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The leading cause of the fires in California is the electric lines that are either overloaded, poorly designed, or poorly maintained. I've seen estimates of 40-70% of the fires are started from these. The fire that wiped out Paradise last year was the direct result of wiring that was almost a century old. The infrastructure is ancient. Right-of-ways are not maintained appropriately (for power lines or roads). Of note is that Oregon does a better job of this, and has fewer fires.
What California SHOULD do is force their electric utilities (the worst of which, PG&E, is now bankrupt) to replace outdated and overloaded equipment, and to use safer and more modern equipment designed to NOT start fires in high wind conditions. They should also maintain the power line right-of-ways, clearing them of things that can catch fire, hit, or fall on, the lines. Cleared areas to each side of transmission lines and roadways limits fire potential, creates fire breaks, and allows access during an emergency. (That's proven and is the standard in most states). Oregon does a much better job of this, which is part of the reason their fire issue isn't as severe.
California has ignored these things which could drastically decrease the number of fires, limit the spread of fires, improve the ability to fight fires, and allow access to (and escape from) areas on fire. The state is responsible for setting these standards, as well as oversight of public utilities. Putting party politics aside, the state has failed. Period.
What California SHOULD do is force their electric utilities (the worst of which, PG&E, is now bankrupt) to replace outdated and overloaded equipment, and to use safer and more modern equipment designed to NOT start fires in high wind conditions. They should also maintain the power line right-of-ways, clearing them of things that can catch fire, hit, or fall on, the lines. Cleared areas to each side of transmission lines and roadways limits fire potential, creates fire breaks, and allows access during an emergency. (That's proven and is the standard in most states). Oregon does a much better job of this, which is part of the reason their fire issue isn't as severe.
California has ignored these things which could drastically decrease the number of fires, limit the spread of fires, improve the ability to fight fires, and allow access to (and escape from) areas on fire. The state is responsible for setting these standards, as well as oversight of public utilities. Putting party politics aside, the state has failed. Period.