Why don't we put more of our efforts into controlled burning in order to keep the fuel load down
Because it's ugly.
The high amount of available fuel is primarily a California thing. Every other state conducts preventative burns. But California changed its policy on this about ten years ago because rich people don't like smoke in their backyards.
When Trump pointed this out, he was ridiculed by those, including California's governor, who say it was purely global warning.
The president may be a buffoon, but he's not always wrong.