Letters: Put fire safety focus on neighborhoods, not backcountry

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Re: “Landmark study gives pathway to fire safety” (Page A1, Sept. 7).

The front-page story from Sept. 7 underscores an important truth: California’s wildfire strategy must evolve.

As catastrophic fires become an annual reality, our leaders must prioritize protecting lives and homes — not remote wilderness areas. Scientific evidence continues to show that thinning forests in distant backcountry areas does little to shield communities from fast-moving, wind-driven wildfires. Instead, resources should be redirected toward proven measures: defensible space around homes, ember-resistant building materials, community wildfire preparation and local fire mitigation efforts. Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders must