Let’s start with this: “Fighting Fire” is a stupid, outdated concept that rarely works. Yup, if you want some results, let’s re-frame how we even discuss wildfires. Does anyone discuss “fighting tornadoes” or “fighting earthquakes”? It’s almost the same thing.

I was on a Hot Shot crew, which was sort of fun and a decent way for guys (at that time) to make money and not get a real job, but our hard work had minimal effect on a fire that wanted to run. It’s mostly god that puts out forest fires.

So let’s get real, and create laws that require mitigation and prevention. I’m no fan of big government, but in this case regulations will certainly help, because otherwise we’re all paying to “fight” fire and then rebuild structures that were built in the WUI and subsequently incinerated.