Rampant wildfires likely to increase

[Wildman]

[Wildman]

An interesting article about the Office of Inspector Generals finding that the USFS is spending too much money defending homes in the Wildland Interface.  I read the article and got the link in "theysaid", a wildland firefighters forum.

Here is the link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/us/03fire.html?ei=5094&en=5e0dd00803a8509b&hp=&ex=1167886800&partner=homepage&pagewanted=all

[Chuck]

With this attitude, then damage from floods, Hurricanes, Tornadoes and earth quakes would be next.  Maybe Terrorist attacks in places like New York, Chicago or LA since they are prime targets. 

I know that all these other areas may not be in the Forest Service realm but they are handled by the Feds (others too).

[Wildman]

I think one of the issues is that the USFS is not a partner in weighing in on residential developments that abut the forest and are in the Wildland Urban Interface but once local agencies aprove these developments, the Forest Service is expected to pull out all the stops and then pay for it to boot.

I think you will also see more of the attitude that people will have to be responsible for their own wild fire survival at their homes and less that we
can always protect every structure.  Maybe there is something to be said for going in ahead of time and evaluating which structure is  able to be defended without killing someone and which should be left to their devices.  Pre-planning such as this kept firefighers safe during the Old/Grand Prix fires.