When I was engaged in controlled burns as a young man back in California, the rules were pretty strict about having almost no wind at all and even the humidity level couldn't be too low.
I honestly think these teams are headed up by pyromaniacs."
I won't argue that some probably are. :)
There have been lots of ‘controlled fires’ in recent years that were set on windy days and burnt thousand of acres. Even a sixth grader would not have started those fires on those days.
The one in the article was just another in a seemingly endless string. Of course, very few in the media seem concerned. Even after the big one last year.