For most of the past week, we've heard that the San Diego County wildfires are the worst in history. But by some accounting, that's not true. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce explains.
Escondido Firefighter and researcher Richard Halsey says in some ways the wildfires are more destructive then the Cedar Fires four years ago.
Halsey : Ecologically speaking this was the worst, because the fires this time burned a great portion of the Cedar fire which means there was only four years between then and now. And the system can't recover in that short an interval.
He says there are some lessons to be learned from this week's fires. One is that homes shouldn't be built at the top of canyons.
Halsey : Secondly, design of the house is really critical. Because if it's made out of something that's flammable, it's probably going to burn. And the third thing is vegetation management. You've got to get the vegetation that's flammable and that includes palm trees as well as native plants, away from the structure, so when the fire does come the radiant heat itself doesn't completely destroy it.
Halsey has written a book on Southern California fires, Fire, Chaparral and Survival in Southern California. He spoke on KPBS radio's Morning Edition program.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.
