It is still hard for me to get used to seeing forest fires wipe out tract housing neighborhoods, businesses and entire towns. It was one thing expecting that it could happen when you live in an isolated rural area but now we've built crowded developments right up to the wilderness.
We used to drive to other towns around here through hilly wooded areas and think it was pretty but didn't like the fire risk in those areas; now when I see that I think it is too easy for fire to sweep up the hills into the developments and right through main street.
You have the right point right there. It's nice to have a home in the forest, with trees, wildlife. But on the West coast in the years we live in, with forest management lacking, with climate change ignored, it is imperative to clear the area.
Look @ where towns like Dubai are build ... excellent forest management.
* It's hot, it's dry, the soil, and when lightenings strike anything can go up in flames.
It don't matter if you pass the vacuum on the forest's floor/carpet.
Build some distance from the tree lines, that's one measure, but be aware that burning ashes travel with the winds and fall on house's roofs.
So build fireproof roofs.
Intelligent water irrigation systems in dry areas are another measure.
Find the water, bring it there aplenty and make it follow the right directions.
Dig artificial lakes, bring parts of icebergs by choppers, be imaginative, inventive, creative, ready. Invest in protection of the lands and of the people. Invest in cleaner air, better control of the ozone layer, and less Co2 in the atmosphere...go electric, go solar, go wind, go ocean waves, get water sticks...Well Well Well.