Opinion: Questioning logic of controlled burn

Publisher’s note: This letter was sent to the U.S. Forest Service office and then to Lake Tahoe News on Nov. 18.

I’m not sure who to direct this comment to, and although I did not lose my home in the Angora fire, it started 4 streets up from us and we were evacuated for 3 days. Last night driving home, with the gusty winds and seeing the whole hillside on fire was like a nightmare being awake. (expected to conduct operations on a total of approximately 40 acres near Mule Deer Circle)

How can these fires remain under control under these windy conditions? There is no control over Mother Nature. Did anyone actually check the weather?

I don’t think that the timing, planning and weather conditions were thought out very well with this set of “controlled” burns.

I really hope that nothing happens. I work with a number of people that did lose their homes and I know that they are afraid every time you burn over there. It would be tragic for anything else to happen after they have lost everything once and are re-building their lives, in their new homes.

This is just my opinion.

Terrified,

Sierra Soleta, South Lake Tahoe