[Sacramento, CA]  As the devastating fires of Southern California finally succumb to the heroic efforts of 8,000 firefighters, weary and broken survivors return to their homes to assess losses and rebuild if they can.  They may have a nasty surprise waiting for them, though... millions in environmental fines.

California's Attorney General reportedly plans to collect millions of dollars from wildfire victims and effected counties in order to buy carbon credits, offsetting the damage the blaze caused to the environment.

Critics say that this is not the first time that Attorney General Jerry Brown of California, listed as Edmund G. Brown Jr. on the official website, has pushed his environmental agenda using his position as AG.  Since taking office in January of 2007 Brown has prosecuted and sued his way to controversy over a number of 'earth-friendly' issues.

Brown petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for tougher emissions regulations on sea-going ships and eventually sued the EPA for what he perceived as inaction in motor vehicle regulations.  He has sued companies within and without California, siting the California Environmental Quality Act to put the kibosh on construction, mining, and road modifications.  He has even sued the county of San Diego.

Now it looks as if the residents of five Southern California counties, including San Diego, will be his next targets.  Supporters say that the move is necessary, and that the public needs to look at the big picture.

"This is a global issue, not a local one," said Trenton Kilmer, an environmental consultant in Sacramento, who works closely with Brown.  "This is about more than the loss of a few homes - it's about the destruction of the planet.  The CO₂ pumped into the air by these wildfires will do irreparable harm to the climate, further global warming, and eventually kill the people of Earth."

"Admittedly, some victims of the fire have nothing left, and that's a shame.  But they'll get insurance money soon, and they'll be able to pay up with money out of that.  These carbon credits are needed to repair the damage to our environment.  If we can collect enough, it will be as if the fires never happened."

That's ridiculous, says Dr. Kevin Lathrop, senior fellow at the University of California Los Molinas and noted climatologist.  Lathrop suggests a more 'common sense' approach to the issue.

"Firstly, I'm not convinced that the CO₂ from these wildfires is going to make a hill of beans when it comes to the overall climate of the planet.  Wildfires happen all over the world." he said.

"Beyond that, people have lost their homes, their possessions, or more."  Said Lathrop, "Carbon credits are the last thing we should be concerned about right now."

Kilmer disagrees. 

"I disagree," says Kilmer.  "This is exactly the right time to levy these fines.  The average citizen cannot be trusted to do the responsible thing with a monetary windfall.  We need to get this process underway before they get those insurance checks into their sooty little mitts."

The Office of the Attorney General did not return our calls immediately for comment.