So it would seem like the only answer is to accept the risk, and then engage in risk mitigation as well as you possibly can.
I would say that in the case of California, the black outs are not the answer. Doesn’t seem to be helping.
I agree.
I used to live in Vallejo as a kid and until recently would visit family in the LA area. Seems to me that control of undergrowth is the real answer there. It also seems like it would be worthwhile.
And as someone else pointed out, we could pay people to clear it out rather than pay them snap/welfare/etc. to sit on their butts.