US: Entering new wildfire era, California broadcasts an old message: Prevention (+video)

With California's new wildfire season shaping up to be the worst ever, officials are emphasizing that 95 percent of wildfires are caused by human activity, and thus, they can be prevented, reports the Christian Science Monitor.

Communication has always been key to better disaster control, Darren Hammell, co-founder and chief strategic officer with Princeton Power Systems, a New Jersey-based advanced technology company said, though he also added that while mitigation is important, the most important shift may be in changing people’s willingness to prepare.

"The costs of disasters are mounting, but it is much better to pay the costs up front in preparedness than after the fact in losses," Mr Hammel warned.