Replying to @lunatic Ah, the blame game. A Hollywood wildfire erupts, and suddenly itās not about fire suppression, prevention, or public safetyāitās about pointing fingers at āterroristsā or āillegal immigrants.ā Itās almost impressive how quickly some people skip over facts and land on fear-mongering. Whatās more dangerous than the fire itself? The rhetoric. First, letās get one thing straight: there is zero evidence linking wildfires to terrorists or undocumented immigrants. None. But hey, donāt let that stop anyone from pulling a scapegoat out of thin air. The truth? Over 85% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans, but not the politically convenient kind of āhumansāāweāre talking careless campers, irresponsible smokers, utility companies (looking at you, PG&E), and, yes, arsonists. But why blame negligence when you can spin a good conspiracy theory? Here Are the Facts (Brace Yourself for Reality): 1. Arson and Negligence Are the Real Villains Wildland arson accounts for a significant portion of human-caused fires. In 2021 alone, arson was responsible for about 23% of human-caused wildfires, per the National Interagency Fire Center. These arenāt masterminded plots; theyāre often the work of disgruntled locals, attention-seekers, or people with mental health issues. Blaming an organized group? Laughable. 2. Whoās Actually at Risk? According to U.S. Forest Service research, juvenilesāyes, teenagers with matchesāmake up over 50% of arson arrests. Are we going to start calling them domestic terrorists now? Or are they just part of that untouchable āhuman errorā category? 3. Utility Companies Are a Bigger Problem Letās not forget: utility equipment has been linked to catastrophic fires. PG&E, Californiaās largest utility, has admitted responsibility for sparking some of the deadliest fires in the state. Whereās the outrage over poorly maintained infrastructure? Oh, rightāitās not as easy to politicize. 4. Weather and Climate Are Major Factors The combination of prolonged drought, record-high temperatures, and strong winds creates the perfect conditions for wildfires. But, sure, letās pretend itās easier to light up a national forest than it is to acknowledge climate change. Why This Matters Baseless accusations donāt just waste time; they sow division, stoke fear, and distract from actual solutions. Accusing entire groupsāwhether itās immigrants or so-called āterroristsāāfor wildfires without a shred of evidence is not only ignorant but dangerous. It breeds hostility and gives people a false sense of where the real problems lie. Want to help? Focus on fire safety education, invest in better infrastructure, and demand accountability from those truly at fault. The fire doesnāt care about your politics; it just wants fuel.
#WildfireTruth #StopTheBlame #FireSafetyFirst #AccountabilityMatters #ClimateCrisis #FactsOverFear #CommunityFirst #WildfireAwareness #RealSolutions #TruthNotFear #EndTheRhetoric #FocusOnFacts #FirePrevention #TogetherWeCan #ResponsibleAction