Based on aerial views of the burned out subdivisions the problem is zoning. The structures have almost no separation from each other; only 5-10' on average as seen in video from Santa Rosa[1]. In subdivisions where the fire spared some homes the line between the burned out properties and the survivors is often a street; a modest residential street provided enough separation to stop the fire.
So CA and its various governments have been either allowing or requiring developers to plat large homes on tiny lots with next to no separation. Fed by wind the fire leapt from one home to the next burning out whole subdivisions. While the efforts you cite to control brush are admirable they can't prevent this; the houses are too tightly packed and will burn en-mass with no help from brush at all given enough wind.
Bottom line; this is indeed a regulatory problem. Obviously that rankles those that habitually give CA every benefit of the doubt in all things but physics doesn't care.
So CA and its various governments have been either allowing or requiring developers to plat large homes on tiny lots with next to no separation. Fed by wind the fire leapt from one home to the next burning out whole subdivisions. While the efforts you cite to control brush are admirable they can't prevent this; the houses are too tightly packed and will burn en-mass with no help from brush at all given enough wind.
Bottom line; this is indeed a regulatory problem. Obviously that rankles those that habitually give CA every benefit of the doubt in all things but physics doesn't care.
[1] http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Drone-footage-reveals-utt...