We have had so many fires. From the hill above the town of Walker it is frighteningly clear that the remaining fuel is the residential area on the west side of the highway.
Christmas Valley (South Tahoe) was served a stroke of luck in the Caldor Fire but was, I believe, saved by a huge community effort that minimized the risk of wildfire.
This pile, cut by two little old ladies with long handles pruners, a small chainsaw and a hand saw, came off the hill behind the house. While I have cleared brush from the rest of the property the area above the house, except for about a ten foot swath, had not been touched. We are trying to leave the few Pinyons (remove dead lower limbs) as well as Bitterbrush (deer food) and some clusters of Desert Peach ('cause it is pretty) and Sagebrush (cover for wildlife) The picture was taken on day one and is larger now. The next door neighbor has offered the loan of an old pick-up truck. We need to move some before we cut more. When we are "done" (the job is never really "done" but maintenance is easier) we help the neighbors.
My point is that this is what we need to do. Waiting around for someone else to do something is the equivalent of holding a knife to our own throat. And I just got a new little chainsaw.
