Encampments pose fire threat – Letters Of Liberty

**“Encampments pose fire threat”, Monterey Herald—Aug. 18, 2021**

Gov. Newsom has forbidden anyone from removing homeless encampments along local areas along Highway 1. This reckless move poses imminent fire danger to most residents of Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach, Tehama and Monterra. Many of our recent California wildfires have emanated from cookstoves, cigarettes or campfires in such encampments. The number of encampments have grown to huge numbers recently. I have run a US Forest Service computer model showing that the communities cited would be enveloped in wildfire within hours of any outbreak in the encampment zone, given the steep slopes, overdue forest management and heavy timber fuel load. Our single defense to this looming catastrophe is to “Recall Gavin.”

— Dr. C. Michael Hogan, Carmel