Re: Forest in Crisis

I lost two dear people in the Oakland Hills Fire in 1991-- a friend and a mentor. Numerous friends lost their houses then. My grandparents house burned down in 1961 in a fire in the Santa Monica Mountains. They lost everything, including family photos and heirlooms. Fires are tragic, but an inevitable part of the natural cycle. The best way to prevent them is to recognize that they will happen whether we like it or not, and take steps to make sure they will not be as destructive when they do. That's why controlled burns are our best bet to minimize long term damage.