Did Mexican drug gangs start the La Brea forest fire?
The LA Times reports today that officials in Santa Barbara County suspect Mexican drug cartels of accidentally igniting the La Brea forest fire, which has burned 87,000 acres over the weekend and is 64 percent contained.
According to the Times, which quotes local authorities: an unburned marijuana patch, recent camping equipment, and a campfire was found near the alleged beginning of the blaze. It may be the first time, officials say, that growers have touched off a forest fire, and they caution locals to report any amigos coming out of the hills all dark and dirty.
We at the Dope Report can already see the day two headlines:
Mexican Firebugs Burn Forest Down for Bud
Citizens should call police if they see any Mexicans operating in a Hobbesian state of nature.
The story will easily make it into law and order rhetoric: “See, the Mexicans Are Burning Down the Trees!”
But, the story also notes that growers usually use propane tanks, because the heat creates less smoke than a campfire. Less smoke means less alert authorities. Above all, the reason growers are in the national forests is tougher post 9/11 border policy.
We’d also like to add that while we don’t condone the pollution and destruction of national forests for drug cultivation, growers have a market interest in NOT starting forest fires. They lose their stash.
As far as we know, careless hikers and crazed arsonists have always been the real threat to forests. And what better way to eliminate demand for ecologically devastating illicit crop than to legislate and regulate its cultivation?
Lastly, telling people to be on the lookout for Mexicans in the bush is just straight racist, ya’ll.
