Dear Editor,

Waiting for predictable disasters before taking action is usually costly and tragic. So, yes, mitigation is a good thing. However, mitigation strategies should be based on the best available data, not false narratives.

We won’t log ourselves out of the wildfire crisis, especially not using environmentally egregious methods like clearcutting. The most destructive wildfires are wind-driven, and chainsaws can't stop the wind or flying embers that travel miles.

Effective mitigation of wildfire destruction starts with our homes and constructing or retrofitting them to be fire-resistant. Defensible space around them and our communities is also critical, as is a well-educated, well-prepared community.

Logging in remote forests does not accomplish these goals and should be abandoned as a wildfire risk reduction strategy.  It does not keep people or their property safer.

Jennifer Normoyle

Hillsborough, CA