“The only difference now is people are building in these areas, and they all want to keep it “NATURAL” right up to their front doors”
You have a lock on total ignorance about the situation. I own property in Napa County and you are completely wrong.
Well you go ahead and believe anything you want.
I spent several years in my younger days fighting wildland and wildland - urban interface fires here in California, and found that when we lost structures it was almost always because people refused to keep the areas around their homes clear of brush and trees.
I’ll grant that with 70 mile an hour winds, front spotting and line jumping is a problem (we had to deal with it often) but the most destructive structure loss occurred when the homes were built to close together (mostly asphalt and wood shingle roofs) and when proper clearances were not maintained.
Just as a matter of interest I own property (a small farm) in the middle of Trinity county, also Coarsegold in Madera county, Juniper Hills in LA County, and a home on Lone Pine Canyon Road in San Bernardino County.
All very high fire danger areas; I have owned in these areas since the early 1980’s and have had fire come right up to my own fire breaks.
Haven’t lost anything yet and don’t plan on starting now.
Minimum clearance from any part of the houses is 300 feet, a lawn is OK as long as it is irrigated and mowed, no tall trees (especially pines, spruce, juniper) they are nothing but torches that are waiting for a spark.
No native chaparral, it was evolved to burn.
Like I said; you do what you want to do, I’ll do what I was trained to do and keep my property safe.