As currently practiced, part of the firefighting industry appears to be a hugely expensive subset of the timber industry, gorged with a huge fleet of stand-by bulldozers, excavators, heavy trucks, and even a logging helicopter air force. In spite of all this industry heavy metal, it is often the fuel clearing and back firing ground crews along with the changing weather that have the greatest effect on reducing fires.

There should be an intelligent audit of fire fighting expenditures versus effectiveness before throwing yet more millions into the many inevitable blazes.

To reduce risk to public personnel attempting to save private forest dwellings, zoning and building codes should require defensive locations, site preparation, and access and construction standards for future forest homes. Folks wishing to build in the forest should sign a disclaimer acknowledging the risk and responsibility of living in the forest and relieving the public of any forest fire related liability.