FIRE!

Failures of the Progressive Left

“God gave Noah the rainbow sign. No more water, the fire next time.” - James Baldwin

The LA fires are shocking in their devastation. But the more serious issue is how unprepared our government agencies were for this, both in prevention and in their ability to fight this devastating fire. We know now that a homeless arsonist started some of them, and that none were caused by lightning. While we don’t know much more about the cause(s), we do know a great deal about progressive failures in the state.

Mexico struggled with the same issues for years – longer and more severe drought seasons. They have a lot of deserts, just like California. They have moved to preventative tactics instead of just trying to fight the many fires they have had—integrated fire management. They create firebreaks, collect combustibles regularly and work with locals on preventing accidents. The fire chiefs have considered where fire is naturally found, how to plays to the ecology of the area and then used controlled burns to imitate natural forest fires, while preventing them from going out of control. Focusing on the science of their natural world, they spread the information across the country, so that fire prevention and management is both consistent and integrated.

What Went Wrong?

LA has always suffered from fires. It is a desert populated by too many people who have built into forests that are poorly managed. Homeowners frequently don’t have experts offering fire prevention measures, such as ensuring the clearing of brush and dead trees and the elimination of dangerous trees, like the eucalyptus. Too many fires are started by stupid people, who fail to put out a campfire or extinguish a grill properly.

A core example was the El Dorado fire in 2020, when the Jimenez family staged a photo-shoot for a gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa. They set off a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device in a field, which ignited dry grass. This kind of ignorance is sadly not in short supply these days.

There wasn’t enough water to fight the many fires. A part of our water problem in California is that we are mostly desert and don’t have enough rain. We have farmers farming things like almonds best grown in places with lots of water. And we also have too many people dependent on the water we have. And yet, when was the last time we built a new reservoir to accommodate the demand? We do have good years where water storage could save us during the dry times.

However, the biggest problem is how much fresh water gets thrown away every year, trying to comply with the Endangered Species Act. While trying to “protect” the smelt, water has been wasted for years, while the smelt is gone. Wasted water to no effect.

We also have doubled down on DEI, so that we can’t feel sure that our fire management and firefighters are the most competent possible. We know the mayor is an idiot; watch her try to defend her trip to Africa (why is a mayor spending our money to travel internationally?) and then to have NO response to any questions on the fire. This collection of incompetence in the area is irresponsible.

But we also have a state where controlled burns are disallowed. Forests will burn, whether we build into them or not. Better to have controlled burns that won’t spread than to let nature take its course.

Next Steps?

While so many regular Joes, people like you or me, were devastated by the fire, all you hear about is the Hollywood types who can probably afford to sustain the loss with more aplomb than anyone else. Yes, they have lost the precious items and treasures that are irreplaceable; having seen my mother go through the Oakland Hills Firestorm, I know how horrible that can be. And the looters, empowered by our local and state government to steal whenever possible, without consequence, add to the pain.

But it is the impact of the Hollywood players that may turn the tide. After all, who do they support in political campaigns? The Left would be wise to figure out how to protect them better in the future if they want to continue to drown in the considerable largesse they have traditionally funneled to these candidates.

What should be done?

1. Build reservoirs, but meanwhile keep any water storage we have, including dams, so that we have a reserve. Keep up with the population we have. Even though there have been some decreases, no water storage was built for the past many years, so we are behind.

2. Begin to build desalinization plants, so we can use the plentiful Pacific when required.

3. Plan and managed controlled burns to keep our forests safe. Restrict building into forests where such building makes it more dangerous.

4. Focus in on teaching firefighters best-practice prevention techniques and have them spend work time helping people clear their yards and operate safely.

5. Give up on the smelt; it is gone. That’s how nature works. We don’t have many species, but nature creates new ones with DNA recombining. Some survive because they adapt to the environment; many don’t. Keep the water for us.

6. Create disincentives for farmers to grow water-intensive crops. They belong in places where water is more plentiful.

7. Ignore cities who refuse to let power companies cut down trees that interfere with power lines. PG&E is working hard to underground lines, but it costs a lot and takes time. In the meantime, we need to make sure that no vegetation interferes with the lines.

8. Create an action campaign for homeowners on what kinds of crops aren’t safe because of their potential to exacerbate a fire. Explain the requirement to clear their own brush and only keep healthy trees and plants. Consider fining those who don’t, as the fire they create will likely destroy homes of people who did do prevention work.

9. Consider letting insurers check on property, charging more for those who don’t manage their land safely. That might keep them from leaving our state.

10. Use the money wasted on illegals to pay for this.

11. Vote the bums out.