But due to increasing development in forests and on benches, many Beehive State residents are in for a difficult awakening when catastrophic fires like the ones being experienced in Southern California make us pay for our apathy.

You might not expect to hear such a discussion from wildlife experts such as the Division of Wildlife Resources' John Fairchild and Ashley Green. After all, it is their job to take care of the needs of fish and wildlife, not people's homes.

But, in an increasingly interlocking world, development decisions made locally tend to have broader, statewide consequences. Wildlife experts know that making good land-use decisions helps not only the animals they are paid to protect but humans, too.

Take, for example, the massive amount of development that is taking place in Wasatch and Summit counties surrounding Jordanelle Reservoir. Homes and condos are being built at a rapid pace in oak brush environments that, while beautiful, will one day burn.

"It could happen here," Fairchild said. "You look at photos of development in Wasatch County and realize that the risks are huge."

It would behoove government leaders at all levels to do a better job of protecting humans and wildlife from development in the wrong places while recognizing the need to respect private property rights.

Fairchild and Green made eight excellent suggestions as a way to deal with the threat of catastrophic wildfire in Utah.

1. Fuel for large fires needs to be strategically reduced so fires can be contained to manageable levels. This can be done using a mixture of prescribed fires, chaining, herbicides to control cheat grass and hand thinning with saws.

2. Native plant species or introduced species less susceptible to fire should be seeded in an effort to control or eliminate fast-burning nonnative cheat grass.

3. Counties and cities need to use planning and zoning tools to keep homes and cabins from being built in areas that are certain to burn or at least warn potential home buyers of the threat and that it will be difficult if not impossible to protect these structures from fire.

4. Federal, state and local governments need to use tools such as land trades, transfer of development rights and conservation easements to protect private property rights while keeping buildings out of fire- and wildlife-sensitive lands.

5. Land trades of public and private lands should be considered to prevent building in fire-prone areas.

6. Smaller fires under the right conditions should be allowed to burn. This natural process is good for wildlife and the environment and prevents huge 100,000-acre-plus mega-fires.

7. Create better public-education campaigns to inform homeowners, developers and potential buyers of risks associated with fire.

8. Every county in Utah should complete a community fire plan to address these concerns.

Given Utah's growth, fires that destroy homes and structures are likely inevitable. But planning now can at least force homebuyers and government planners into making wiser decisions.

wharton@sltrib.com