Wildfire folks can no longer do it alone. Interface dwellers who live in the wild fuels from grass to leaf litter, brush areas to big forests need to understand, where they live and how to protect themselves so they can always, “Shape the Battle Space”. It is a military, 360 degree, defensive position. It is a set up for first responders to have an option to revert to; in a true, life/death emergency. Two things fire fighters cannot bring to the incident are: time and space. Further-more, the scheme has to be simple, systematic, and safe enough, that if the fire fighters can’t get there and tend to all the many structures at risk, the people have to be practiced, and able to save their own families and homes.

The attitude has to change to a, “MY HOME, MY LAND, MY RESPONSIBILITY”. The goal here is to earn your right to survive. Actually, grow into a wildfire adapted species. End up on Darwin’s positively. Fire Suppression agencies do not presently know how to deal with extreme wildfire storms. Neither do the people who live in wild fuels. Climate Change has changed everything. We all have to learn new skills, responsibilities. Starting off on the same foot we have to make these new procedures common & familiar, easy habits. We cannot keep doing what we are doing, because it is not working. Finally, a mitigation procedure that allows a, “UNIVERSAL BLUEPRINT & SCHEME”. to parry extreme fire storms, make them pass and do no harm. We do well on easy, common sense fires, but not good on the serious, extreme, killer fires that seem to coming with higher drought codes and stronger winds with climate intensification. GHOSTS OF OUR DEAD CAN QUIETLY WHISPER IN THE WIND; SONGS OF LESSONS NOT LEARNED Death in the short grasses: 1949 Mann Gulch Fire, near Helena, Montana.