Rain at last to end what has been a very dry summer here in the Northwest, which followed a wet spring and record undergrowth. Where there's lightning (and often some very stupid people) there will be fires; the issue is how to ensure those don't get out of control.
We're not talking about parking out the entire forest, which would be impossible anyway. We're talking about relatively minimal clearance and the establishment of fire lanes and stops. Mother Gaia isn't going to start screaming, in fact, Mother Gaia doesn't give a rip.
But timing is important. There gets to a point where it's too dry to use power equipment to clear safely. Given that the federal government has laid claim to the vast swathes of territory it has (that's quite another conversation) it does take on the responsibility to maintain it. There is no "benign" neglect.
I believe the President mentioned returning National Park land to private ownership. The proper stewardship of Western lands has been thwarted by the ideology of EcoNazis since they infiltrated the Park Service in the 70’s. Dr. Bill Wattenburg formerly of radio KGO would call them sadistic murderers during these conflagrations that burned every living thing including animals who could not outrun them. Dr. Wattenburg grew up in Chico working alongside his father, a logger. Bill went on to become one of the top US nuclear scientists, inventor, professor, radio talk show science guy and forest fighter during these incinerations. I know this news will be welcome to him and all our fellow Westerners! Thank you to a NYC boy who knows what is needed out in the great west.