This was my first big fire and I learned many things. First and foremost a fire of this magnitude is beyond human control. Second, catastrophic fires are natural events chat have always occurred in the Sierra and will occur in the future. We are not responsible and we do not necessarily need to mitigate the impacts. I have decided foresters and environmentalists are control freaks.
Environmentalists feel that only they understand how complex and delicate the forest is.
Their understanding transcends science. Environmentalists have become a sort of control gate through which no project can pass unless they deem it harmonic. The Cleveland Fire mocked both of us. My regulated forest is a thing of the past. I will struggle again to bring the forest into line with our long-term sustained yield goals.