Enough talk about losing 2nd home “structures” and trophy homes that are rarely, if ever used getting destroyed in these fires. There are actual living, breathing creatures suffering far worse fates. It gets old hearing the term “our top priority in this remote wilderness drainage is protecting these cabins and homes”, and not stopping the largely climate change caused fires. If you build a cabin in the woods, you should receive the same compensation or be put in the same insurance bracket as those who build in flood plains. Firefighters should not be risking lives or money making structures that border wilderness areas a top priority. The aesthetics, water quality, wildlife habitat and what this area brings to the local economy should take a far higher priority than protecting a few log cabins built thirty miles up a wilderness road.
There is of course, another side. And that is rural residents who really don’t have much choice in living in dry semi-forested areas or in a downtown setting because no downtown setting really exists. These people face the possiblity of some very tough losses in terms of full time residence and even pets that may not get out in time. Recent fires like the Pince Crest fire are a good example of that. This is not really the wildland interface, but much closer to town and development, pretty much “on the grid”. Structure protection should be the highest priority here.
You really have to question (At least I have myself) this contradiction conservationists seem to have about buying a cabin in the woods. Why do we champion wild areas, yet continue to do this? I will never understand it, but it’s a weakness that is easily exploited by those who say some conservationists live by a double standard. If every conservationsts moved to their favorite wild area, what would be left? Yeah I guess we could all pat each other on the back as we sipped coffee every morning admiring our views and the rural sprawl we just created by being hypocrites.
A tiny black bear cub, its paws and hindquarters badly burned, was found clinging to a tree in a New Mexico national forest in 1950. The wounded orphan went on to become a fire-prevention promotional tool for the U.S. Forest Service.
