Here in Montana, dead wood cutting is by permit in National Forests, but they may still be free. There are rules that have to be followed, and the local US Forest Service station is supposed to update on rules and areas open to cutting when you get a permit. I don't know about it as I don't have a fireplace or wood stove, so never tried for a permit.

Could be you're right about CA though.

I heard a report that the pineapple farms in that area were abandoned due to the high cost of shipping the product out of Maui. Instead of being managed, they were left to wither and dry out. That helped fuel the fire. Similar to California not allowing the public to harvest dead wood from the forests.

Hmmm. Could be another example of government incompetence hiding behind climate change. See Babylon Bee's take on drought vs rain Newsom spoof.

yup
Trump's fault....

i saw a burnt boat on Fox
how the hell did someone not get in it and use it to more people out from the fire??

oh yeah, no sirens went off warning people....

you really have to be an idiot to vote democrat