The best solution scientists have found is the combination of thinning followed by a prescribed burn to consume residual fuels left behind. If budgets from federal agencies directed more funds to preventative measures instead of waiting for a fire event to take place, communities in the WUI would be much more prepared and have a better buffer between the fire and their (presumed) defensible spaces. In the long run, this policy could save many different entities money, including homeowners. To get things rolling Congress will have to appropriate funds and what they are designated for within the federal agencies under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Currently, when there is a major fire, funds that were originally intended for prevention are used up in suppression which causes problems when trying to make headway on fuels reduction projects.
The second step will be to reeducate the public to change their perspective on wildfires. In doing this, not only will it make forest managers’ lives easier but it will also help the passing of future beneficial policies when they are up for a vote. People concerned with climate change will also see prescribed burning as something that is necessary and will realize that we can either have a small amount of smoke now, or repeat the air quality of September 2020 every summer. Part of the education program could also implement a section for those that live in rural areas and how they should landscape in a way that doesn’t endanger their home or property if a fire were to occur. Furthermore, communities should be informed about smoke from prescribed burning and current restrictions should be lifted that lump it in with other air pollution sources. Unfortunately, smoke emissions are a barrier that a lot of forest managers have to contend with as they have to wait for the direction of the wind to be away from communities. This fact often causes prescribed burns to be delayed for long periods of time.
