Having lived in both Colorado and now Utah, I’ve not only reported on wildfires but had to be conscious of them for my own and my home’s safety. I’ve avoided living in places where fire danger is high. However, there are always other natural hazards to be aware of i.e. earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, etc. Bottom line: you’re never completely safe.
I feel for the thousands of people who’ve fled their homes as flames advanced from nearby forests into their neighborhoods. It should be a reminder to all of us that where we live is just as important as how we live. You can’t plop a house down anywhere and expect everything to be OK forever. You can’t eliminate risk entirely but you can minimize it by not living in places where fire protection is minimal or non-existent (like mountains and forests), having a household evacuation plan (we do), having that insurance policy paid up, and understanding that fire protection costs money and if you fight every tax referendum for it, the chances of losing your home increase commensurately.
When it comes to a risk-free life, you can’t have it all. But if you’re smart by your family, your community, and the planet, you can have a lot of it.
