A Liberal's Defense of Forest Fires

Am I supposed to sympathize when images like this show a huge mansion, alone in what once was beautiful woods,reduced to a pile of ashes next to their lucrative, private tennis court? Honestly, sympathy for the rich is a little hard at times.

Meanwhile, in two years their house will be rebuilt via homeowner's insurance, the surrounding fields of formerly pine trees will be a lush carpet of wildflowers and grass, elk will play in their backyard, the Pine Borer beetle will suffer a setback, and the local and regional ecosystem will get a boost in diversification and health.
While I pity anyone that loses all their "stuff," and as few as possible are harmed in a forest fire, I have to point out that forest fires, like their cousins the prairie grass fires, are a very natural and positive thing for the environment.

"But TAE, many modern forest fires are started by humans dropping cigarettes, or not controlling campfires! Surely you can't argue that all fires are natural, or that they are all good." No, I can't. But the self-healing mechanisms of the forest and associated ecosystems has been in place since long before humans invented Pall Malls. Sure, the cause of the fire may be dubious and unnatural, but the end game is always, always healing and a surge in ecosystem diversity in the affected area.

Sorry Boulder's suburban rich people, you KNOW I love you, but I say let the fire burn. Evacuate the people, and let it burn.


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