Wildfire culture has the wrong priorities  Scott Linden /
Published Dec 19, 2012 at 04:00AM  The West was ablaze in
wildfires, and will be for decades to come. Last year, the U.S.
Forest Service spent over $1.4 billion on wildfire suppression
and locally the Deschutes National Forest spent almost $20
million, mostly on the Pole Creek Fire. Make no mistake,
fighting fires is big business.  And while careless humans and
Mother Nature are certainly the cause of the fire, there is a
fundamental reason we should hope our lives and property aren’t
at risk from future blazes: It pays to let fires burn.  A
careful examination makes one thing clear. There are few
incentives for subduing a wildfire quickly. But there are many
reasons to prolong the “fight.” Let’s follow the money:  Look no
further than Sisters or Burns this year. A miniature city
mushroomed overnight, its sole economic engine the business of
fire. From boots-on-the-ground grunts to caterers, owners of
retardant-dropping aircraft to purveyors of shower