They need to make sure that next summer we have another crisis to divert attention
Yep. All the Feds need to do is drop a match in an area made into a tinderbox by lousy, tree-hugger management (such as preventing the harvesting of treefall and preventing the construction of fire lanes and fire breaks), and all the risk of injury will fall on the local firefighters. Then the Feds can ride in as heroes with aid and grandstanding.