al-Qaeda detainees say there are plots for everything.
I can vouch that the clearing thing is a problem for certain areas. People are supposed to clear and don't, and fire can hop a VERY long way with those Santa Ana winds. If you have allergy problems, just come to California during those winds. It feels like your eyes are dry, it'* very intense.

The city next to where I used to live doesn't clear it'* areas (the place I used to live cleared the vacant lots and hillsides by my parent'* house, and do it regularly) and it'* on fire. No coincidence there.