Putting an End to ‘Fire Foolishness’ in America

The Canadian wildfires are causing havoc not only in Canada but also in cities across the northeastern United States. This has led to hazardous levels of air pollution, an uncommon occurrence in the eastern part of the US. However, Clare Frank, California’s first female chief of fire protection, believes that this unusual event presents an opportunity. In her insightful essay for the New York Times, Frank highlights that while Canada’s fires are primarily caused by lightning strikes in dry forests, the United States suffers more from “fire foolishness.” Surprisingly, a staggering 80% of our wildfires are caused by careless behavior rather than natural causes. Frank’s personal experience with this reckless behavior includes evacuating her home during California’s 2021 Caldor fire, which was ignited by a father and son who fired guns in a dry forest during peak wildfire season.

Frank expresses her sadness and anger when she drives past the moonscaped mountains and blackened tree skeletons that used to be lush green forests before the fire. She goes on to highlight other incidents that have sparked out-of-control blazes, ranging from gender reveal smoke bombs and sky lanterns at weddings to misguided campers lighting their own excrement on fire. While these incidents are often dismissed as “accidents” or “mistakes,” Frank advocates for a stricter approach. This includes pressing charges of reckless arson against those who start the fires and implementing more aggressive awareness campaigns that use images of the apocalyptic destruction and testimonials from those who have lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones, instead of relying on cute graphics and mascots like Smokey Bear. Frank firmly believes that we have the ability to do better. You can read her full essay here. (Read more stories about wildfires.)