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Banning fire rebuilds is the nuclear option. Give California’s rural communities a chance
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Banning fire rebuilds is the nuclear option. Give California’s rural communities a chance
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Guest Commentary written by
Tace Higuchi
Tace Higuchi is a former teacher, aspiring law school student and current resident of the wildland urban interface, calling Magalia home.
Re: “Why should all Californians pay for the fire insurance risk only a few face?“
More than 25% of California’s population lives in high fire-risk areas. Is 25% of the population “only a few?”
We are all part of a collective community. We pay for schools while childless. We pay for public transportation when we drive.
A ban on rebuilding means leaving a job, a church, a community and an entire life behind – all on the heels of an unforgettable trauma. It is easy to pick the nuclear option when you aren’t the one suffering the fallout.
And there are other options. The Bay Area Council released a report last year that “estimates mitigation measures such as home hardening, zoning reforms, and external buffers could reduce losses due to wildfires up to 75%.” Fire risk mitigation is extremely important, a fact that is not lost on a single resident of fire-damaged communities.
Value these places. Give them a chance.