A New York Times article ("Fighting Fire with Fire in California") investigates how prescribed fires can reduce fire risks in the state of California. By burning off excess fuel built up over decades, "beneficial fires" can reduce the size and intensity of wildfires.
However, prescribed burning on a scale necessary to address the magnitude of the risk is challenging. The article notes that Cal Fire--the state fire agency--has steadily increased the number of acres it intentionally burns each year, setting a target of 50,000 acres for this coming year. But expanding the program is challenging. While significant money is being invested, it is simply not enough to meet the current need. The agency also has a limited number of firefighters who can be allocated to prescribed burns and weather conditions can limit the ability to safely conduct them. Prescribed fires also pose their own risks, sometimes getting out-of-control and causing significant unintended damages.