Although I see what you’re saying, sadly these dangerous patterns are allowed to exist because they are very much products of our culture of individuality.
To me, it’s impossible to separate the individual responsibility because that culture is the very thing that fuels our parochial systems of local government in this country.
The priority of individualism over a common good in land use decisions is rather unique when viewed within the context of our peer nations and is why we don’t have stronger regional governments to prevent these things.
It’s exactly for reasons like this that we do need to fight for stronger regional and state policies. California wildfire insurance requirements, although incredibly unpopular, are but one example.
