The Definition of Insanity
I had to write this post because I needed to get it out of my system. This isn’t just about wildfires; it’s about my peace of mind and the frustration I feel watching the same story unfold year after year. Writing this is my way of processing, of trying to make sense of the insanity around us.
Albert Einstein described insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." That’s how I feel watching how leaders and systems have responded to wildfires over the past 15 years. It’s exhausting to see the same mistakes repeated, the same lessons ignored. At some point, we have to ask: WTF is going on?
Wildfires have become an annual disaster in the United States. Every year, lives are lost, homes are reduced to ash, and ecosystems are destroyed. Yet our strategies feel reactive at best, like we’re playing an endless game of catch-up.
Shouldn’t we have figured this out by now?
Other parts of the world, like African nations, use controlled burn lanes to minimize wildfire spread and preserve land. Why hasn’t the United States adopted similar measures? What are we waiting for?
Infrastructure plays a massive role in both preventing and responding to wildfires, but let’s be honest: the state of our infrastructure is a joke. Why haven’t we analyzed water systems and other critical resources to ensure readiness? Why do we run out of water during emergencies?
The American Society of Civil Engineers has been warning us for years: our infrastructure is underfunded, neglected, and outdated. Trillions of dollars are needed to bring it up to par. But instead of investing in long-term solutions, we keep slapping on band-aids and hoping for the best.
Every wildfire season brings new heartbreak. Yet nothing changes. The same questions keep piling up:
• Why haven’t we invested in comprehensive wildfire prevention strategies?
• Why do we underfund life-saving infrastructure?
• Why are we stuck in this endless cycle of reaction instead of prevention?
We need bold leadership, systemic change, and a willingness to do things differently:
• Infrastructure Investment: Fund upgrades to water systems, emergency access roads, and advanced monitoring technologies.
• Global Best Practices: Learn from countries that have figured out effective solutions, like burn lanes.
• Proactive Planning: Shift from reaction to resilience.
• Community Engagement: Educate and empower local communities to play an active role.
Most importantly, we need to bring the smartest, most innovative people into the room. A think tank of entrepreneurs, scientists, and community leaders could generate solutions we desperately need. It’s time to stop tinkering around the edges and build systems that work.
The time to act is now. The cost of doing nothing is too great for our communities, environment, and peace of mind. After 15 years of watching this insanity, it’s clear: the future has to be different.
To your vitality,
Lizanne Falsetto