A number of threads today have been picking up on a central point about the wildfires currently burning in Northern California that I think bears emphasizing. We cannot firefight our way out of this problem. We need to learn to manage fire to meet our societal goals.

California - in different ways in north and south - is a fire evolved landscape. It is meant to burn. If you don't burn it, the impact when the inevitable fire happens is even greater. Pretending otherwise, especially where people live, creates a world of trouble.

We spend billions on fire fighting in this state. And we should. We have too much to lose if we don't. But we cannot anymore avoid spending as much or possibly more on pre-disaster fuels mitigation if we are to have any hope of dealing effectively with wildfire.

And fuels mitigation is not just prescribed fire (putting safe fire back on the landscape) and mechanical thinning (cleaning out the underbrush). It is also hardening our homes so that they are less likely to become fuel.

Right now, we are spending pounds and pounds on cure. But not enough ounces on prevention. That needs to change. It actually has for electric utilities in California. They are spending billions (of our money) to reduce risk of wildfire.

But the last few years have allowed the state and local Govs and homeowners to get away with thinking that they (we) didn't need to change too. The truth is that in order to reduce risks of catastrophic wildfire, we all need to be investing much more than we do now in prevention.

The best way to honor the incredible work of our firefighters who are out constructing line, doing hose lays and flying aircraft - is to do our part. We need to do the work so fire is less dangerous where lives and property are so they can be sure to go home after a tough shift.