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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 15:49:23 GMT
linkPress Democrat ... “Large numbers of rural properties in Sonoma County violate fire safety rules”“Large numbers of rural properties in Sonoma County are in violation of a county ordinance designed to reduce the risk of wildfires, officials said Tuesday, angering county supervisors who say it’s time for residents to take personal responsibility for protecting their homes. Just half of the properties inspected in a month-old program are in compliance with county rules requiring owners to create firebreaks around their homes, Sonoma County Fire Marshal James Williams told supervisors Tuesday. The results dismayed supervisors, with Sonoma County nearing the second anniversary of the 2017 wildfires that killed 24 people and destroyed 5,300 homes. “I’m not gonna use words like ‘concerned,’” supervisor James Gore said. “I’m actually pissed that more people aren’t doing more. … If you get burnt, and you are not clearing your land, you can’t call yourself a victim on the other side of it.” The idea of the county’s Rule 13A is to create defensible space around property, which lowers the fire risk for those properties and allows firefighters to be deployed more efficiently. In the month since countywide inspections began, staff with the Sonoma County Fire Department, Cal Fire and 13 local fire districts have visited 1,805 properties looking for fire fuel — dead vegetation, plants or trees overhanging homes or dead pine needles offering ready kindling on roofs. Of those, about 70% were deemed compliant with state or county standards. However, the county rules are more rigorous than the state standards. Only 48% of the 848 properties examined for compliance by county and local fire districts were in compliance with the county ordinance, according to figures from the county Office of Recovery and Resiliency. Property owners in violation of the county ordinance are given 45 days to take care of the problem or they face escalating costs, including charges of at least $1,000 for the county to do the work for them. If that’s not paid, the county will place a lien on the property. Williams said he wasn’t surprised at the low percentages, saying they’ll improve through the years. But supervisors wondered, with another fire season approaching, whether Sonoma County has years to get prepared. “It does give us heartburn,” supervisor Susan Gorin said. “I don’t think we can wait year after year after year. We’re in fire season again. We’ve got to be urgent about this. When somebody doesn’t do work on their property, here’s the problem: All of those other properties are affected. It’s not just about them. It’s about all of us.” In the past month, inspections have occurred in two ways: visits triggered by complaints from neighbors, or, proactive reviews by county staff and county fire districts. There have been 91 complaint-based inspections so far, and just 25% of those properties have been compliant. Of 757 proactive inspections by county staff and local fire districts, 51% of properties were compliant. Only 10% of the properties inspected by Sonoma County staff in this category were compliant. In June, Sonoma County began inspecting about 3,500 properties in high-risk areas. The eventual goal for proactive inspections is to reach more than 20% of parcels in unincorporated areas, according to data from the county. Gore was unapologetic in passing judgment, which was based partially on complaints he said he has received about the county not doing enough despite an ongoing prescribed burn program, among other initiatives.” As someone who lives in Sonoma County I saw the damage done by the Wine Country Wild Fires In 2017. I saw the spot where the fire jumped Highway 101 and took out a neighborhood by destroying 1300 homes in the matter of hours. So I don’t get why every single homeowner who lives in the country is not compliant with these safety measures.
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Post by busy on Jul 13, 2019 15:54:37 GMT
I think stupidity is pretty harsh. It costs money to do things like that and not everyone has it available. And some people just don’t know. Wildfires have usually been in less populated areas, lots of home being threatened is fairly new for a lot of people.
It takes some time for people to learn and adjust.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 13, 2019 16:10:22 GMT
I don't believe any argument that people are ignorant about this. I believe money and time could be issues.. but it is too pervasive to be ignorant.
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seaexplore
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 13, 2019 16:13:20 GMT
I think stupidity is pretty harsh. It costs money to do things like that and not everyone has it available. And some people just don’t know. Wildfires have usually been in less populated areas, lots of home being threatened is fairly new for a lot of people. It takes some time for people to learn and adjust. Costs money if you don’t do it yourself. Everything that needs to be done to be fire compliant can be done by a capable homeowner. It takes a rake, bags, hoes, shovels. Elderly or handicapped people would probably need help. I’m sure that if someone called the county and said they needed help, people would be willing to volunteer time to do it. If someone needed help to get it done they could also post on the local Facebook or neighborhood next door. Not buying the “don’t know” argument. You know if you live in a fire area. You’ve either seen it yourself or have to pay a TON of money for insurance. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 16:21:18 GMT
“In the month since countywide inspections began, staff with the Sonoma County Fire Department, Cal Fire and 13 local fire districts have visited 1,805 properties looking for fire fuel — dead vegetation, plants or trees overhanging homes or dead pine needles offering ready kindling on roofs.”
Sorry, there is no excuse for not doing this. To do this is just a couple of weekends of work.
The alternative is watching your home burn as you try and outrun a fast moving fire being fed by the dead vegetation you didn't remove when you should have.
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scrappinmama
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 13, 2019 16:27:01 GMT
I was born and raised in California, so I understand the toll it takes when a fire takes over. But to call them all stupid is beyond harsh. Tell that to an elderly couple living off social security, or a disabled person or someone who lost their job. It takes money to do that and they may not have the means to do it. I choose to have compassion for them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 16:45:11 GMT
I was born and raised in California, so I understand the toll it takes when a fire takes over. But to call them all stupid is beyond harsh. Tell that to an elderly couple living off social security, or a disabled person or someone who lost their job. It takes money to do that and they may not have the means to do it. I choose to have compassion for them. Some of the people that died in either the Wine Country fires in 2017 or the Cabin Fire in 2018 were elderly people trying to run from the fire. I think one couple didn’t even make it down their driveway. Imagine that for a second. In the Cabin Fire people died in their cars trying to outrun the fire. Showing compassion for them isn’t going to stop them from dying trying to outrun a wildfire. As pointed out in an earlier post, there would folks that would need help to get rid of fire fuel. By asking for help, either from the county or neighbors, I suspect they would get the help they need especially if family members don’t take care of removing the fuel for the elderly or disabled relatives. |
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Post by busy on Jul 13, 2019 17:28:41 GMT
If you think ignorance isn’t a likely excuse, remember how many people weren’t exactly sure where Minnesota is.
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leeny
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Post by leeny on Jul 13, 2019 17:35:01 GMT
I am also in Sonoma County and when that article came out I was not surprised. After what happened (our family friend perished in the Tubbs fire) I cringe when I see overgrown, dried out shrubbery when I am driving around and think that people should have heeded the lesson from that fire and others. It's not just thinking that a fire won't start on your property it is also where that fire will find the fuel.
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Post by padresfan619 on Jul 13, 2019 17:46:32 GMT
Couldn’t the same be said about people who live in hurricane prone areas who don’t put their homes on risers flood after flood? The brush management needed to be safe from wildfires isn’t just “a couple of weekends work.” It is costly, you need equipment and able bodies to get it finished. My mother in law is in her late 60s in Northern California and luckily has the money to hire out workers to clear her brush, but I suspect the average person isn’t as prepared. How many people can drop $1,000-2,500 right now to pay for the labor of brush management?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 18:14:54 GMT
Couldn’t the same be said about people who live in hurricane prone areas who don’t put their homes on risers flood after flood? The brush management needed to be safe from wildfires isn’t just “a couple of weekends work.” It is costly, you need equipment and able bodies to get it finished. My mother in law is in her late 60s in Northern California and luckily has the money to hire out workers to clear her brush, but I suspect the average person isn’t as prepared. How many people can drop $1,000-2,500 right now to pay for the labor of brush management? Two small points... Putting a house on risers is a bit more expensive then cutting down brush. With hurricanes you get advanced notice so if you are smart, you have time to prepare or get out of Dodge. With wildfires, if you are really lucky you may have hours to get out. But as the fires from the last 2 years have shown, in some cases you only have minutes to get to safety. So every defensive step you take around your home may buy you a few more minutes to get to safety. People who do not take this seriously and find a way to comply but their lives and the first responders lives who come to rescue them in danger. That is irresponsible as well as stupid. |
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Post by dewryce on Jul 13, 2019 19:25:27 GMT
I’m with those say8ng that a blanket “they are stupid” is way harsh. Absolutely it needs to be done, but I think compassion about people that don’t have the knowledge or resources you do could go a long way. It’s wonderful that you’d feel comfortable calling or posting and asking for free help. Many people wouldn’t. Perhaps you can post on Facebook and NextDoor providing numbers and offering help. Maybe those who are knowledgeable and capable can form neighborhood groups that walk door to door and pass out information, provide resources, offer to make calls, answer questions, etc.
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Post by femalebusiness on Jul 13, 2019 19:31:23 GMT
If you think ignorance isn’t a likely excuse, remember how many people weren’t exactly sure where Minnesota is. 😂😂😂 |
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Post by nlwilkins on Jul 13, 2019 19:48:31 GMT
Owning a home brings responsibilities, some that cost money. When you purchase a home you should be cognizant of these responsibilities when determining if you can afford to be a homeowner. We pay home insurance, flood insurance, taxes, air conditioning filters, and more. This is more of the same kind of upkeep required when owning a home. Harsh perhaps, but death is harsh AND final. How would you feel if you were a contributing factor in the death of a neighbor? If you feel you cannot afford to do what is needful, then perhaps you need to reconsider if you should be owning a home in that area.
Others have mentioned that help is available. I find that questionable. Besides, I find it irresponsible to depend upon others to do what what is needed to be safe. Yes, the elderly need may need help, and it would be optimal if the community chipped in to help. But, I would be surprised if that actually happened. So perhaps, the elderly need to evaluate where they are and how they are going to handle their financial responsibilities. Chances are if they own a home in the area in question they are not destitute.
Calling people stupid is not the most political thing to do, but perhaps it might cause enough uproar to educate people on what needs to be done and spur others on to take care of their properties.
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Post by chaosisapony on Jul 13, 2019 20:21:22 GMT
I live in Butte County and within minutes of Yuba County. We had fires in both counties the same night as that terrible one in Sonoma County in 2017. I evacuated and you can see scorch marks along the rocks about six feet away from my house. I live next door to a church and that fence burnt about two feet away from the structure. The folks across the street did not evacuate and actually put out the fire that took hold on their patio cover. Their house would have been lost if they had evacuated. Then last year, we had the Camp Fire in Paradise about 45 minutes away from my house. I say all this to say, I know where you're coming from and I get it.
The vast majority of people here take fire preparedness very seriously. It's just a few idiots that burn when it's not a designated burn day or decide to set off fireworks on the 4th of July. Butte County made fireworks outside of specific city limits a felony charge this year. We still heard them going off everywhere.
Then you have the misguided folks that mean well but spark fires with their lawn mowers when they are trying to get their defensible space done. You have the older residents that aren't physically capable of taking care of their acreage anymore and it quickly gets over grown. It's very expensive to hire crews to come out and clear defensible space and often these older people simply can't afford it. You also have the willfully negligent/criminal aspect. There was a big marijuana bust here a couple of weeks ago where the property owners specifically kept things over grown to try to disguise their operations from the helicopters that scout out the grows. They had a bunch of electrical code violations too. Several fires each year out here are started from illegal grows or drug labs.
You also wind up with absent property owners. They just own some acreage but it's just bare land and no one has set foot on it in years let alone cut the vegetation down.
What I would like to see here are those inspections that the OP references but with the focus being not on fining people but on education. Perhaps after a couple notices a fine can be imposed. Programs made available to help those that aren't physically capable of maintaining defensible space and to help those that are low income make upgrades to help with fire preparedness. Like upgrading roofs, widening driveways, things like that. I'd like to see crews of people sentenced to community service out there with weed wackers taking care of overgrown properties regardless of if they are occupied or not.
It's going to take a lot of effort from all of us but we can make this situation safer for everyone without slapping fines on people or putting liens on their homes. For many people out here that would just make the situation worse over time.
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mlana
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Post by mlana on Jul 13, 2019 20:44:18 GMT
Here in GA, the state will hale with setting firebreaks.
I don't remember exactly which department it is, but I have a cousin who works in the fire towers and part of his job was to go determine where the firebreaks wee needed and to schedule for the work to be done. I don't know if there is a cost involved, but I seem to remember they would come out every so many years for either free or reduced costs and clear and dig a firebreak. land owners were expected to maintain the breaks once they were created, so only the first time may have been at the reduced cost or free.
Marcy
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Post by padresfan619 on Jul 13, 2019 22:48:29 GMT
Couldn’t the same be said about people who live in hurricane prone areas who don’t put their homes on risers flood after flood? The brush management needed to be safe from wildfires isn’t just “a couple of weekends work.” It is costly, you need equipment and able bodies to get it finished. My mother in law is in her late 60s in Northern California and luckily has the money to hire out workers to clear her brush, but I suspect the average person isn’t as prepared. How many people can drop $1,000-2,500 right now to pay for the labor of brush management? Two small points... Putting a house on risers is a bit more expensive then cutting down brush. With hurricanes you get advanced notice so if you are smart, you have time to prepare or get out of Dodge. With wildfires, if you are really lucky you may have hours to get out. But as the fires from the last 2 years have shown, in some cases you only have minutes to get to safety. So every defensive step you take around your home may buy you a few more minutes to get to safety. People who do not take this seriously and find a way to comply but their lives and the first responders lives who come to rescue them in danger. That is irresponsible as well as stupid. Hiring out a landscape team to do brush management for large plots of land is very expensive. These aren’t 1,000 square foot lots, these are acres and acres of land that need to be landscaped. |
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gorgeouskid
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Post by gorgeouskid on Jul 13, 2019 23:24:05 GMT
My brother's house burned in the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa during the 2017 wildfire storm. They had fewer than 5 minutes warning to evacuate. They only were able to get the girls' birth certificates and the dog. No clothes, no photos, no anything. The neighborhood was already on fire as they drove out.
It devastated our whole family, and I still get weepy when I read about house fires and wildfires.
I hope compliance levels increase soon before the next fire season starts.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 23:31:26 GMT
linkFrom Fire Safe Sonoma County WHAT IS DEFENSIBLE SPACE?Defensible space is the area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modified to reduce the wildfire threat and to provide an opportunity for firefighters to effectively defend the house. Some- times, a defensible space is simply a homeowner’s properly maintained backyard. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VEGETATION AND WILDFIRE THREAT?Many people do not view the plants growing on their property as a threat. But in terms of wildfire, the vegeta- tion adjacent to their homes can have considerable influence upon the survivability of their houses. All vegetation, including plants native to the area as well as ornamental plants, is potential wildfire fuel. If vegetation is properly modified and maintained, a wildfire can be slowed, the length of flames shortened, and the amount of heat reduced, all of which assist firefighters in defend- ing the home against an oncoming wildfire. “ THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT MY HOUSE, SO WHY BOTHER WITH DEFENSIBLE SPACE? Some individuals incorrectly assume that a fire engine will be parked in their driveway and firefighters will be actively defending their homes if a wildfire approaches. During a major wildfire, it is unlikely there will be enough firefighting resources available to defend every home. In these instances, firefighters will likely select homes they can most safely and effectively protect. Even with adequate resources, some wildfires may be so intense that there may be little firefighters can do to prevent a house from burning. The key is to reduce fire intensity as wildfire nears the house. This can be accomplished by reducing the amount of flammable vegetation surrounding a home. Consequently, the most important person in protecting a house from wildfire is not a firefighter, but the property owner. And it’s the action taken by the owner before the wildfire occurs (such as proper landscaping) that is most critical. DOES DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIRE A LOT OF BARE GROUND IN MY LANDSCAPE?No. Unfortunately, many people have this misconception. While bare ground is certainly effective in reducing the wildfire threat, it is unnecessary and unacceptable due to appearance, soil erosion, and other reasons. Many homes have attractive, well vegetated landscapes that also serve as effective defensible space.DOES CREATING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS OR EQUIPMENT?No. For the most part, creating a defensible space employs routine gardening and landscape maintenance practices such as pruning, mowing, weeding, plant removal, appropriate plant selection, and irrigation. Equipment needed includes common tools like a chain saw, pruning saw, pruning shears, loppers, weed-eater, shovel, and a rake. A chipper, compost bin, or a large rented trash dumpster may be useful in disposing of unwanted plant material. HOW BIG IS AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSIBLE SPACE?Defensible space size is not the same for everyone, but varies by slope and type of wildland vegetation growing near the house. See the article entitled “Creating An Effective Defensible Space” for specific information. DOES DEFENSIBLE SPACE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?Yes. Investigations of homes threatened by wildfire indicate that houses with an effective defensible space are much more likely to survive a wildfire. Furthermore, homes with both an effective defensible space and a nonflam- mable roof (composition shingles, tile, metal, etc.) are many times more likely to survive a wildfire than those without defensible space and flammable roofs (wood shakes or shingles). Appropriate roofing materials and defensive space give firefighters the opportunity to effectively and safely defend the home. DOES HAVING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE GUARAN- TEE MY HOUSE WILL SURVIVE A WILDFIRE? No. Under extreme conditions, almost any house can burn. But having a defensible space will significantly improve the odds of your home surviving a wildfire. WHY DOESN’T EVERYONE LIVING IN A HIGH WILD- FIRE HAZARD AREA CREATE A DEFENSIBLE SPACE? The specific reasons for not creating a defensible space are varied. Some individuals believe “it won’t happen to me”. Others think the costs (time, money, effort, loss of privacy, etc.) outweigh the benefits. Some fail to imple- ment defensible space practices simply because of misconceptions or lack of knowledge.
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StephDRebel
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Post by StephDRebel on Jul 14, 2019 0:03:25 GMT
I appreciate the language he chose if for no other reason than it pisses people off and when people are mad we talk about it.
This is an issue where talking about it can help so whether it was nice or not it was probably effective.
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scrappinmama
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 14, 2019 0:30:17 GMT
I appreciate the language he chose if for no other reason than it pisses people off and when people are mad we talk about it. This is an issue where talking about it can help so whether it was nice or not it was probably effective. This is a good point. I'm Mexican American and have been at the receiving end of sweeping generalizations about my heritage. I'm happy to educate someone on how their words have a racist tone. It doesn't necessarily change my opinion about the individual being insensitive or maybe even racist, but it certainly opens dialogue. However, since I have experienced generalizations made about me, I tend not to like doing the same to others. |
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Post by hop2 on Jul 14, 2019 0:49:30 GMT
Same as the stupid people who unplug their smoke detectors
Fire detectors give you precious seconds to escape. And I refuse to buy the ‘ignorance’ defense they’ve had fire safety education for 30 years including ads & such.
Or the negligent idiots who pile things in their means of escape. Seriously people your back stairway is not the place to keep 3 months of recycling, old mattresses & broken furniture. If you need that means if escape your screwed.
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Post by hop2 on Jul 14, 2019 1:01:09 GMT
linkFrom Fire Safe Sonoma County WHAT IS DEFENSIBLE SPACE?Defensible space is the area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modified to reduce the wildfire threat and to provide an opportunity for firefighters to effectively defend the house. Some- times, a defensible space is simply a homeowner’s properly maintained backyard. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VEGETATION AND WILDFIRE THREAT?Many people do not view the plants growing on their property as a threat. But in terms of wildfire, the vegeta- tion adjacent to their homes can have considerable influence upon the survivability of their houses. All vegetation, including plants native to the area as well as ornamental plants, is potential wildfire fuel. If vegetation is properly modified and maintained, a wildfire can be slowed, the length of flames shortened, and the amount of heat reduced, all of which assist firefighters in defend- ing the home against an oncoming wildfire. “ THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT MY HOUSE, SO WHY BOTHER WITH DEFENSIBLE SPACE? Some individuals incorrectly assume that a fire engine will be parked in their driveway and firefighters will be actively defending their homes if a wildfire approaches. During a major wildfire, it is unlikely there will be enough firefighting resources available to defend every home. In these instances, firefighters will likely select homes they can most safely and effectively protect. Even with adequate resources, some wildfires may be so intense that there may be little firefighters can do to prevent a house from burning. The key is to reduce fire intensity as wildfire nears the house. This can be accomplished by reducing the amount of flammable vegetation surrounding a home. Consequently, the most important person in protecting a house from wildfire is not a firefighter, but the property owner. And it’s the action taken by the owner before the wildfire occurs (such as proper landscaping) that is most critical. DOES DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIRE A LOT OF BARE GROUND IN MY LANDSCAPE?No. Unfortunately, many people have this misconception. While bare ground is certainly effective in reducing the wildfire threat, it is unnecessary and unacceptable due to appearance, soil erosion, and other reasons. Many homes have attractive, well vegetated landscapes that also serve as effective defensible space.DOES CREATING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS OR EQUIPMENT?No. For the most part, creating a defensible space employs routine gardening and landscape maintenance practices such as pruning, mowing, weeding, plant removal, appropriate plant selection, and irrigation. Equipment needed includes common tools like a chain saw, pruning saw, pruning shears, loppers, weed-eater, shovel, and a rake. A chipper, compost bin, or a large rented trash dumpster may be useful in disposing of unwanted plant material. HOW BIG IS AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSIBLE SPACE?Defensible space size is not the same for everyone, but varies by slope and type of wildland vegetation growing near the house. See the article entitled “Creating An Effective Defensible Space” for specific information. DOES DEFENSIBLE SPACE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?Yes. Investigations of homes threatened by wildfire indicate that houses with an effective defensible space are much more likely to survive a wildfire. Furthermore, homes with both an effective defensible space and a nonflam- mable roof (composition shingles, tile, metal, etc.) are many times more likely to survive a wildfire than those without defensible space and flammable roofs (wood shakes or shingles). Appropriate roofing materials and defensive space give firefighters the opportunity to effectively and safely defend the home. DOES HAVING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE GUARAN- TEE MY HOUSE WILL SURVIVE A WILDFIRE? No. Under extreme conditions, almost any house can burn. But having a defensible space will significantly improve the odds of your home surviving a wildfire. WHY DOESN’T EVERYONE LIVING IN A HIGH WILD- FIRE HAZARD AREA CREATE A DEFENSIBLE SPACE? The specific reasons for not creating a defensible space are varied. Some individuals believe “it won’t happen to me”. Others think the costs (time, money, effort, loss of privacy, etc.) outweigh the benefits. Some fail to imple- ment defensible space practices simply because of misconceptions or lack of knowledge. Fire safety practices aren’t about property. It’s about human lives, it’s about time to escape. No, a defensible zone won’t guarantee your house will survive, but it might just give you the extra time/seconds to escape/survive. This is where people get confused - fire alarms, sprinklers, means of egress, fire escapes, fire break, are all about human life not property. People get wrapped up in misconceptions and risk their safety for stupid reasons. Guess what? With fire breaks, Your neighbors lack of compliance puts you at risk. It lessens YOUR escape time too, not just theirs. |
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Post by ntsf on Jul 14, 2019 1:39:35 GMT
the state should not pay for this.. individuals decide to live out in the woods or rural area and they can be responsible for their own land. don't live out there if you don't want to do this stuff. it would be way too expensive for CA to do this. just like earthquake safety in buildings.. its meant to save lives, not property.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2019 2:21:25 GMT
I appreciate the language he chose if for no other reason than it pisses people off and when people are mad we talk about it. This is an issue where talking about it can help so whether it was nice or not it was probably effective. This is a good point. I'm Mexican American and have been at the receiving end of sweeping generalizations about my heritage. I'm happy to educate someone on how their words have a racist tone. It doesn't necessarily change my opinion about the individual being insensitive or maybe even racist, but it certainly opens dialogue. However, since I have experienced generalizations made about me, I tend not to like doing the same to others. I think you may be a bit confused here. The generalization about your heritage is directed at you simply because of who you are. Not by the actions you personally do or do not take, You say you grew up in California and you understand the toll the fires take. But I don’t think you do. The Tubbs Fire started around Calistoga north east of Santa Rosa in the hills. It went south and took out a neighborhood called Fountaingrove. Came out of the hills heading west. Took out a mobile home park, skipped two hospitals in front of the park, jumped Hwy 101. It then burned 2 businesses in a parking lot, skipped over a Kohl’s department store and took out Coffey Park neighbored and 1300 homes in a matter of hours. That was only one front of the fire. Firefighters couldn’t start fighting the fire for a day or so because they were helping evacuating people from the path of the fire. The fire that hit Paradise the following year was even worse and more destructive. The wildfires the last two years , in both Northern and Southern California are different then have been in previous years because they are bigger, faster and more destructive than fires in previous years. Because these destructive fires happen the last two years one has to treat them as the new norm. And steps have to be taken by those who live in the country and on the outskirts of a city. By these folks not cutting back fuel for fires, they are putting themselves, their families , their neighbors and the first responders that risk their lives to save these people’s asses at risk. The decision to do nothing is made by stupid irresponsible people and the color of their skin or their heritage has nothing to do with it. If people need help then they ask for it and because it will benefit others I’m pretty sure they won’t have any problem getting the help considering the potential alternative if nothing is done. |
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Jul 15, 2019 14:53:52 GMT
Well, you really, really insist on calling people stupid! While this cleanup is necessary you are choosing to ignore everyone’s very true comments on how it is just not as easy as you make it seem.
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Post by Jen in NCal on Jul 15, 2019 17:17:34 GMT
My brother's house burned in the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa during the 2017 wildfire storm. They had fewer than 5 minutes warning to evacuate. They only were able to get the girls' birth certificates and the dog. No clothes, no photos, no anything. The neighborhood was already on fire as they drove out. It devastated our whole family, and I still get weepy when I read about house fires and wildfires. I hope compliance levels increase soon before the next fire season starts. I am so sorry for your brother's loss. Wanted to get that out first. Coffey Park was not a neighborhood that was full of overgrown weed infested properties. This was not a neighborhood that would have had many violations for defensible space. And it was still destroyed. Fire destroys. It is in its very nature. And sometimes it just can't be stopped. I moved to the Bay Area about 2 years after the Oakland Hills Fire. Looking at those hills now, you can hardly tell how badly they burned. They are just as grown over now as they were then, there just aren't as many eucalyptus trees. Many of the homeowners there now weren't there the first time around. But many that were still haven't learned the lesson. But I wouldn't call them stupid. People aren't stupid, they make stupid choices. If you can do something, do it. |
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Post by coaliesquirrel on Jul 15, 2019 17:32:28 GMT
It costs money to do things like that and not everyone has it available. Know what else costs money? Taxes - higher ones for increased fire protection services (equipment, personnel, and infrastructure) necessitated by more/bigger fires because land hasn't been well cared for. Also, insurance - much higher rates due to the much higher claims with these out of control fires. |
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