You have actually been in a forest ? Right ?? Exactly how are you going to clear 12,000,000 acres of forest from fallen or dead material ? Old growth stands of Ponderosa have very little shrubbery or kindling under them . It was the practice of clearcutting that left nothing but small brush as far as the eye can see . No shade... dries out very quickly. And you can take a propane torch to the thick bark of a mature Ponderosa with little effect .
Luckily here in Idaho they started using selective logging practices back in the 60s . Even so our fires can be intense due to beetle kill pine and long periods without rain . This year we have been really lucky to not have a Megafire ! We had a very wet spring which grew tons of fuel (brush and grass) followed by 2 months of dry sunny conditions.
