We have the same problem with beetle infestations in the forests up around Payson AZ.
If they go up, a whole lot of people are going to get burned out...that town is built right smack dab in the middle of the Tonto National Forest.
Okay, to be honest, the town came first. But is surrounded by thousands of acres of tender tinder timber.
We had folks willing to go in and harvest the still usable timber, but the wackos had a crying fit. Rush always said to think about all the baseball bats and pianos and such that won’t get made.
I was up there once....it’s a BEAUTIFUL area...
How old IS the town?