Would this be a practical way of reducing forest megafires?

Question

I've got an idea that might help prevent megafires from happening, though I'm not sure if it's practical.

What if we sectioned out forests by creating controlled forest fires along certain latitudes and longitudes? If they air-dropped flame-retardants along the edges of these lines to make 'fireproof barriers' and then set fire to the areas within them, they could create tree-less 'forest borders'.

That way, if a forest fire were to ever happen, it wouldn't spread beyond these 'borders' and only one section of forest would be burned out therefore keeping the fire from spreading into a catastrophic megafire.

Anyone follow me on this? This is the best way I can explain it as I'm not very good at translating my thoughts into words... I might have to draw a map displaying what my ideas are to get my thoughts out.

To those that do understand, do you think it's a practical idea? It might be expensive considering how much flame-retardants would have to be used across, say, the state of California, but compare that figure to how much megafires would cost.

Answer 1

The problem is that you do a lot of damage in hopes of avoiding something that doesn't happen very often and your specific figures are too big. Latitudes and longitudes are a poor choice because the best coverage would be up and down mountains, not N-S and E-W. But these megafires are not that big - it would be better to use roads, but ...
The main problem would be that if you made a true vegetation free area the erosion would be horrific further damaging the water supply as happens after wild fires. If you expected people to live in these areas there would be no shade and if you kept people out, there would be screams heard on the East Coast because land availability is already tight.

Answer 2

Fires are absolutely vital for the proper and natural growth of a forest. Certain seeds will not even germinate until they are exposed to fire.
If humans don't want to risk their property then they should build them away from forests and let the forests get on with the process of growing and evolving.
Artificial forest boundaries are a blight on the landscape and are as ugly as hell to look at.

Answer 3

The only way to prevent mega forest fires, is to stop heating our planet. What do I mean by that, stop using cars and devices that produce carbon dioxide or anything that can destroy the ozone layer.

Answer 4

well to protect ur house deffinitly have a metal roof! and dont plant ucalpistis, and use fake wood is ur building a fence, but idk u can prevent fires unless their arsen, whats done is done in terms of atmosphere and global warming