In a scenario with a breakdown in food, supply chains the only ones looking for signs of wood burning would be the hungry and you will see the loyalty of law enforcement quickly break down if they too become hungry.

With all the chaos, occurring around them a small would not garner their attention s those in urban areas will be burning down and looting everything. Further once supply and food stores have been looted how many of these unprepared clueless population know how to procure and make water safe to drink.

The point would be to have enough supplies to hunker down and survive through the raging moron stage thus allowing them to cull their own ranks.