When you get a big fire, you start backfires in front of the places you want to save.
And then you pray.
Why don’t they just mow and remove the tall dry grass so there will not be a fire?
Backfires not really that effective in 60-70 mph winds (from former Hurricane Dora). Hurricane Fernanda headed towards Hawaii now:
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_ep2+shtml/203641.shtml?gm_track#contents
https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=25.6,-147.6,3.83z
Backfires don’t work too well when you have 80 mph winds blowing toward town...