Disappearing forest mystery solved

As I walked today at lunch time, I saw the machine that has been clearing out the forest behind our office. The operator stopped and we got a chance to talk. He is clearing a fire break through the forest. There won't be any development there so we'll be able to continue using the forest for hiking and other recreation. He is a local contractor who remembers that there was a fire in the forest about 20 years ago and the fire department wasn't able to get any equipment back here to fight it. There are now houses built around the forest and the fire break should help if there ever is a fire, Let's pray it doesn't need to be tested.