Who’s protecting our wildlife? With consequence, the current answer seems to be nobody.

Many fires have ignited throughout this year because of  the unusually dry climate, but people have not helped the matter. Millions of people from all over the world come to visit California’s rocky cliffs, abundant forestry, and flowing falls.

But, people are taking this rare beauty for granted.

On June 21, just two months before the rim fire started in the Stanislaus National Forest, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Forest Service issued a forest order prohibiting “building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire” within the Stanislaus National Forested area becuase of the extremely high risk of fire.

The order stated that violators could be punished with up to six months in jail and a minimum fine of $5,000.

Devastatingly, with no way to enforce the order, it did very little to deter the infamous hunter who allowed his illegal campfire to escape the intended boundary and burn through the 123-year-old Yosemite National Park, and the Stanislaus National Forest.

With more than 3.7 million visitors a year, it is clear that these forests contain one of the world’s greatest habitats, and it is not O.K. that the careless actions of one person destroyed parts of our country’s national tresaures.

Although many people travel through the area and enjoy their campfires safely, being unable to roast a s’more is a small price to pay to keep our beloved national park and forest protected.

The estimated cost to rebuild facilities damaged by the fire is a whopping $124.5 million. This figure, however, only accounts for the damage to buildings and equipment lost in the fire, as well as the cost of resources need to extinguish the flames.

It does not account for the untold damage done to wildlife and their habitats.

According to a story on the San Jose Mercury News’ website, the hunter who started the fire has not been arrested, nor legally punished in anyway for his actions.

This is unacceptable. He must pay for the ramifications of the fire he idiotically caused.

Many residents’ homes in the area burned down, leaving them homeless. Countless families have been inconveniently relocated. More than 5,000 firefighters had to stop tending to their towns and their assigned tasks to put their lives on the line for somebody’s shortcomings.

If we let this offender go free then what are we teaching future hikers, hunters, and campers?

According to the United States Forest Service’s website, a project was proposed titled “Pilot and Early Fire Restoration” that hoped to restore area damaged by fires in 1994 and 2004.  It also planned to reduce current fire risks in the area by starting “prescribed fires”.

Prescribed fires are intentionally ignited to burn hazardous undergrowth. Wildfire’s often spread rapidly with the help of the undergrowth.

This project would have reduced the chances of wildfires starting in the area, but it was not funded because of regulations regarding a project’s public comment period.

This period indicates a length of time where the public provides its opinion on the project. In this case, the established “finish” date of the comment period is Nov. 1.

This process further delays necessary projects that can possibly save the wildlife environment, as well as spare thousands of families that were affected by this particular case.

The irony of the situation is unfortunate. It is frustrating to know that steps were in motion to prevent such a disaster, but were not enforced in time.

It is clear the Forest Service’s attempt to extinguish any threat failed miserably. What more do the supervisors or rangers need to do to care for such historically precious lands?

Closer to our home, on Sept. 8, another hunter just outside Clayton Valley ignited a forest fire on Mount Diablo during target practice.

The next day, Cal High students could see flames and smoke billowing from Mt. Diablo on campus.

More than 31,000 acres burned as a result, according to patch.com.

The Mount Diablo Fire caused the evacuation of 75 homes, sending people to take shelter at a local library to shelter while they clung to the hopes of their homes surviving.

The hunter who caused the fire, Davin Mosher, was fined $541 and put on probation for three years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s website.

It is clear that prevention of fires, as well as enforcing punishments for the fires throughout the state are seriously lacking.

It is of the upmost importance that we hold those responsible for these major crimes accountable for their actions, and that we don’t allow anyone in the future to take advantage of the beauty of our planet.