the idiots in "government" are the cause (just like CA)  We used to burn off fields and timber almost yearly. I don't remember anyone losing a building that was in use.  Then about 20 years ago, it became taboo to burn anything. The FD would show up to anything bigger than a burn barrel fire (sometimes to those) and put it out, then chew out and threaten the landowner.
Now we have what we have.