Areas that have experienced wildfires > 250 acres – Source: nasa.gov
While traveling through wildfire country of Northern California and Southern Oregon, including being re-routed 80 miles because of a fire in Lassen Volcanic National Park, I had a thought. Instead of a hell-bent chaotic rush to build temporary wildfire breaks during a fire emergency, why not just construct permanent wildfire breaks to protect populated areas and other important features?
Current wildfire locations – Source: http://www.smokeybear.com/wildfire-map.asp
Considering wildfires are a natural event that are necessary for the healthy regeneration of Western forests, it seems to me that permanent wildfire breaks would allow precious resources to be used more efficiently and effectively. Those areas outside the firebreaks would be allowed to burn as long as they do not jump the pre-constructed breaks.
Am I missing something with this suggestion? It seems being proactive would be much less costly than having to react to each outbreak of wildfires in remote areas that don’t pose a danger to populated areas.
Rick Brown
