Letters: Put fire safety focus on neighborhoods, not backcountry

"As catastrophic fires become an annual reality, our leaders must prioritize protecting lives and homes - not remote wilderness areas. Scientific evidence continues to show that thinning forests in distant backcountry areas does little to shield communities from fast-moving, wind-driven wildfires. Instead, resources should be redirected toward proven measures: defensible space around homes, ember-resistant building materials, community wildfire preparation and local fire mitigation efforts. Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders must recognize that the frontlines of wildfire defense are neighborhoods, not remote ridgelines."

"Half of California's agricultural workers are illegal and probably a high percentage in agricultural sectors throughout the country. That goes for landscaping, hospitality, restaurants, construction and house cleaning jobs Americans won't do. Farmers are unable to attract domestic labor to do difficult field work for even $30 an hour. Deporting millions of law-abiding, hard-working illegals will not get Americans to take jobs immigrants do."

Californians should prioritize protecting lives and homes rather than remote wilderness when addressing wildfire risk. Scientific evidence indicates thinning distant backcountry forests provides little defense against fast-moving, wind-driven fires. Resources should be shifted to proven local measures: defensible space around homes, ember-resistant building materials, community wildfire preparation and local mitigation efforts. Spending on remote thinning diverts funds from community safety. On immigration, many agricultural and service jobs are filled by undocumented workers, domestic workers rarely accept difficult field work even at $30 an hour, and mass deportations would not compel Americans to take those jobs.

Read at The Mercury News