According to :
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.

Because fire isn't very safe in built-up areas. It has a tendancy
to do things you don't want it to. Controlled burns sometimes
get out of hand.

"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.

Yes. But it's not an option in built-up areas.
--
Chris Lewis,

Age and Treachery will Triumph over Youth and Skill
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.