Letters: A nuanced approach to fire safety is best

"We all want to minimize the risk of fire to our homes and communities, but the EMBER plan is a simplistic, one-size-fits-all response to fire preparedness. The EMBER plan promotes, among other recommendations, that all vegetation within 5 feet of the house be removed. Trees and plants near and around homes provide shade and insulation, keeping homes cooler. Cooler homes reduce the need for air conditioning, which is a contributor to greenhouse gases that contribute to conditions for extreme wildfires."

"What about a "flammability scale" for plants? Succulents have high water content and burn less readily than juniper, for example. Removing vegetation around our homes will also destroy the habitats of beneficial insects and pollinators. A thoughtful and nuanced approach will take more time to manage, but may be more beneficial to the health of our communities and the environment as a whole."

"I had polio in 1954, when I was 15 months old, the year before there was a polio vaccine. I was in an iron lung for about the first 24 hours. Imagine what that was like for my parents, in their late 20s, seeing their baby infant's head sticking out from this machine that breathed for me. I was lucky; my lungs recovered, but paralysis affected my right leg. Others who had polio had more significant paralysis or needed to use a breathing machine."

The EMBER plan’s blanket recommendation to remove all vegetation within five feet of homes overlooks benefits provided by nearby trees and plants, including shade, insulation, and reduced air-conditioning use. Reduced cooling demand can lower greenhouse gas emissions that worsen wildfire conditions. Plant flammability varies, and a flammability scale could guide selective vegetation management; removing plants also harms habitats for pollinators and beneficial insects. A thoughtful, nuanced vegetation strategy requires more time and care but can better protect community and environmental health. Personal polio experience shows severe outcomes and underscores that declining vaccination raises the risk of disease resurgence and affects entire communities.

Read at The Mercury News