No it's not.
You are in Chicago and don't know what the fuck you're talking about. California has all kinds of idiotic environmental laws which are counterproductive. One of those involves brush/tree clearing. These laws were originally meant to protect wildlife and prevent overdevelopment, but they were poorly conceived and don't allow exceptions for proper brush/tree maintenance.
The state has always had several consecutive months with no rain (not just recently), and things get super dry. With the ability to properly clear it, these fires will be a problem every year.