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We Know How to Prevent Megafires

propublica.org

1–10 of 110 posts

Re: We Know How to Prevent Megafires

#2
My big takeaway from the article is it will require a big culture shift in the general public, two quotes:

> “I’ve talked to many prescribed fire managers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada over the years, who’ve told me, ‘Yeah, we’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get all geared up to do a prescribed burn,’ and then they get shut down.” Maybe there’s too much smog that day from agricultural emissions in the Central Valley, or even too many locals complain that they don’t like smoke. Reforms after the epic 2017 and 2018 fire seasons led to some loosening of the CARB/prescribed fire rules, but we still have a long way to go.

> She’d like to get Californians back closer to the fire culture in the Southeast where, she said, “Your average person goes out back with Grandpa, and they burn 10 acres on the back 40 you know, on a Sunday.” Fire is not just for professionals, not just for government employees and their contractors.

Re: We Know How to Prevent Megafires

#4
post #2

My big takeaway from the article is it will require a big culture shift in the general public, two quotes: > “I’ve talked to many prescribed fire managers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada over the years, who’ve told me, ‘Yeah, we’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get all geared up to do a prescribed burn,’ and then they get shut down.” Maybe there’s too much smog that day from agricultural emissions in…

I don't understand how a private individual would deal with the liability.

Re: We Know How to Prevent Megafires

#5
post #2

My big takeaway from the article is it will require a big culture shift in the general public, two quotes: > “I’ve talked to many prescribed fire managers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada over the years, who’ve told me, ‘Yeah, we’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get all geared up to do a prescribed burn,’ and then they get shut down.” Maybe there’s too much smog that day from agricultural emissions in…

I don't understand how a private individual would deal with the liability.

When I lived in the suburbs of Naples people would burn their trash in big piles whenever the garbage collectors went on strike and "nobody" was liable, even though sometimes the fire would spread and burn/damage stuff on the neighbor's property. Then again, Europeans don't have the same litigious culture/attitude that Americans have.

Re: We Know How to Prevent Megafires

#6
post #2

My big takeaway from the article is it will require a big culture shift in the general public, two quotes: > “I’ve talked to many prescribed fire managers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada over the years, who’ve told me, ‘Yeah, we’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get all geared up to do a prescribed burn,’ and then they get shut down.” Maybe there’s too much smog that day from agricultural emissions in…

I don't understand how a private individual would deal with the liability.

Call a public service like the fire department, if it gets out of control.

Re: We Know How to Prevent Megafires

#7
post #2

My big takeaway from the article is it will require a big culture shift in the general public, two quotes: > “I’ve talked to many prescribed fire managers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada over the years, who’ve told me, ‘Yeah, we’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get all geared up to do a prescribed burn,’ and then they get shut down.” Maybe there’s too much smog that day from agricultural emissions in…

I don't understand how a private individual would deal with the liability.

Liability is limited if you follow various statutes in Texas (and other states): https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/agricultural-law/...

Re: We Know How to Prevent Megafires

#8
post #2

My big takeaway from the article is it will require a big culture shift in the general public, two quotes: > “I’ve talked to many prescribed fire managers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada over the years, who’ve told me, ‘Yeah, we’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get all geared up to do a prescribed burn,’ and then they get shut down.” Maybe there’s too much smog that day from agricultural emissions in…

I don't understand how a private individual would deal with the liability.

My understanding is that you need re-regulation to protect folks with limited liability if they follow protocol and burn day guidance advice from local authorities.

Here is a summary for Oregon for example https://www.oswa.org/blog/fire-liability/

Re: We Know How to Prevent Megafires

#9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand how a private individual would deal with the liability.

Call a public service like the fire department, if it gets out of control.

If it gets out of control, it can quickly turn into a multi-million dollar event.

Re: We Know How to Prevent Megafires

#10
post #2

My big takeaway from the article is it will require a big culture shift in the general public, two quotes: > “I’ve talked to many prescribed fire managers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada over the years, who’ve told me, ‘Yeah, we’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get all geared up to do a prescribed burn,’ and then they get shut down.” Maybe there’s too much smog that day from agricultural emissions in…

I don't understand how a private individual would deal with the liability.

Here in Ireland farmers regularly burn fields and occasionally the fire gets out of control and destroys an entire mountainside. A couple of years ago one came within 100m of my parents' house - one more change of wind direction and they would have lost everything.

No one ever seems to get criminally or civilly prosecuted for starting the fires. Often everyone knows who did it but there's no irrefutable evidence and the police aren't interested - perhaps as a policy because it's understood that some controlled burns are useful. California's police could equally well be told to "focus on other priorities" instead of investigating fire starters.

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