Backburns are intentional fires set deliberately by firefighters as a mean to suppress wildfires and is often taught as a part of 'FIRE SCIENCE,' a compartmentalized science that fails to address interrelated sciences, thus leaving incongruities in teachings and comprehension of the widespread effects of their methodology and practices.
Firefighters and forestry often utilize the 'backburn policy' as a means of fire suppression, however, experience has shown that this practice results in further deterioration of the ecosystem and reoccurring wildfires.
Backburns destroy forest foliage which results in an increase in the rate of flooding in following storms, an increase in soil erosion, and a decrease in water retention capability - all of which is part of a regressive cycle that contributes towards reoccurring wildfires and desertification.
Firefighters and forest maintenance services have a duty to maintain and protect our public lands and resources for current generations as well as future generations and the intentional burning of our public resources is contrary to that duty and related responsibilities.
The deliberate scorching of our public resources is the very definition of Environmental Terrorism, yet it is being done by our own public servants, which is unacceptable. In California, the backburn policy even breaches CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE 452: RECKLESS BURNING, yet it continues to be used, only resulting in an increase in rampant wildfire occurrence and vast loss of public resources.
Throughout history, such as the Roman war campaigns against the Gaulish Tribes, the scorched earth policy has been used to deprive self-reliant communities of their local natural resources, which cripples entire communities into dependency on foreign exports, which is devastating to quality and way of life. The backburn policy seems to have the same effects as the scorched earth policy, by burning off much of the public's resources under the guise of fire suppression, contrary to the duties and responsibilities of both forest services and firefighters.
We, the signees of this petition, support the END of the detrimental backburn policy that has robbed the public of their natural resources.
Wildfire PREVENTION is the solution.
"ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES."
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Related links:
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34116491
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorched_earth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_terrorism
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=450-457.1
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-words-to-the-firefighter-oath
