One solution to curb wildfires in California is proving difficult to implement on a larger scale.
Experts note the controlled burning of forests is an effective way to decrease wildfire danger. However, because of federal and state laws over air quality management and the U.S. Forest Service's policy of fire suppression, planned burns are few and far between. Prescribed burns are difficult to manage because of unhealthy smoke levels and unexpected wind gusts. But Theodore Peterson, a fuels specialist for the Forest Service, said controlled burns could "reduce the intensity" of wildfires.