What is Being Done About the Fires

[erpowers]

Can anyone tell me what is being done about the California fires? How many planes and helicopters are being used to put out the fires? What else is being done? What role is FEMA playing in dealing with the problem?

[bdamomma]

1. I am not from California but are they receiving the help they should

be getting? or this is another failure of lack of help to assist these firemen.

[aquart]

8. The firemen seemed thin on the ground.

For one thing, that keeps being mentioned on the news, they had to waste a lot of time on evacuation which is something the National Guard could have been doing?

They don't have the manpower for 8 separate fires around San Diego alone.

[bdamomma]

13. hmm....no National Guard available sounds familiar doesn't it?

this lack of help is jeopardizing everyone. Does not sound good to me.

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Arnie called in the CA NG

I posted in this thread the many resources and states that have already sent in assistance.

There are a lot, and probably more than the few I found by using Google News.

[Carni]

15. I just heard that also on CNN

In fact I posted a thread about it and it sunk like a stone.

I would like to know what the deal is with the shortage of firefighters if there is one!

[aquart]

33. Not so much a shortage of firefighters as a wealth of fire.

What it means is that they didn't believe the climate change warnings and didn't prepare for the fires to be worse than they've ever been.

The same number of firefighters won't do.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

26. The police are helping the evaculation

All police are ordered to stay according to news.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

2. Saw on one of the news stations

that FEMA is sending things like cots. I don't think FEMA has an "arm" that can deal directly with firefighting.

Anyway, I'm switching between CNN, MSNBC, and Fox for coverage of the fires, so I don't know which station reported that.

More trucks and firefighters are needed, but I don't know from where they would come.

[aquart]

7. Oregon is one state I heard mentioned.

It takes a while to drive in. But nearby states are sending what they can.

[bdamomma]

18. it seems like this stupid government is backing away again

and throws responsibility on the states to take care of themselves in the case of these emergencies, all this fucking administration cares about is war and getting their fucking money.

[Igel]

30. That's just because of the laws.

Nothing important when it comes to politics, and certainly nothing we want * to worry about.

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. There have been additional firefighters and equipment sent in from other parts of CA, and...

Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Washington and Oregon, as well as CA National Guard and US Army.
Am sure there are even more.

Nat'l Guard
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fires24oct24,0,2250066.story?coll=la-home-local

Army
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6289052.html

AZ
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=7250691&nav=menu86_2

WA
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003968642_fireside23m.html

OR
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=7249776

NV
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2007/oct/22/102210713.html

CO
http://www.aspendailynews.com/article_22434

UT
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7250595

[spinbaby]

4. I think I read the Marines are sending helicoptors

Not sure what can be done. Nearby states have their own fire problems and can't sent help.

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. Many states and other resources have sent in help

Read my post above yours

[aquart]

6. Military police are patrolling the evacuated streets to prevent looting.

Is that a violation of the posse comitatus? We need them because, of course, the California National Guard is not available. Hope they have homes to come home to, if they survive Iraq.

[Igel]

31. Last I could find,

3/4ths were still in state.

That includes the volunteers patrolling the border.

They may have an equipment problem.

[Marrah_G]

9. Wild fires aren't like putting out a house fire

At a certain point it doesn't much matter what you do if nature is working against you on something like this.

[Elspeth]

14. The winds have really been working against us. They are not dying down at night

which is usually when the firefighters get a handle on the fires.

I don't blame the firefighters for this at all. I do blame bad decisions by county government/zoning that allows all kinds of big homes to be built in dry, fire prone areas. There has been WAY too much building out here over the past decade or two.

[Marrah_G]

16. It's so dangerous for the firemen

[Elspeth]

22. and women

Just sayin. Our fire chief is female.

Can't be too panicked, eh?

[Harper_is_Bush]

10. According to recent quotes from fire officials, they're having to concentrate on saving lives.

Due to stronger than normal Santa Ana winds and the extreme dryness of the area due to drought, traditional fire-breaks are not working out so well.

Most of the fires are out of control.

[Elspeth]

23. And they've done a great job at this

Very few injuries (mostly firefighters) and only one fatality so far. Amazing for such a large set of fires. And considering the sizes of these fires, the number of houses lost is actually relatively small.

[Booster]

11. Well, Bush is doing something. He's asking for more money for

Iraq.

[Elspeth]

12. Always thinking of his fellow man.

Fucker.

[bdamomma]

17. apparently * does not give a shit about the California fires.

and again this wicked government will blame it on the leadership (Gov. Arnold) of the state for example, how they blamed Nagin and Blanco in New Orleans.

[Elspeth]

24. Nah... Governor D'uh is a pub, even if CA pubs call him a RINO

We're getting the help we're getting because it's not a Dem governor. This White House has no problem playing politics with people's lives.

[Didereaux]

19. Ya REALLY want to know what they are doing about the fires?

The Progressives are planning a march in Golden Gate Park(providing no smoke is present) They will will be using the theme 'Embrace the Diversity of the Universe' The gods created all elements the Air, the Water, the Wind and the Fire, and they made them equal!

The Liberals have formed committees to determine the makeup of ad hoc panels who will study the environmental effects on the ;esser grasshopper if the fires are doused with borate. They will also sponsor collection sites for bottles of Perrier and other approved waters to be poured upon the fires.

The Conservatives are rushing putting 'buy' orders for fire equipment manufacturers.

The Evangelicals are entering a state of 'rapture'

and

The NeoCons are hiding the matches and gasoline cans.

[Gormy Cuss]

21. You may want to learn the geography of the state (GG Park is in NorCal) and

perhaps consider finding another place to hang your hat given your low opinion of progressives and liberals.

[Didereaux]

25. would you hold a march on the fireline? and as for....

...my opinions of 'liberal' or any other group mentioned(notice I tried to cover them all and very pointedly implied who the culprits were the NeoCONS - LABELS create stereotypes! If any here or anywhere else labels themselves this thing or that to the exclusion of everting else, then they are very little removed from the newborn armidillo class of animals, intellectually speaking.

Secondly, what I find most shocking is the percentage of people completely lacking in a sense of humor. Obviously none have ever been in combat, or any other life threatening situation with others. Foxhole humor dampens the hysteria, allows the mind to start looking at the reality and looking to remedies that might work.

So you see, for all the intolerance, and ad hominem vitriol expressed, it might just be me with the most compassion and understanding of what the people near those fires are feeling.

[Gormy Cuss]

27. You mentioned smoke.

The closest fire is several hundred miles south and the winds aren't blowing the smoke in this direction. Typically Santa Ana winds push air towards the Pacific.

If this is your attempt at foxhole humor, it's not a very good one. As you noted, it's loaded with intolerance and ad hominem vitriol. It has two paragraphs putting down liberals and progressives, then single throwaway lines on the other groups. Hardly the same level of barbs. In fact, it reads more like the author was struggling to find insults about anyone other than progressives and liberals.

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. Been there done that

and yours is far from the very raw gallows humor I am used to

Sorry, don't fly

[MindPilot]

28. This is the second time I've seen this sorry attempt at humor

Have you figured out yet that no one is finding it the least bit funny?

[AngryAmish]

29. Answers:

1. I am sure someone can tell you what is being done.
2. Many.
3. Not sure.
4. FEMA is not doing anything.

[alarimer]

32. Since California has a Republican gov., I am sure FEMA is already there

No waiting this time.