In this Nov. 16, 2018 photo, a firefighter searches for human remains in a trailer park destroyed in the Camp Fire, in Paradise, California. The massive wildfire that killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes has been fully contained after burning for more than two weeks, authorities said Sunday, Nov. 25. (John Locher | Associated Press File)

In this Nov. 16, 2018 photo, a firefighter searches for human remains in a trailer park destroyed in the Camp Fire, in Paradise, California. The massive wildfire that killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes has been fully contained after burning for more than two weeks, authorities said Sunday, Nov. 25. (John Locher | Associated Press File)

Opinion: Finding a solution to wildfires

Recently, the Juneau Empire reprinted an editorial from a California newspaper that called for everyone to come together to find a solution to wildfires. Research proves that nothing stops a wildfire like an irrigated field. Unfortunately, California doesn’t have enough water for irrigation.

A couple of years ago we participated in a collaboration online with others for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. We were the top collaborator with our patented Ocean waterline “No. 1,” our patented Off Shore Reservoir “No. 3,” and our idea for “Mothballing California Communities” was “No. 2.” The idea for mothballing was to protect the towns from fire because there was not enough water to fill the hydrants. It is hard to believe that insurance companies are going to be able to provide fire insurance without better fire protection, such as emergency irrigation along wildfire escape routes.

California has been dividing up what is not enough water for way too long and now it is dividing them, they need a new source of freshwater that is separate from the rivers. We all are watching the migrations of people who are refugees of violence or poverty. Without more freshwater, California may have millions of people who become drought refugees. We believe it is easier to move water to California than to move California to the water.

The question is are the deserts growing because the polar ice caps are melting? Or are the polar ice caps melting because the deserts are growing. Water can stop the deserts from growing, but not burning fossil fuels will never stop the polar ice caps from melting.

Steve and Cindy Bowhay,

Juneau


• My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire.