Entry 3: Fires, Idiots, and climate change

While we here in California and the western United States have dealt with some of the worst wildfires in recorded history. We are far from the first peoples, or even Americans to deal with the complex science of forest management and wildfire. Which should have meant we had generational and institutional knowledge on how to prevent and curb wildfires. Instead, most of us in the general public and society have decided to be “idiots” on the topic, as our natural beauty has become kindling.  

There are wide range of views on the role of fire in the natural order of the world. Because while yes our super fires here in California that are swallowing entire rural communities whole, are in some cases a byproduct of climate change. Not lost in this fact is that we have to remember fire, and specifically forest fires are also natural. In fact some native American tribal traditions (notably in the Sierra’s,) natural fire another integral part of nature's process. In this NPR article and interview, the national public radio team attended an event where native Americans were working with the state of California to burn thousands of acres, as a preventative measure. The science behind the theory being controlled burns wipe away the dangerous kindling like weeds, and small brush. It is using a “scorched earth” war policy against fire itself. So now in 2020 we do see ourselves marrying the scientific method with cultural and historical knowledge accumulated over generations. Meaning as a state, we are moving far from the role of idiots. In a further article from the Scientific American written in September 2019 the state had embraced that the major role it could play in prevention was forest management.

However it is crucial for the sake of this argument to write that just  “3% of land in California is state controlled against the 57% that is federally owned.” (New York Times) Meaning that even if forest management was the only thing that mattered, the federal government, the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) with its horrendous record of fire safety is still responsible. Pair this with the fact that President Trump insists that climate change has absolutely nothing to do with the fires,and we have a full blown political and ideological slug fest on our hands. Further, for the sake of this prompt deciding who is being an idiot in this situation, is not in any way difficult. 

“Well, I don’t think science knows, actually,”- President Donald Trump in rebuttal to Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary for natural resources. on the impact of climate change on the recent fires. (NYT)

I have no more to argue on the idiot front, that may be controversial, that may be seen as simplistic. However, from our readings on what an idiot does, and says, this is it. Ignoring/ not caring about the situation around him has led President Trump to look like a full blown idiot in this topic. He in his own words doubts the conclusions and estimates of people better educated and apprised of the climate and ecological sciences. 

The small push back on the Trump side is simply, he is not factually wrong that poor forest management for decades played a part in this situation. However, by saying that he is also laying the blame at the door of the federal government for whom he is directly responsible for.

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