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Dear Uncle Sam: Before blaming California, you might want to check whose land the L.A. fires burned

1 28
yesterday

Hot spots from the Eaton Fire flare in the Angeles National Forest on Jan. 9. President Donald Trump’s criticism of California’s wildfire preparedness overlooks that most of the Los Angeles fires were on federal land.

Shut up, Uncle Sam. Or put up.

Yes, I’m talking to you, my federal government. I don’t care if you don’t like my tone.

Because, while falsely blaming California and its politicians for devastating fires, you never acknowledge your own culpability: 

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You are the arsonist, and not just politically.

Because half of California is yours.

In fact, about 46% of the land in this state belongs to the federal government. Just 3% is managed by the state.

The flames that leveled Pacific Palisades and Malibu are believed to have started in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (italics mine), managed by the National Park Service. (That’s you!)

The blaze that turned Altadena to ash burned through the Angeles National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which is part of the United States (you again!) Department of Agriculture.

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Let’s be clear: Our firelands are actually your firelands. And you’ve managed your California land so poorly for so long — suppressing fire instead of managing it, letting fuels accumulate, providing insufficient personnel to handle........

© San Francisco Chronicle


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