Blame environmentalists, politicians for forest fires
People using matches and lighters have caused these devastating forest fires. However, a very large amount of the blame must be given to the environmentalists and the politicians who support them.
For years, the state has ignored the fact that the forests must be thinned out. California used to have a thriving logging business, too.
Now the building industry suffers because the ability to purchase lumber is no longer in their backyard, not to mention the loss of jobs due to the closing of lumber mills. Throw in the drought, which our brilliant politicians have ignored for over four years until desperation sets in. We have a mess.
My heart aches for the firefighters risking their lives, as well as homeowners, businesses and other innocents. Get a clue, Sacramento!
Nancy Kilgore, Clovis
This story was originally published August 8, 2015 at 9:40 AM with the headline "Blame environmentalists, politicians for forest fires."