Nature’s Way: Let California Wildfires Burn

Re “6 Southland Blazes Burn as Fire Season Starts Early,” May 4: It is wrong for California to spend millions of dollars to fight these fires every year. Let them burn -- all the brush and trees and houses and whatever else is in their paths. The same for forest fires. Firefighters should be utilized only for the purpose of getting people and pets to safety.

Fires are an integral part of California’s natural history. They have burned annually since long before the Indians dwelt here. They are an essential part of the state’s ecosystems, eliminating overgrown and dead vegetation. Some of the seeds of our natural vegetation can’t germinate without exposure to fire.

It’s a pity that some people buy or build houses in fire-prone areas. The agencies that permit developers or individuals to build houses in such areas should be held financially responsible for losses resulting from wildfires.

Roger Bixby

Huntington Beach