Every year, it’s déjà vu in the California legislature, where bills aimed at taming wildfires get snuffed out faster than a matchstick in a monsoon. With rising wildfire threats looming over the state, critics and concerned Californians watch as legislation focusing on wildfire mitigation is met with a crash and burn.

The California fire agency recently demonstrated the stark difference between a home built with modern fire-resistant materials and one that’s clinging to outdated norms. Spoiler alert: the new construction stood its ground while the old one turned to ash. What’s the takeaway? Implementation of mitigation measures, like clearing brush and using fire-resistant materials, is crucial to curb the appetite of these raging infernos.

But alas, when it’s time for lawmakers to put their money where their mouth is, many bills fall flat due to conflicts with environmental regulations or, let’s be honest, their hefty price tags. Out of approximately 90 proposed wildfire-related bills this year, nearly half focus on the ever-elusive mitigation efforts. However, the outlook doesn’t look too bright, especially considering many are rehashed versions of past failures.

Take last year’s debacle: Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed two bills that aimed to fund wildfire prevention, citing costs that were “too high”. One proposal, which promised to cost anywhere between $1 to $4 million annually, was deemed just too rich for our state’s budgetary blood.

Yet here we are, facing catastrophic wildfire risks while Sacramento continues to squabble over pennies like misers hoarding coins. This year’s fire season isn’t waiting around for committee assignments; it’s actively consuming our forests and communities.

Bipartisan support may help spur some encouragement, but there remains hesitation when it comes to balancing environmental policies with timely mitigation. Some legislators like Assemblymember Heath Flora argue that political willpower needs to be as robust as their concern for costs. Flora pointed out how quickly the state can find billions for permits but waver at the thought of investing in preventive measures.

Even environmental groups find themselves at odds over certain proposals. The Center for Biological Diversity has raised red flags about bills they see as undermining essential safety standards. Are they in the business of protecting California from fires or just putting more paperwork on the fire?

In the end, as per former Senator Bill Dodd, the battle for ecological balance remains an uphill climb where “perfect can be the enemy of the good”. Clearly, it’s a mess.

Let’s see what this year holds, but make no mistake: unless our leaders pull together, it’s likely it will continue to be more talk than action, while the flames linger dangerously close to our backyards.