The Perverse Policies That Fuel Wildfires

Re:The Perverse Policies That Fuel Wildfires by mtnGoat on Tuesday February 06, 2024 @05:26PM (#39281671)

I don’t know anyone working on wildfires in the United States for free. Not saying there is no risk, but they are paid and understand the risks. Some nice neighbors have their own contract fire crews, which are not cheap.

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Re:The Perverse Policies That Fuel Wildfires by Quarrel on Tuesday February 06, 2024 @06:19PM (#39282260)

In Australia, "most" rural firefighters are volunteers, but have equipment and training providing by their local Government run rural fireservice (that has fulltime paid administrators).

The population density between Australia and the US is radically different though which changes the dynamic (deserts and marginal land exist in both, but Australia is particularly water challenged with no high mountains, so no major rivers).

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Re:The Perverse Policies That Fuel Wildfires by blackguardx on Tuesday February 06, 2024 @06:57PM (#39282664)

I know folks that are volunteer wildfire firefighters in Colorado and in California they were enlisting prisoners and paying them very low wages.

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Re:The Perverse Policies That Fuel Wildfires by EdwardDiego on Wednesday February 07, 2024 @01:46PM (#39292509)

Fun fact, NZ and Australian volunteer rural fire-fighters often fly in to help out with bad fire seasons in California. It's good practice.

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