Very true, what you say about bean counters.
This fire started on Sunday afternoon. The Forest Service put a few hand crews on it and flew some air missions. It was at 25 acres that evening, and their goal was to keep it from crossing the ridgeline and spilling into an inhabited canyon.
By Monday evening, it was over 300 acres and in very real danger of breaking out over the ridge. (It was in a very incaccessible bowl then...and still is.) Crews have been ferried up the mountain by helicopter and set down to hike in. The closest landing spot for the choppers is still an hour’s hike away from the fire.
This morning the city smelled pretty strongly of wood smoke but there was very little smoke rising from the bowl. This afternoon, there is only a little more smoke rising. It appears to be thin and widespread instead of rising from localized and concentrated blazes in the bowl.
I also should have add that during the time I worked for the Forest Service grazing was allowed. The cattle and sheep ate the fuel down in the meadows that would dry up in late summer and fall, thereby reducing fire danger in those areas.