Anyone who claims that wildfires are much smaller now than they were before comprehensive fire-suppression policies were enacted after World War II obviously didn't set foot in Northern California this summer and didn't talk to old-timers who say this fire season is the worst they've ever experienced.

If he had set foot in my district, or anywhere in California for that matter, he would have found a pattern of thousands of fires caused by lightning strikes that charred well over 1 million acres, destroyed hundreds upon hundreds of homes, took the lives of 15 people and cost California taxpayers well over $1 billion to fight.

But some people are blinded by the same smoke and ash that stung the eyes and burned the throats of hundreds of thousands of my constituents and other Californians who suffered miserably at the hands of catastrophic wildfires this summer. In short, they will never open their eyes to the true reality and catastrophic wildfire threat facing California today.

I strongly support the management of our precious forests to save what we have left for future generations. And I clearly understand that there are those who are opposed to the removal of one dead leaf or pine needle from the forest floors. We can both cite studies, good and bad, to reflect our viewpoints.

But catastrophic wildfire doesn't listen to studies. In the words of Stephen Pyne, a professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, "Fire isn't listening. It doesn't feel our pain. It doesn't care – really, really doesn't care. It understands a language of wind, drought, woods, grass, brush and terrain, and it will ignore anything stated otherwise."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger understands this threat. It's why he created the California-Nevada Tahoe Fire Basin Commission following the devastating Angora fire that destroyed hundreds of homes. The final report delivered by this commission, and the recommendations approved by the governor, prove that thinning of the forests can and does prevent catastrophic wildfire.

The report found that fuel reduction treatments that had taken place on Tahoe Basin lands since 1995 had a dramatic impact in stopping the Angora fire. The report states that "parcels that had been treated exhibited modified fire behavior, including reduced ember production, and reduced heat and smoke allowing firefighters to be more effective. …

"Treated parcels also served as fuel breaks, allowing firefighters to safely protect structures and slowing fire spread. Eyewitness accounts, firefighter interviews and post-fire on-site inspections indicated a significant reduction in fire intensity when fire entered treated urban lots."

Allowing private timber interests to do what they do best, clean and thin our valued forest lands, isn't a unique or radical idea. It had been standard accepted procedure in forestry management up until about 30 years ago, until concerns about endangered species and clear-cutting led to a new policy called "hands off." The forests were to remain untouched by human hand, and for the most part, they have been.

Although the intentions behind this policy were good, the results have been devastating. It's often said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and these "hands off" and "let it burn" policies led to thousands of acres of forestlands filled with dead and dying trees, undergrowth and other fuels.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that a simple spark was all it took to ignite the worst summer of wildfires witnessed in modern history. As a result, this so-called "environmentally friendly" policy has left us with fouled streams, unhealthy air, burned wildlife and a forest landscape that resembles the moon.

I challenge the Sierra Club or any other group committed to the preservation of our valuable forests to realize the damage caused by current forestry management policies. How many more burned homes, lost forests and emergency room visits do we need? Pointing fingers won't save our forests from destruction. We both share common goals. Let's find a common solution.

State Sen. Sam Aanestad represents the 4th Senate District, which comprises 12 Northern California counties.