[RWebb]

the real fact is that these areas are fire-prone ecosystems. period.

they are going to burn no matter what - all the plants there are adapted for, and most REQUIRE fire to breed.

SoCal needs Fire Zoning but does not have it (or nearly so) - last year one of the fire chiefs said that the #1 thing to do was to zone the whole area for fires.

you can "mow"; drag chains; spray with herbicides; whatever and it will only delay the fires (which allows more fuel to build up and make the eventual fire worse).

the area probably needs more compact development which makes it easier and cheaper to defend against fires - the most rie-prone or indefensible areas could become neighborhood or regional parks

- but as some comment above show - many there do not want that. they want big back yards.

so if your backyard fills up with flames... that is the inevitable end result of living in a Mediterranean climate ecosystem

bon appetit!