DIYbanter - View Single Post - CA. Fires

Dave Bugg

wrote:
On Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:05:06 -0700, "Dave Bugg"
wrote:

Nope, that isn't the issue at all. The issue are is regulations
prohibiting mechanical clearing of the grounds of high brush and
tilling the ground for firebreaks where it would be appropriate.

Why would you use mechanical means when fire is the ecologically and
historic way of holding down the fuel. It leaves most of the nutrients
in the soil so you get fresh growth to stop erosion but not enough to
keep much of a fire going.

Mainly because of the massive hectares of chapperal that would go off like
fireworks if a homeowner, burning his land, happened to to have a loose
spark touch-off the unmanaged public parcels.

"Smokey Bear" was probably the worst idea in forest management we ever
had. People started thinking all fire was bad and put them all out so
we ended up with bad fires that we couldn't put out.

If you read the post I originally responded to, it wasn't referring to
public lands management. It was talking about homeowner's land management
and the protection of private homes. Mechanical management is an effective
means to protect homes.

--
Dave
www.davebbq.com