[BostonCard]

GR, I agree with the assessment and will add one more, suburban sprawl.  Obviously, this doesn't cause the fires, but it does does magnify the impact of fires.  As the interface between people and the forrest increases, that puts more people at risk for the direct impact of the fires (the impact of smoke is another thing).  It also increases the risk of fires starting (more electrical equipment running through fires) and (this part is, I think theoretical) more pressure not to pursue some of the forrest management techniques like controlled burns; the last thing any forestry service needs would be property loss due to a deliberately set fire.

BC

[BostonCard]

GR, I agree with the assessment and will add one more, suburban sprawl.  Obviously, this doesn't cause the fires, but it does does magnify the impact of fires.  As the interface between people and the forrest increases, that puts more people at risk for the direct impact of the fires (the impact of smoke is another thing).  It also increases the risk of fires starting (more electrical equipment running through fires) and (this part is, I think theoretical) more pressure not to pursue some of the forrest management techniques like controlled burns; the last thing any forestry service needs would be property loss due to a deliberately set fire.

BC