Cal Fires and Trump Criticism of Forest Service
If you're wondering what Trump was talking about when he strongly criticized the Forest Service's mismanagement as a contributing factor in the California fires, my brother, on the board of a utility cooperative, had this to say:
"I may have told you this before but [redacted] Electric Cooperative had an issue prior to my joining the Board where they asked the US Forest Service for permission to cut a tree outside the easement because it was considered a hazard if it ever came down in a wind storm. The Forest Service denied the request. The tree did come down in a wind storm across the power lines and caused a fire. [redacted Electric Cooperative] was fined almost $400,000 for the Forest Services' costs of putting out the fire!
This past year we worked with our Congressman, Greg Walden, to introduce a bill into the House that would require the Forest Service to either grant those kinds of requests or assume full liability if they deny them. The bill passed committee, passed the House, passed the Senate and was signed by the President.
Unfortunately, Greg will lose his chairman's position in January and we can be assured that the new chair will side with government agencies every time."
"I may have told you this before but [redacted] Electric Cooperative had an issue prior to my joining the Board where they asked the US Forest Service for permission to cut a tree outside the easement because it was considered a hazard if it ever came down in a wind storm. The Forest Service denied the request. The tree did come down in a wind storm across the power lines and caused a fire. [redacted Electric Cooperative] was fined almost $400,000 for the Forest Services' costs of putting out the fire!
This past year we worked with our Congressman, Greg Walden, to introduce a bill into the House that would require the Forest Service to either grant those kinds of requests or assume full liability if they deny them. The bill passed committee, passed the House, passed the Senate and was signed by the President.
Unfortunately, Greg will lose his chairman's position in January and we can be assured that the new chair will side with government agencies every time."
The oil in Eucalyptus (Gum) trees makes fire burn with high energy and when there are clumps of trees, the fire is next to impossible to extinguish. I think there are big areas of gums in Cal.
The heat creates powerful air currents causing flames and burning cinders to leap over large breaks.
(These species rely on fire for regeneration.)
The only way to prevent serious and life destroying fires is to do many steps of preventive burning in the cooler wetter season of the year, this reduces the fuel available to burn.
Fire cannot be prevented, but the severity can be limited. Fires start from natural causes and sorry to say many serious fires have been started by foolish people.
Preventive burning is opposed by some who do not realize how strong fire can get, and who do not like the smoke, and by certain political movements who think it is against nature, (or whatever). They say try better fire fighting, that does not work even with massive water dropping and spraying, there is just too much energy in the fire. (Bad news, the Green/Left are always vocal, facts do not relate to their 'thinking'.) There were suggestions to scoop up sea water from off the coast with jumbo jets, this would be inadquate to put out the fire, and it would add more salt to the soil. I'm not sure if Cal soil has a salinity problem.
Retardants do not work either, spraying in the fierce wind cannot be aimed, all it does is leave residue when it settles. Pre-wetting could make the fire worse by encouraging growth.
Only prescribed back burning to reduce fuel and thus the severity of fire can work.
(By the way, this technique was used by the Aboriginal people, the Green/Left only respect tribal customs when it suits.)
Yes, some of these burns have over-shot, but there is a chance of containment, there is no chance later in the year with a full season of fuel ready to ignite.
"Nature, to be commanded must be obeyed"
----But I have also wondered about something else. In a dry season, couldn't the governor order the firefighters to just go and spray down landscapes, maybe 2 or 3 times, or once a week, to put some moisture in, so that the countryside would not be so dry in the case of a fire? Couldn't that keep it from spreading at least? Of course, that might be hard in the case of a water shortage. And it might cost some money, but would it be any more expensive than repairing the devastation that occurs in the case of a massive fire?
I do take issue with “Trump may be blunt “As if blunt is a negative /synonyms: straightforward, frank, plain-spoken, candid, direct, bluff, forthright, unequivocal; and More.
AJ if you don’t like his personality that’s fine.
I don’t value personality as a top ten requirement for the Presidency.
With 92% negative stories in the so call MSM
and constant false accusations ,a thorough brainwashing. So many in the public feel the need to somehow distance their personal opinions from Trump to down right trashing him because it’s vogue.
Of course Moonbeam came out swinging against him, as the latest excuse for attack.
When driving back from Colorado not that long ago I was struck by how man standing dead tree's there were in relation to living ones, easily 5 dead to every 1 live tree. I can only image what the CA forests look like where the eco-wackos have run even more rampant for years.
Kalifornia is too dangerous for a reasoning being.
Lots of jobs and more sanity.
BTW go Trump!
(Sarcasm, but not from the far left.)