The panel said environmental concerns had hampered efforts to clear brush and trees surrounding housing developments in wildland areas, where fire is part of the natural cycle. That extra growth allowed the wildfires to spread, the commission said.
``It is essential to understand that unless and until public policy makers at all levels of government muster the political will to put the protection of life and ... property ahead of competing political agendas, these tragedies are sure to continue,'' said the panel's chairman, retired state Sen. William Campbell.
The wind-driven fires in Southern California killed 24 people, destroyed more than 3,600 homes and burned 740,000 acres last fall. Sixteen more people died in resulting mudslides.
Once ignited, wildfires are guided more by weather conditions than anything firefighters can do, the commission said in outlining 48 changes that could be made to better prevent and respond to wildfires.
Those include better cooperation and communication between fire agencies; more training and improved equipment; quicker use of military aircraft; and reconsideration of the sunset deadline for launching firefighting aircraft.
The 34-member panel, appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, comprised state lawmakers, firefighters and other officials.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention Director Andrea Tuttle said there can be common ground between environmentalists and developers.
Environmentalists also recognize that there are benefits to thinning forests to prevent catastrophic fires, Tuttle said.
``Stopping growth in those areas is not really an option. But doing smart growth in those areas is,'' said Dallas Jones, director of the Office of Emergency Services.
