire Suppression — And C…

It's not just one or the other? Who knew things were complex and sometimes didn't align with one political ideology?

Like many things, the "blame pie" chart contains multiple reasons and no solutions.

Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#29
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does California not have a role there? Or perhaps the suit should be against the federal government then, or both, but something needs to change. It doesn’t have to be this way.

The Fed Govt. is in charge of the overwhelming vast majority of the forest in Cali. >It doesn't have to be this way When you have one of two political parties that meaningfully exist in the US parroting the fact they "believe the Fed. Govt should be small enough you can drown it in a bathtub" It does in fact have to be this way.

Thanks. I enjoyed reading up on that today. As for the federal role, I think a lawsuit is exactly how to solve this. Both parties are for big government, and neither has solved this when they could.

Re: California's Dixie Fire Is Now the 2nd Largest in State History

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember how it was a huge deal for weeks when our former president said something along these lines but to a large extent the administration was correct. I hate the fact that these changes to forestry management are going to be delayed or shot down just because of partisan bullshit. I’d say we’re better than this but I’m not quite sure nowadays.

The former president was very inarticulate about it, which I'd say was the problem. He told us California residents that we needed to sweep our forests and didn't acknowledge that the majority of the public forests were the responsibility of the Federal Govt. A more knowledgeable Republican president could have made a better case that wouldn't get ridiculed. Trump blames California for wildfires, tells state 'you got…

Can you honestly say that any president really understands the science of wildfires (or anything else -- perhaps Jimmy Carter excepted, he did understand the science of nuclear reactors).
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