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That was over 20 years ago. My impression is that things have only gotten worse since then.
We need to ask some of the resident experts. If I recall, bellcurve is one of them. Im sure it has gotten worse, and the fires in the west coast seem to have gotten worse each year.
Several of those fires have been started by incompetent management of those utilities.
@Bell_curve seems to see everything that happens on SN, but I'll tag him just in case.
It was just a matter of time before he read the comment. Mismanagement and lack of awareness. I find it weird that there are so many fires over there, but not in the midwest.
The midwest has far less forest and is far less arid.
Up north, there is a lot of forest.
Incompetent management is the biggest factor.
Man made fire problems are blamed on climate change. Proper management includes forced burning and/or cutting trees. A lot of left wing enviromental professors recommended this in 2003. I haven't kept up with the literature since.
The state has phased out oil drilling and nuclear plants; the next target is natural gas. Hydroelectric plants and dams are also being dismantled. The goal is to get all energy from solar and wind (an impossible goal).
edit: Trees consume too much water. The best part about California is fake not real trees.
The problem in 2001 was market distortion caused by the state: power companies could had a ceiling for consumers (price control) but no ceiling for wholesalers (gouging).
Brave search ai has a decent explanation...
I didnt know it was that bad in california. I just knew their energy sector had problems creating wildfires.