I salute Mr. Pierce and all the brave firefighters who risked their lives and saved the lives of those trapped in flames. These firefighters have been doing one of the toughest and risky jobs throughout America whether it’s an individual house flame, a multi-storey building fire or forest fire. They are always there to save badly trapped people.
Hope all those affected people will recover soon. Hope American Government will compensate at least to some extent on urgent basis.
1
Hiding from the enlightenment won’t cast enough shade to cool our warming world.
1
I'm still waiting for some journalist to reach out to Representative LaMalfa of the 1st District of California for a comment. His website has a whole page devoted to forest management and fire prevention. He's a re-elected Republican in a district that is solid for Trump. I wonder what he has to say.
"and put on Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” to calm himself."
The light, the heat? Really?? Is this a joke?
Do the readers and writers here ever consider the fact that CA is overpopulated, has no water, and is mostly a desert? It will get worse as most 'newcomers' are of the mind set to have as many kids as possible. What a beautiful state it was 40 years ago. Anyway, this isn't about climate change, it's about unsustainable population growth, agriculture that is very poorly managed, and the arrogance of local government to avoid addressing real needs and worry about whether a kid drinks out of a straw or not. CA must start with population control, and figure out what it's going to do with illegal immigration. Sorry, but population and land management is the root cause. What is CA going to do? I don't know, but since the NYTimes idolizes CA, it's likely going to be blamed on 'someone else' for some time.
3
THE LARGEST, MOST PROSPEROUS Of the 50 United States is going up in flames, suffering repeated, horrible conflagrations that reek unimaginable destruction and devastation on California. And what is Trump's heartless, pitiless, murderous response? It is that the fires were caused by mismanagement by the state government. Topping off that incomparably evil lie with a monstrous utterance that there would be no more Federal emergency funds. Such utterances are unutterably savage--worthy of a wild beast. I guess that's what characterizes Trump. He will go down in history as one of the most evil leaders of all times.
4
I am sitting here in grief for those experiencing this firsthand, and in anger, for a president who can not even bring himself to extend a hand or offer a kind word instead of constant disparagement.
7
"My heart cries out for you, California.
Oh California, I'm coming home.
Oh, make me feel good rock'n roll band.
I'm your biggest fan.
California, I'm coming home." We are with you California.
3
Although I believe most of the problem is just building into fire prone areas, here in dry eastern WA there does seem to be an increasing length of time of dry weather, namely from April all the way thru November. And the last two years we've endured smoke far worse than ever before in my 66 years of living here. And things got pretty darn dry even in Puget Sound this year, which is potentially an immense disaster.
7
Trees in So Cal ? Ever been there ?
Paradise CA gets 58" of rain a year, which is more than Seattle, Pennsylvania, MD. Should be fairly safe to live in the trees. Oh yes, East Coast has had rain like 2x average ..
Should have had 3" of rain in October .. dry season ends in August.
Drought, beetle kill, Santa Ana winds without rain ..
2
We had a change of government at the end of last year because of the previous government being obsessed with balancing the books and giving citizens tax cuts while neglecting infrastructure and internal funding for keeping a nation functioning efficiently. If you cut back on government allocations to government departments then the government will end up paying out more for the consequences of that, whether in ruined export orders because of some imported disease into the nation, or out of control fires.
Yes, tax cuts are nice but Government is about taxes and if you cut back on public services paid for by taxes then you get these types of social disorder and loss of life. No doubt all the top income people who got the tax cuts were able to fly out of the area in their helicopters.
6
I’m not sure I understand what’s so tough to understand about the idea that the table was set for these fires first by climate change, and then by forest management that suppressed regular burns, kicked off by Santa Ana winds, caused proximately by some human agency, and that their gawdawful effects were then made worse by overbuilding in fire areas and failure to keep structures and safe zones up to code.
These events have multiple causes, folks. The thing to do is pick up the pieces, look honestly at why what happened happened, and then try to do better.
It is simply stupid to deny that climate change played a role, or blat out accusing tweets even as firefighters risk their lives and civilians try to load the car and run.
Stupid, and vicious.
3
You don't hear of fires in countries that have hotter climates than the USA and Australia and those nations have huge populations; and you don't hear of this happening in those nations.
Maybe media needs to use deduction to see what those nations are no doing correctly, that Australia and USA aren't doing correctly.
Media needs to spoon feed the government so as to prevent this happening again. There's been these type of fires before, started by campfires in the USA, and there needs to be radical change, as USA population is too large to let this happen again.
Here's what NZ government websites have on them - maybe compare with what USA websites have on them.
https://fireandemergency.nz/fire-seasons-permits/campfires/
https://fireandemergency.nz/recreational-and-cultural/camping-and-campfires/
1
Does anybody think that Trump is just being snarky towards California because he’s peeved by the mid-terms? He never thought that he could refuse to release federal money after the wild fire destruction but he would be damned before he’d be nice about because it was for California.
California is never going to be a swing state nor a red state (nor will it be a true blue state, too many red localities for that). But it is the largest state in terms of population and it’s people contribute greatly to the whole country. They need the help to recover from these fires. Besides most of the people harmed in Butte county were probably Republicans or conservative Democrats, it’s a rural culture area with a lot of older white people, too.
I think that Trump just hates California because he cannot use it as he’d like.
6
This is the second time in nearly a year that we have been watching the skies fill with choking smoke and hearing of those who were incinerated while trying to flee at a moments notice. Last year we had to evacuate our home in the middle of the night and fled after a week of smoke. This fear of fire combined with the horrible non-leadership of our president makes it hard to stay steady. Send the troops at the border to help locate the dead and house the survivors in Paradise, CA instead of grandstanding . We need to stand together as a country to address climate change and to bring aid to those effected by these catastrophic events of fire, or flooding.
35
@Patricia. Stop blaming the president. California needs to start electing competent officials who will do something about it. You define our president but run crying when you need something and he's always the first one you blame.
@Trish, she didn't say she was blaming Trump---she only said what other, sane and objective observers have already said. Trump exhibits NO leadership on climate change and the resulting catastrophes we are witnessing with increasing frequency. Yes, the troops that have been deployed along the border would be of more service to our country helping out in California, rather than "defending" us against desperate people who are seeking asylum from oppression and violence. And yes, Californians *have* elected officials who are acting independently, as much as they can, to do something to rein in the human causes of global climate change.
3
terrifying. i lost two homes I had lived in 25 years ago in the same kinds of fires, though they were smaller.
Sad beyond belief, this loss of life of humans and animals.
Cruel beyond belief the liar-in-chief's threat to withhold federal funds from California. Lock him up! Get him now!
We are a firefighter's family. We know bravery, commitment, integrity and honor. And we know what the opposite is in the frightened, cowardly president. Get him out of the way now so America has a chance not to be come great, but to survive, so real Americans can live again in freedom and help each other out. If needed, put him in a cage like he did to children. Anything to get him out. He is what real, traditional America hates.
Terrible. Sad. Horrifying. And, yes, political whether you like hearing that at this moment or not.
10
California needs to be reassessed as far as a safe place to live.
It's a desert that we irrigate......that's the truth.
1
Urban myth. The densely inhabited areas were watered enough to sustain huge numbers of native Americans and abundant wild life for millennia. But the introduction of farming and a far larger population necessitated aqueducts to bring in additional water.
1
@Casual Observer
SoCalifornia desert and NoCalifornia forest flora was never meant to sustain 40 million humans. That's the same number of people as in entire European countries.
1
Now wait for our president to use more dead Americans as a means to score pithy political points.
Why isn't that bulldozer operator getting the glory and rewards that the nurse is receiving? He was the true "hero" in this story but gets no mention.
7
@Twaeker Very possibly because he immediately returned to the fire and hasn't spent time talking to the media. There are, quite literally, thousands of unsung heroes out there on the line. Also, the nurse returned to his hospital and his patients when he could have simply run. He IS a hero, too.
1
In reply to the comments from DJS, HSQ and CATE R:
I would like to explain what occurred. My comment was taken out of context.
I was replying to Bill Sprague's comment from 3 hours ago which stated the following: "I lived in California once and was lucky to get out decades ago. Now I am in Boston where it rains, etc. etc. etc.
I replied under his comment 4 hours ago the following: Oh how I would love to be back in Boston my hometown, etc.etc. etc. If it had been placed in the proper place under Bill's, it would have made more sense. I have written 2 responses correcting this so far.
Please please New York Times please print this as my comment standing alone makes no sense whatsoever and It does seem very strange without being placed under Bill Sprague's.
I must say also that I am very nostalgic for anything Boston.
Thank you.
2
Man Trump owns the minds of the commenters on the NYT. California fires killed 44 people, Trump is evil!
Cant we just ignore the dullard for a moment and focus on talking about overpopulation of fire prone areas in California, climate change and mitigating the impact, and forest conservation strategy? Or just sadness for the loss of life?
2
Irresponsible development driven by overpopulation.
Enabled by
Real estate developers being major contributors to local politicians, and being over represented on zoning boards
The NY Times need to dig in
8
California, we are praying for you! New York Times, HELP California by telling Donald in your front page to send the 15K Troops who are at the border to California to help our brave Firefighters!
Anyone who doesn't believe this is due to Climate Change, needs their heads examined!
2
My oldest son and his family live in Pasadena and I read his email reply, where I told him the fires have been the lead story on the news since Thursday, that all is well. I have been feeling sorry for myself here in the Green Mountains, now ready for winter, that we have had so much rain and snow this AM. I wish there was a way to send it there.
Too early to determine what design modifications preppers will make to their bug out vehicles to make them fire proof in the California brush belt. Haven’t heard any accounts of how well electric vehicles perform when driving down firenado roads, particularly if the batteries got hot.
A very good friend has made it through the Camp Fire’s devastation surrounding his property. He did so by creating defensible space...and he defended it with water he’s stored for exactly this reason...and it’s not the first time. He’s not a wealthy person or a “preper”, but he has clear priorities for how he spends his limited resources. He coordinates with his neighbors to better deal with the inevitability of fire. The idea that one can tame or prevent wild land fire through “forest management” of public land is remarkably naive. Wildfire will always occur. Denial costs lives. Preparedness is the only way to deal with nature’s extremes.
1
@Upper Left Corner
Not living in an overpopulated desert that requires storing water for non-stop wildfires is the way to deal with it.
Here’s a thought: might be good to learn the simplest basics of Californian geography before declaring the state a desert.
3
Need to stop making this a partisan issue. Homes were destroyed, lives were lost, American people devastated. Probably a combination of management, building in fire prone locations, drought and recent heavy rains. Stop being monsters. Prior policies on controlled burns contributed to this in reaction to prior burns that lost control. Need to re-evaluate policy, look at data available and make wiser decisions in the future.
1
It is not sustainable to have all these people in California living in electrified homes amongst the forests. Would the Californians tolerate having the power be cut during each and every Santa Ana windstorm? Inconvenient but may be the only way to prevent these catastrophes. California residents have some hard thinking to do.
1
From this article I take that the fire was started by a camp fire in Northern California. Maybe time to ban all camp fires and have huge signs in car parks and at entrances to where ever, saying NO CAMP FIRES - huge penalties and imprisonment for breaking these laws.
1
You prompted me to learn:
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.sacbee.com/news/state/california/article221502835.html
1
@CK
It was started by a downed PG&E electrical line that sparked in a bone dry shrub brush area, then spread.
2
I live in California at the base of the Sierras. When driving over a local pass into a forest area about 1/2 the trees are dead or dying from bark beetle. This is an area under Federal management, just waiting for a spark to turn it into a major fire. No idea why the trees are not being felled and hauled out other than the fact that Trump has reduced or eliminated necessary funding for the forest service for this purpose. (As reported in the Sacramento Bee. ) Bark beetle infestation is a result of warmer winters that allow the beetle to flourish during winter months when they would otherwise die. The infestation has spread to forested areas though out California. This and a long term drought are at the root of these fires and are symptoms and consequences of climate change, denied by the Trump admin. Climate change denial puts our country our forests and our population at risk . Yes there is forest mismanagement, it starts with the President.
56
I will always associate Thanksgiving with the Santa Anas. Amazing how the winds appear so reliably at this time of year.
I mourn for the loss of human life but also for the wildlife that called those places home. And the pets and livestock left behind, like the giraffe and other animals at the Malibu winery abandoned by the owners.
What a frightening experience for everyone. Our species too often places a premium on our own existence as if nothing else matters--not trees hundreds of years old or animals who have lived there long before human arrived. This is an ecosystem. Humans are only one element in it--usually the most destructive element.
California has allowed development in areas that have always been prone to wildfire and mudslides. And earthquakes. I witnessed or experienced all of these natural disasters when I lived in LA. I hope leaders in California embrace Gov Brown's description of the changing climate at the "new abnormal" and rethink development.
3
There are a lot of developments into wild lands where fires are part of the ecology. Those developments should be restricted. They guarantee being threatened by fires.
But it’s impossible to not to have dwellings near wild lands in any inhabited location. The perimeter of all inhabited regions are wild-lands. Fire is an old challenge for human settlements and everyone finds ways to minimize the dangers and try to do so. Recently fire has become a great problem in the Western U.S. vast areas are burning and burning hotter and leaving less life to recover. It’s due the changed weather patterns that are due to climate change.
1
How did these fires start? I haven't read anywhere how these fires started.
I go back along way, and I remember California always had forest fires but the amount of destruction was not as large as it is today.
I believe that the overpopulation of California has a lot to do with raging forest fires. People are building homes in what used to be part of the forest and clearing these forest - this means that these homes are apt to be destroyed in a forest fire.
Also I remember that controlled burns were done frequently to prevent the outbreak of l forest fires by denying them the dead matter on the ground which feeds fires. I don't read where there is done today. If you don't do controlled burned there is a lot of dead matter which feeds a fire once it starts. And allowing housing to be built on cleared forest land is another recipe for disaster.
1
The causes of these fires are still undetermined, which is normal at this early date.
There is, however, significant evidence that the Camp Fire (Paradise) was started by faulty equipment in the electrical grid. Stock in Pacific Gas and Electric plummeted by more than 25% on that news.
Controlled burns are still routinely practiced by forest managers, but it's a riskier practice during long droughts, when a burn can become *uncontrolled* in a heartbeat.
Homes in formerly-wild lands are certainly more likely to burn when the forest burns.
6
@Douglas
A possibility that a component of the electrical grid could have been willfully sabotaged is no longer beyond comprehension. It deserves inductive, empirical... investigation.
Yes, control burns which was upgraded to incident with a number. The consumed area is usually larger than planned. The fire moves a little quicker. Conditions change/improve.
Providence...
"Cut it back, burn it black, the only good dead tree is a stump."
It'll be unpopular, but has to be said:
Certain areas burn naturally, and have done so for millennia if not millions of years. Every 50 or 100 years or so, they're going to burn, and the longer we suppress fires the more fuel is built up so the more intense the fire will be. Many of those species of trees and brush have their own fuels (oils, pitch); adapted to burn hard enough to keep out other species which can't tolerate fire.
People who build in such areas are setting themselves up for disaster. If an area hasn't burned for a few decades and the last catastrophic fire has been forgotten, then fire isn't on their minds. Short-term thinking takes over ("The trees are beautiful", "I'd like to have my house out here", "the deer come right up to the window",...) Building permits and infrastructure go forward, because development is good for businesses and tax bases. It can even be more attractive to rebuild after a fire, since there isn't much fuel left any more and the new trees aren't so dangerous (as they will be some day). The history books and the biologists who know its going to burn are largely ignored.
We've finally figured all this out regarding flood zones, and for the most part we don't rebuild there. But as a society we haven't figured out fire zones yet, so we build and rebuild; We might even call such a place Paradise, until...
My heart goes out to the residents, and especially the firefighters, but we've got to learn, and avoid repeating.
14
@Mark Miller: Excellent post. Real estate is kind of a holy cow in CA, as it is in most of the nation. If there is a buildable spot, especially one that is picturesque, people will build. Despite that, many housing plans in California are "on the books" for long periods for planning. But people still build into fragile areas.
The problem is that the areas might not appear in jeopardy. Add a factor like the Santa Ana winds and previously safer areas are now threatened.
And related will be houses victimized by mud slides. Houses on cliffs are dramatic, but rains are a factor in the way the Santa Ana winds are, sweeping those houses away due to their extreme volume.
1
@Mark Miller This is one of the silliest arguments around. We would need to evacuate much of California that is built around earthquake zones. Are you really prepared for that?
@Charles
It is a frontier, Americans thrive on them, not surrender because someone in government wants to keep it urban tidy and under their thumb. If you can't make it work then we have no business have no business colonizing other planets.
If these devastating and tragic reports from the battlegrounds in the California wild fires cannot inspire some compassion from the president, we really cannot expect better than the partisan bully who punishes those who did not offer him their votes. Shame on you, Mr. Trump.
12
Huh. I had known about Mr. Ed, but I hadn’t known a state could talk. Now that I’m told, though, I do recall Arkansas screaming that it wanted Federal farm subsidies and aid, but otherwise the black guy needed to stay home.
1
@Matt California is not alone in defying Trump's hate-driven and just dumb policies, as is its right to some degree. States like yours did the same when Mr Obama was president. The federal government has poorly managed its own forests in California, however, and that's the responsibility of Cheeto von Tweeto and his administration.
California contributes more in federal taxes than it receives from DC, as do most blue states. It has earned some autonomy unlike Arkansas which, like many southern states (including Texas) are basically welfare states that live on handouts from the federal government because you receive more funding than you contribute in taxes. Even so, if disaster strikes your state, I would never say "you asked for it."
The World’s biggest climate deniers are Californians. The desert climate of Butte County California today has a population of 230,000; one hundred years ago it was 30,000; fifty years ago it was 80,000. None the less the NYT cites this fire as “Historic” given the death toll and property damage. The only reason its “historic” is the huge increase in people in its path. Many readers here jump to the conclusion that Historic proves climate change; that is nonsense.
12
>>> "Many readers here jump to the conclusion that Historic proves climate change; that is nonsense."
Yes, it is nonsense.
It's also, in this case, a straw man. No one has claimed that a single "historic" fire, or even a number of them, constitute(s) proof of climate change.
Rather, we have mountains of evidence for the reality of climate change -- such large mountains of such solid evidence that scientists in the relevant disciplines are nearly unanimously in agreement that it is real and so serious that civilization, itself, is under threat.
6
Just like Donald, no compassion, eh?!
1
Amazing how Trump lost no time tweeting about prevention of fire (however non-sensical), even while the event was still happening and people and property where still in harm's way. When a shooting occurs we are not allowed to discuss gun control for weeks after out of so called respect for the mourners. Such hypocrisy!
11
Of course you are correct. The comments by the fire and forestry experts at the University of California and by the Los Angeles Times that echoed and agreed with what Trump said were also inappropriate. Why not complain that they too don't know what they are talking about?
Not poor forest management--this was a fire on speed--never pictures like this unless war. This needs study and research.
6
Don’t be snarky, don’t be mean, leave all that to the truly evil person in the White House. It’s past time for counter measures to global warming. Now we have to learn to live with the new realities. Yes, that will mean moving away from areas prone to either fire or flood; maybe you can save yourself and your family by doing it. (And just think, if people from both coasts move to landlocked states, we could turn the whole place blue!)
Adopt the old saying, “nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.”
7
It is heartbreaking to hear of folks trapped in their homes and communities as their towns are engulfed in these wildfires. Best wishes to the firefighters and emergency personnel involved in the rescues.
The fires seem to have been going on for days now; perhaps to be safe anyone living within 50 or so miles of the fires should be ordered to be evacuated until firefighters get the flames under control, so that no further loss of life occurs.
Good luck all.....
1
Donald Trump offered heartfelt condolences to those whose loved ones were burned alive in the spate of wildfires across California; by blaming the state's forestry management. To add some irony, half of the forests are Federal Lands.
6
@dsbarclay Actually, most logging occurs on private land, regulated by the state and counties. You do not get the full story in this echo chamber.
1
When it rains, it's because of climate change
When it doesn't rain, it's because of climate change
California has a lot of natural beauty. Time to grow up, and employ proper planning. Sometimes nature needs a nudge
1
And the republican president's instinct is to criticize and threaten funding.
I lived in California for years and came to love the state.
If I still lived there I would be demanding a referendum on any politician who supported Trump. And without doubt I would start with Devin Nunez and Duncan Hunter. They are not only a disgrace to their office's but continuing impediments to California's long term survival.
No, any republican who shares the views of, supported or continues to support the climate denying, mobster-like president, the president who threatens Californians in their time of need, must be required to answer for their actions, or lack of actions, based on their dead end republican ideology.
I will gladly donate to the organizations helping the citizens of California in their time of need, no matter what.
Bur I will never forget, or forgive, the president who tweeted threats as California burned.
9
Judging from this article, it appears that those refugees who managed to find their way to a large concrete ground cover surrounded by stones or other non-flammable material survived, although fires surrounded them.
Perhaps California would do well to build many thousands of such sites so that everyone could get to such "safe sites" by not having to travel for more than a mile or two. In such a scenario devastating fires would not kill people.
2
Good idea. Now how does California get somebody else to pay for it?
1
We are in terror at the hint of smoke here in California. I have a bag packed ready to run at any time. We as a family have made a pact that no material possession is more important than the life of our family. We think it's easy to run but all that sweat and in Cali. with it's taxes, blood, poured into your home, it is difficult to think of it as not part of you. We know as Californians not to expect help from a federal government headed by Trump, but we still have faith in ordinary Americans. Forever greatful to the firefighting heroes, law enforcement and medical crews who are at the forefront. My heart weeps for those in the pits of the recent fires.
62
@Meena God Bless You All. Wishing CA much healing and recovery. From New Mexico here, where we've got our bags packed just-in-case, as well.
@Meena stop blaming Trump and vote able bodied local officials into office.
Paradise has burned My home is a pile of charred rubble. However, there have been two community meetings giving us information on how we are going to come back. All of our local groups...city, county, fire, police and more came together at these meetings to help citizens get the city back up and running. Information was provided on how to get thru the crisis. Response has been rapid at our local government level. Now that Brown has gotten Trump to declare the disaster we can get FEMA help.
It will take time...maybe years but the town will come back. This is real home town democracy. Even though this fire destroyed the area it is a sign that there is hope in these days of bitterness and division. I want to return. Paradise is home.
35
Mr Pierce's condition may not be a trauma, in the DSM defined sense. Prolonged exposure to (very bright) visual stimuli like fires, can cause hypnagogic hallucinations when falling asleep. This is benign and will go away by itself.
4
@YL - Yet it's still traumatic for him. Telling him that this is benign and will go away doesn't mitigate what he experienced. Have some compassion.
4
Prayers of Healing for the Californians of Paradise & Malibu.
10
Climate change is not providing the fuel for these fires—incompetent Government agencies are. This should be no surprise to anyone who has worked in government, with its many incentives not to act efficiently or to excel. California needs to figure out how to give its citizens, both individuals and businesses, a financial incentive to limit the fuel for these fires. Maybe start by ending that $66 billion dollar train to nowhere and give targeted tax breaks to pay for fuel removal.
6
@ehillesum
Human. Overpopulation. For. Sixty. Years.
3 billion excess humans since then, with 3 billion soon added to that.
I weep for the animal wildlife, the flora, air and oceans that man psychopathically destroys out of an inability to simply keep it in one's pants all across our fragile precious planet.
5
Horrible tragedy. No question. And it should be clear that CA and fed govs need to address the key factors that cause these devastating fires.
Man is the chief cause for the size of the devastation. There have always been forest fires. But there are at least four controllable factors:
1) Population -- it's a simple equation. The more people, the more property & people are likely to be hurt when there is a natural disaster.
2) Building homes and businesses in areas that are prone to having forest fires.
3) Forest mgmt. There seems to be consistent agreement that this is an issue in many fires becoming so large and intense
4) Human carelessness. At an individual level, of course, people discarding cigarettes, leaving campfires that are not completely out, etc. But corporate carelessness appears to also be an issue in this case.
Notice I didn't include climate change. US temps and precipitation appear to be cyclical so to the extent that you have a drier year with warmer temps, etc., that probably contributes. But climate change? Assuming that is actually happening (I doubt i t) two facts: The 4 factors above probably contribute much more to the occurrence and devastation of forest fires even if temps rise some And if CC is a contributing factor and CC is global, then what we do here won't affect CC much Our CO2 emissions are declining while emerging economies (like China) are increasing. So focusing on the 1st 4 is the pragmatic approach.
5
After every destructive hurricane people blame the residents for building houses in flood zones or on the coast. I don’t see too much blaming of people for building houses in the middle of a forest where forest fires are a yearly occurrence. The progressive fire chief of Oakland, the one in charge during the Ghost Ship warehouse fire, was also criticized for failing to maintain wildfire prevention measures within her jurisdiction. People have died in recent California fires as a result of poor or no notification procedures by the authorities. There seems to be evidence even this early that poor planning may have contributed to the high death toll. People, the citizenry, are not being prepared well enough to recognize the deadly threat from these fast moving fires. That’s the impression one gets from the news reports. I’m sure the editors will instruct their reporters to not say anything more that might cast a bad light on liberal progressive policies in California.
4
@Aristotle Gluteus Maximus
I disagree.
But I think we all understand the need to come together for the sake of national unity in the face of unprecedented disasters that are occurring with such frequency.
I believe that inaccurate, ill conceived, mean spirited, highly partisan, ideologically driven, unoriginal rhetoric will not be helpful to the people who have lost their lives in this disaster, or the first responders and fire fighters, from many states, who are dealing with this tragedy. On the ground, as we type.
But, it is an easy thing for me to criticize someone else while I sit at my desk, far from the chaos and devastation in California.
I will pull out my wallet and do something really constructive, and much more satisfying.
3
It's not bad forestry management that's responsible. It's drought, beetle kill, wind, population growth into vulnerable areas, a lack of funding and climate change.
Insurance companies should be lobbying Congress about taking action to curb climate change because they''ll be the ones bearing a lot of the cost.
10
It's privatization of OUR utilities and resources, flyfysher.
Robber Baron investors own them and care nothing about maintaining them so trees falling on power lines cause many of these fires.
OUR utilities and resource MUST be taken back and managed by OUR governments at every level. That's where the good jobs will be - protecting 99.9% of us from The Robber Barons.
2
I grew up in California. My family still lives there. Every year there is a helpless feeling that takes over. Wildfires used to be caused by the Santa Ana winds, now mix in drought and climate change. It is heartbreaking for all the people who live there and the people who love them and California.
61
@Yolanda Perez
"Every year" you say. Well, if it is that predictable, perhaps California might consider spending a couple of hundred million dollars to prevent such large fires, or if that is impossible, at least lessen the damage, and save some human lives. Reading about the loss of, say, 12 lives, instead of 44, should be welcomed.
2
@Yolanda Perez
I had anxiety to mention climate change in this forum amidst the imminence of the horrendous present catastrophe. But, assuming that deniers and accepters alike are present in ths forum, I hope that the suffering in California will lead to greater consensus on the implications of what we are learning about our planet's climate future.
8
We don’t have this kind of fire every year, but extraordinarily intense fires are occurring more often, in large part, due to seven years of drought. Preventative measures may be improved, but there is no way to buy a season of rain.
7
I can't believe how many said that the fires were made worse by "poor forest management". What should forested states do? Just clear cut all the forests for the timber industry to make some great quick profits? Redwoods, pines, firs, sequoias and other species are why many people visit northern CA. The fires were no more caused by leftist policies than the hurricanes to hit the southeast were caused by rightwing real estate developers looking for new construction contracts. That said, I live in a high fire risk, drought area. I have a sustainable home of which I overruled the green building guidelines to only clear a small footprint around my house, and instead cleared easily 100' of what the USFS and BLM call "defensible space" in the event a fire rips through the area. I'm not wiping out the forest, just a small area around my structure to hopefully save lives and property.
56
@Shannon: As if... there is a practical way to prevent wildfires. You'd have to eliminate all the fuel (dead and living trees, plants) then salt the earth so nothing could ever grow.
1
@Shannon Plus most forests in these areas are Federal land, which Trump doesn't understand. And the forests of which he speaks are not burning anyway.
1
@Shannon But when too many people clear a large section of forest you end up making the chances of fire outbreak. The point is people should NOT be allowed to clear large areas of forest land, or to build close to forest land. There has to be controls on where people can live and build houses and insurance costs should be higher if you build in a fire area, the same as is done with flood insurance.
It is the same situation with flood planes. People should not allowed to build homes in area where major storms could flood the area.
Dante's inferno. An American tragedy with the loss of life and property. The U.N. IPCC report stated that wildfires would be the first signs of climate breakdown. When will we (humanity) finally act to dramatically reduce our use of fossil fuels?
7
We need to vote in politicians who believe in human caused Global Warming. And then we need to actively reduce carbon emissions with strict environmental rules, you know, the rules our president is rolling back. It is looking like the only political party that will save us are the Democrats since Republicans only listen to the Koch polluters and deny human involvement.
In 2020 only a Blue Tsunami will do. My heart grieves for us.
7
Too many people building and living in places that were never meant to be populated. The same holds true for the overpopulation of shore areas on the east coast. You cannot expect fires and hurricanes not to return to areas that have historically been known to burn or be flooded. It is projected that the world population will continue to explode, growing to 10 billion by 2050, so building in unsafe areas will only get worse.
9
Many of the people living in Paradise were there because they couldn't afford to live in Chico, the nearest city. All over California people are pushed out into these far-flung communities for economic reasons.
1
@Marianne Ahokas
California has overbuilt, clear cut lands never meant for human inhabitants, damed up rivers and re-engineered the water system for 60 years. If someone needs to live in an arid desert siphoning off the water of other states, then move to Oregon or Washington, Utah or Nevada, Arizona or New Mexico. That flora and fauna was never intended to support 39 million humans.
1
Certain zones of California should be mandated that the homes should be constructed with fire resistance materials. Even if it does not protect, at least provides more time for people to escape from burning homes.
3
@Kodali: Do we know whether that is already true? Maybe we have experts here who know about CA fire codes and can tell us.
1
Horrific. So many people traumatized. Loss of life for humans and animals. It will take a long time to recover and heal. California will never be the same.
8
For those who say they are upset the Republicans aren't helping California, California established they didn't need help. California established that Trump was not its president. Ironic, isn't it? Since that declaration has been made that Trump is not welcom in California, now they are demanding his help? I don't blame him for not helping California. We made our bed, it's time we lay in it.
2
@Kahlan
I don' think I've read a more callous statement on these posts.
21
@Kahlan
How humane. May God continue to bless you,
your family and friends and yes, the President of the U.S.A. !!! Hate does not cease with hatred. My prayers are with you, Kahlan.
3
Trump isn’t a private citizen. He cannot take his animosity out on an entire state because his feelings are hurt. Paradise and Butte County voted for Trump in the last election. They put climate denying rubber stamp La Malfa back in this election as Congressman.
Trump apparently only cares about people who voted for him. He ducked out on a WWI memorial service because of rain. He threw paper towels at hurracaines victims. His policies are damaging America at home and around the world. California needs to stand up to this monster.
18
Climate change has the potential to bring society as we know it to its knees. The weather norms nature and society have developed in are changing too rapidly for either to adjust to in the time needed to avoid catastrophe. I believe that the first big indication of climate change’s impact on the U.S. will come in the form of insurance premiums for property. Own property in a low lying area? Own property on the east and south coasts within two miles of a beach? Own property in heavily forested areas or other areas potentially prone to fire? Those are areas in which insurance will eventually become too high to afford if it is offered at all. And for those of us in suburban Midwest areas, with the greater intensity of the storms that pack more wind and rain, things are not nearly as dangerous, but insurance companies will still be affected by the vastly increased number of flooded basements, roof replacements due to hail damage and other damage from wind damage (and tornadoes). The process has started and will only get worse. But we would help ourselves a lot if we would pressure our politicians to address climate change. My biggest disappointment with the 2016 presidential debates was that the issue of climate change was never brought up, and yet, it’s potentially the single greatest threat to the peace and prosperity of our nation. What’s happening now is just the beginning. There isn’t enough money in the world to simply clean up after every tragedy. Act now.
20
@It’s News Here Maybe climate change has something to do with, but my money goes on too many people building houses in a forest. Stop it already.
3
@Joe
My thoughts exactly, there are plenty of homes that are available but developers will continue to build homes in the desert and hard to get to places like the forests where they have no right to build.
4
Is this how the world that humans have built will end? In the fires caused by global warming's death traps? We need to take emergency measures to lower global temperatures now. Common sense and science need to be used. Widespread plantings of trees would help as trees lower the temperatures of the air around them. This is something we could do. Start now and aim for zero carbon emissions. Mandatory car pooling and alternating days for cars to be on the roads to cut automobile carbon emissions. If we all pull together and adhere to standards, we can do this. But we must act now, and have a plan that we stick to, before it is too late, if it isn't already too late. Where is real and realistic leadership when we need it? This is NOT the 19th Century!
11
Ration gasoline, put high taxes on aviation fuel. That would put a quick dent in emissions.
I don’t believe in higher gasoline taxes because that would hurt the poor.
2
My heartfelt sympathies to those affected and survived on account of three tragedies that occurred in no time. I simply don’t know how people are recovering from tragedy after tragedy there. Already two deadly shootings occurred starting with Pittsburg, then the bar incident in California and now this wildfire in California again.
I can’t imagine the trauma undergone by people, who lost their lives in all these deadly incidents and the never ending trauma of their loved ones.
What can I say about those who excaped the wildfire by a whisker that too after losing everything they had including their homes, it’s simply beyond one’s imagination and too difficult to put in words.
6
Mr. Pierce is a hero. And so is the operator of the bulldozer. I’m sure there are many heroes out there in California, but these two people deserve to be recognized. Thank you both.
31
At least 20 years ago if not more, statured scientists were warning that the American west had been ecologically decimated by human population growth, water projects, industrial agriculture, and urbanization, and that its naturally arid, fire-prone traits were incompatible with the numbers of people living there.
These same scientists predicted--almost to the year--the catastrophic, unprecedented climate change firestorms the west is seeing more and more each year.
Even without climate change and fires, the west has been overrun by humans and ecologically devastated.
Check out the books Cadillac Desert and The American West at Risk and you'll see it all explained.
28
@Steve Davies, thank for the references. It's clear that many of the elements that make California so beautiful are also the things that make it so volatile. It's an intricate balance. While nothing is perfect, I breathe a sigh of relief living in a state with an abundance of fresh water and a lack of natural disasters. We're not hip or cosmopolitan, but we only need to worry about the occasional tornado.
I wish everyone in California, including my family who lives there, safety and a future of calm.
1
I have no words big enough to show how tragic this is - but I can easily that Mr Pierce, the registered nurse who returned to his hospital to help patients survive after his own narrow escape from death, is a 115 million times more deserving of the presidential medal of freedom than the wife of GOP mega donor Adelson.
69
You're all very kind to overlook my sans-reading glasses error, but in any case, the thought bears repeating:
I can easily SAY that Mr Pierce, the registered nurse who returned to his hospital to help patients survive after his own narrow escape from death, is a 115 million times more deserving of the presidential medal of freedom than the wife of GOP mega donor Adelson.
2
It is astonishing to me that anyone in California would vote for Republicans given their total inaction on climate change and "drill, baby drill" philosophy. Their fearless leader embraces reviving coal ignoring all of the science around carbon and greenhouse gases.
They argue that they are keeping America energy independent, while letting California burn and Florida flood. Somehow the price of letting land disappear or burn is never factored into the price of a gallon of gasoline. Those who have narrowly escape have been permanently transformed by the experience. Let's hope it transforms how they vote.
12
@macman2: Maybe it already has -- didn't CA Dems pick up a couple of seats in the midterms?
1
I was in Manhattan the day of 9/11. Reading about this wildfire in CA and its devastation brings backs memories of that day. There was fear and tragedy in the air everywhere everyday for months. My heart goes out to all who lost everything and those still in danger. Heartfelt kudos to the brave and generous men and women who are helping to contain the fires as well as provide shelter for the now homeless. As another commenter mentioned, I hope the news channels focus on how the rest of the country can help our fellow state of CA. Others mention that trump is not helping CA because it is blue. Can he go that low if true? if so, he is even more morally and mentally sick than any of us could ever imagine. Time for the GOP as well as all the wealthy who benefit from their tax cuts to see how they can help CA. BTW>>>Support climate change to help prevent more of the same devastations. Time to remember what their job is as representatives of real people. They are not being paid by the American people to cater to trump.
13
This is our own,current, in the moment today apocalyptic event. Where is our fearless leader? This non response, if nothing else, defines him.
15
@S Mitchell California said he wasn't their president. Created laws against federal laws. California made it very clear they didn't want Trump's help. The non-response is what California asked for!
1
@S Mitchell You've got to show a little patience with Governor Brown.
@Kahlan
So what you're saying is that it's OK for our president (the most powerful leader in the free world) to be mean and vindictive and see this enormous tragedy as a personal insult to him?
4
We're all Californians! - standing by the people of this State and I want to recognize the tremendous work and efforts from firefighters and citizens alike. I'll be donating to local charities to help in the recovery and rebuilding efforts. Good luck!
21
Where is Jennette MacDonald--now that we need her desperately? Along with her Spencer and dearest Clark--you recall---- the one with those semi-obscene mustachios. We need them both--lest California sink once again into the very ocean that originally spawned her. We need them both--in this age of the TRUMP. Thump, thump, thump--add some Music of Victor Herbert, appropriate to our times of agony and perpetual calamity. Where have all those gracious and lovely flowers gone--have we, in fact, now have lost them forever? What shall we do, how can we hope to live even one day longer? We are like trapped rats. We are like boiled fluke in green aspic. We need we assistances to survive even a wee day longer! We are kost; we are like sheep without a shephard, we are cows who can not be milked--we are like trapped insects caught in a bee-hive and there's no Queen bee any longer--she too has flown away, never to return--not in our time at least---perhaps she will fly home again to pollinate the airs, and purify our corrupted souls. Hope springs eternal in our blighted human breasts.&&&
5
@Dr. Nicholas S. Weber
Thank you for a truly extraordinary response from Ireland. Some of us still remember Jeannette MacDonald.
Climate change. Stop denying it Republicans.
81
@Ed Mahala Such drivel.
Wildfires have been a feature of the ecosystem of the American West for millennia.
So blame Trump and the Republicans, but not Gerry Brown and the Democrat machine that has controlled California for decades. And while you're at it, why not blame every resident of California who consumes the state's precious water resources.
2
@Frank McNamara
Ed wasn't blaming Republicans for climate change, but for denying it. Do you include yourself in that number, Frank?
5
@Frank McNamara
I blame anyone who doesn't listen to 98% of the academic experts in the field of climate science. That would be the Republican party.
6
I am reading this with disbelief after just waking up to a cool,rainy New England
And I am holding back tears.
How I wish I send the rain clouds west.
My heart breaks for my fellow human beings, and their pets,in California.
I am praying for a deluge of rain for you
88
@r mackinnon
News flash. Praying for rain does not work.
4
@RE
News flash
Not the time for such snarky and nasty response.
Meanspirited.
We get enough of that from WH.
Excuse me while I attend to my morning 35 year long Buddhist practice - replete with sincere prayers for rain (the universe is more complex than a mere human may think)
10
A journey through hell that has left death, trauma, and unimaginable horror in its wake. Let's hope readers will show the compassion, empathy, and traditional American helping hand so lacking in Donald Trump. It's time to help victims not blame them.
44
The Sierra Mountain range has experienced a severe pine beetle infestation. They killed MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of trees. Complete hillsides with nothing but dead trees. Cal-Fire offered to clear all the dead trees on private property of 10 or more acres. In addition to cutting they planted new saplings. PG&E cut down and hauled off all the dead trees under the power lines. CalTrans cut down and cleared all the dead trees along the sides of the major highways. They worked together to tackle the problem and they severely reduced the fire danger. Private land owners, like myself, have forked out hard earned cash to remove dead trees from their properties. The National Forest .... NADA! They have not allocated resources or funding to deal with the problem of millions of dead trees in the forests. So, how do they manage the forests these days? They DON’T. They just let them burn. As a matter of fact Trump CUT the funds to “manage” the forests.
“The Trump administration’s own budget request for the current fiscal year and the coming one proposed slashing tens of millions of dollars from the Department of Interior and U.S. Forest Service budgets dedicated to the kind of tree clearing and other forest management work experts say is needed.”
Read more here: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article216160995.html#storylink=cpy
133
From zero tolerance of fires that allowed fuel levels to grow to preposterous to denial of the pine beetle plague, this is terrible management and now there’s lives lost.
11
Thank you for sharing this.
14
Since 1990 California has been thru 16 of these Wild Fires , I Have been thru one ....beyond words TERRIBLE! Yet the Democratic Party has done NOTHING and have left Millions of dollars for Fire Prevention go UNSPENT-Trump is Right about this Bottom line!
2
Ugh, this fire was started on mismanaged Federal land.
7
You’re going to blame Democrats who actually want to do something about Climate Change? This is bigger than forest management.
10
Trump actually CUT the budget for the management of National Forests, including the removal of dead trees. These Federal Forests constitute the majority of those on fire. And lest you forget, trump is a Republican.
7
This is no time to be pointing fingers or assigning blame to anyone. Not with such a tragedy unfolding in California. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been affected by this inferno. We had something like this occur in Alberta not long ago. If there are lessons to be learned; there will be plenty of time for that later. Right now say a prayer and be thankful you are not in the middle of such a devastating fire. And Yes; this is just the latest example of how real climate change is; despite the mindless denials of those fools who cannot accept reality.
14
@Greg Hodges: I'm thinking that the situation now is akin to mass shootings in the U.S. Once there are so many of them, there is NEVER a "good time" to assign blame. Yet, we have to assign blame (or, more neutrally, determine a cause) if we're going to fix the problem.
1
I cannot imagine how horrific this is to be experiencing. Fire has always scared me to death. At least here on the East coast we can somewhat prepare ourselves for hurricanes/blizzards. I don't see any way to prepare for devastating fires like these. I hope the residents of CA know that the rest of the country is keeping these folks and the brave firefighters in our hearts.
47
The drought has a lot to do with these fires. But so does mismanagement of the forests. Blame Smokey the Bear. If you build up enormous underbrush then the fire that finally comes through burns everything.
Also, don't build your house in the woods and expect the fire will just be a friendly neighbor and walk around your property instead of straight through it.
2
I believe the experts have weighed in on this question, at least regarding these particular fires. They are not forest fires; they did not originate in forests and are not burning in forests. So management of forests is not to blame.
24
The firefighters and emergency workers are to be commended for working tirelessly to contain these massive fires and come to the aid of those who have been affected by this devastation. They have been working multiple shifts and they must be exhausted yet they carry on. Some have even lost their own homes in the midst of this horrible tragedy. Kudos to all of them for their selfless efforts in fighting the worst fires in California history. You certainly are American heroes even if you are only doing your jobs. Thank you for your bravery and outstanding work.
185
What a horror for all involved. The beautiful state is either being scorched from end to end or torrential rain and mud slides are shifting the landscape. The desert is not making peace with all the people, and climate change is compounding the problem.
22
C'mon... going along with the order of a police officer only for a short time before returning to fetch your car? In the context of the horrific death toll, does that seem like a good choice? How would your family have felt if they'd lost you because you went back for your... car?
I wouldn't wish a "next time" on anyone, but should a next time happen, forget your car and just get out when instructed.
I'm so pleased you made it out okay, but there are lessons in your story for all of us facing the seemingly endless prospect of these flames.
13
Kudos to the NYT for covering this Apocalypse in California. CNN and MSNBC cover Trump 99% of their time.. CNN use to actually cover news , real news ,such as this, one of our great states that needs coverage so we can help her. Nope, CNN and MSNBC would let California die just to put up more mendacity on the current Administration.
13
Renewable energy would save money in the long run.
Global warming will cost billions.
Can the USA being penny wise and pound foolish?
15
A novel "Natures End" by Whitley Streiber, published in 1987 predicted and recounts in part this exact scenario that is now playing out in California. Surreal, frightening...
8
Incomprehensible and unimaginable. Del Real and Nicas created such a vivid picture that, as a reader, I can only shudder thinking what these people had to face and desparation and horror not knowing if they would see their loved ones again. When the fires and embers finally burn out they have to face such hardships....how do they ever start over, how can a town like Paradise ever be reclaimed? I guess its the human will to survive. Thoughts and prayers and donations to the Red Cross......it could have beem you or me....just tragic.
11
@TB:I agree with most of what you said, but would suggest that people research carefully which aid groups are doing what rather than reflexively giving to the Red Cross. The Red Cross has, at times, been beset by poor management, to put it mildly. Also, it doesn't usually do the long-term rebuilding that may be needed in CA. People should give generously, but first research carefully.
1
One lesson may be that snowplows should be made ready to clear cars off roads in the event of an evacuation.
11
They’d first have to be able to get through bumper to bumper traffic to get to the disabled cars.
2
President Trump’s first response to Houston flooding paraphrased: there has been remarkable response by all a federal agencies to this terrible tragedy.
President Trumps first response to hurricane Michael paraphrased : the panhandle has incredible people, Rick Scott is an incredible governor. Our hearts and prayers are with all the people who lost their lives and homes in this devastating flood. (He still went to campaign event)
President Trump’s response to the devastating California wildfires: California is at fault for their poor forest management. We have given big lens of funds to California and we’re going to withhold more funds until they change their practices. (no reference to lives lost, a quarter of 1 million homes burned to the ground)
He has a vendetta against California and blue states. I live in Massachusetts the only firewall between Trump and Massachusetts is Republican Governor Baker. I wonder who is endorsement he wants for 2020?
72
@Sandy
Mr Trump blames California for the mismanagement of its forest. Guess what? The Federal Government owns 60% of the public forest in California.
27
@Sandy
Sobering comment.
I am more shocked than surprised.
What a despicable person his own words show him to truly be.
His pettiness and sociopathy knows know bounds.
His divisiveness and extreme partisanism is a poison.
He is like a General who, after the battle is over, and he has “won”, descends the hill to shoot the wounded.
21
So sad. But POTUS is right. Poor forrest management by democrat leftists like Jerry Brown and his lk are why these fires have spread and cannot be stopped. They refuse to clear out the dry deadwood and underbrush that has dangerously accumulated over the years because a few ants and bugs are living there. They care more about insect homes then people's homes.
@Steve
60% of forests in California are managed by the US Forest Service, a federal agency. 2/3 of the remaining forests - mostly timber forests - are are privately managed. Homeowners throughout California are subject to strict fire safety regulations regarding deadwood, underbrush, woodpiles, roof composition, sprinkler systems, etc., and regulations for new builds are even tougher. Ants and bugs don't have a lot to do with it.
46
@Steve Sixty percent of forest land in California is FEDERAL FORESTS. In other words, owned and managed by Washington D.C. (I hope someone has told Trump this). These fires did not start deep in the woods, they started at the edges of the urban/forest interchange area. They exploded because California is now exceptionally dry - the winter rains have been delayed and the winds (which can be ferocious at this time of year) blow from east to west out of the dry central valley and, in southern California, the Mojave Desert.
I grew up in Southern California. Our fire season used to be late August until the rains started in earnest (usually by mid-October or early November), but the climate is changing in California - it is becoming much dryer. We were there just last week and friends said they haven't had a drop of rain since April and aren't expecting any for a couple weeks. I remember about 5 years ago reading about an awful fire near the town where I grew up - it was burning in JANUARY. That was unheard of, but presaged the situation we see now - pretty much a year round fire season. Perhaps Mr. T would like to rethink his climate denial. (fat chance).
28
@Steve
60% of the states forests are owned by the Federal Government.
13
Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough folks. Please donate to support those affected.
8
Multiple people mentioned staying in an evacuation zone or leaving a safe vehicle so they could save their property. We should have a wildfire recovery fund so that people don't need to take those risks.
18
@Caroline
We do. It's called taxes and FEMA and everyone else paying higher homeowners and property insurance.
@Caroline That's what insurance is for.
Oh how I would love to be back in Boston my hometown. Right now New York City is predicting rain all week long so there is little difference in weather. I miss the city and people even the weather did not bother me. As they say once a Bostonian always a Bostonian. I hope to return to this wonderful city with nice people some day. You are lucky to live in a city with lots of culture around you with people to match.
@WPLMMT
The title of the article is :"California Death Toll Now at 44 With Discovery of 13 more bodies."
How does your comment regarding how you would love to be back in Boston related to the Death toll from the fires in California ?
24
@DJS agreed, very bizarre
3
@HSQ I agree, but NYT approved it.
2
All that tragedy and loss and the evil Trump has only vitriol for the victims.
40
The heroes rise to save their neighbors, doubling back to an endangered ICU and running down the road with elderly friends, while heartless, rain-fearing Trump tweets baseless recriminations from France. 2020 can’t come soon enough.
44
Trump's comments show (again) he is out of his depth as President. I believe that he saw that this tragedy was in the blue CA (the largest) and that drove him to tweet his ill informed opinion.
32
Paul, I agree that Trump is out of his depth as President, but unfortunately he is also out of his depth as a human being. Wish I could send some of our NJ rain to California.
1
And all Trump can do is threaten to withhold federal funding because it’s a blue state and the deaths of dozens of innocent Americans isn’t enough to temper his pettiness.
48
@Mike Trump is a bully. If he expresses empathy, he is lying.
7
I survived the Tunnel Fire (better known as the Oakland Hills Fire). My neighborhood was completely destroyed, with two deaths from a couple that foolishly stayed to save their home.
While hearing these horrifying stories of people who successfully saved their homes, we are missing the voices of those who perished because they tried to save material belongings. This is the same foolishness as those who don't evacuate in a hurricane, yet need saving later on and swear that they'll never do it again.
Please folks. Evacuate when told to evacuate. Material belongings are immaterial compared to your life. I lost everything and I'm here to say that you can start again. Unfortunately, two of my former neighbors can't say that.
190
Well said. And not to mention the fact that these folks put first responders in increased danger when they need to go and rescue them at the last minute. Think of their lives and families, too.
28
@HN - Well said. In the end, as I recall, some 25 people died in the Oakland Hills Fire.
I was living in San Francisco at the time and remember the day vividly. Although my home was about about 19 miles from the fire, as the crow flies, ash from people's homes was landing on my lawn. I could read bits of pages from people's books.
5
Having grown up in Louisiana to be affected by multiple hurricanes and now having lived in Sonoma County (last year's Santa Rosa/Tubbs Fire) for over 30 years, yes, it frustrates me when some people stay behind when told to evacuate. But make no mistake about the Camp Fire: over 200 people still unaccounted for and that area is a retirement community, with multiple retirement homes, assisted living and many people homebound, ill and otherwise challenged to evacuate fast. I thought nothing could be worse than our fires last year, but the Camp Fire is devastatingly moreso. Even we who live here, can not wrap our heads around what has happened. Tears come every day for the lives lost.
6
I can only wonder at the challenge that this was for the residents. The stories of neighbor helping neighbor is not lost in the narrative. I can only say I feel your loss. Godspeed a fast recovery.
15
I lived in CA once. Was lucky (?) enough to get out decades ago. Now I'm in Boston where it rains all the time. CA's definitely cool, but they have wildfires all the time and that's not cool. Once I tried to get home during rainy season and 101 was closed due to a mudslide! I had to drive for hours in a huge circle to get home...
12
@Bill
No place is safe. Had you been running in the Boston Marathon, or been a spectator, you could have lost life or limbs.
1
Blessings to all those affected by the California wildfires. Reading this article reminded me that I am not alone in battling extenuating life circumstances and that we all deserve understanding, compassion, and human kindness from one another. That is the only way we will survive in this era of political enmity, me-first, climate change disasters, and isolationism.
42
.....and the president of the United States is tweeting about the stock market to deflect blame from himself.
63
@Matt Of course not. But is he showing any leadership on this, any awareness of the toll, any compassion at all? No, he's--as always--making it all about himself and his petty, petty grievances.
16
@Matt - your state receives 2.6 billion dollars more in funding than it sends to the federal government while California sends more to the federal government than it receives. If humanity can't drive your rationale for sympathizing with California during this catastrophe, perhaps cold hard economics can.
2
Someone should be asking questions about PG&E. Weren't PG&E lines involved in starting the big wine country fire last year too?
17
@Deb -Yes! Power lines may indeed be responsible. California now requires power lines to be underground in all new residential developments.
9
I am a former newspaper reporter who covered several fatal structure fires. The accounts of survivors who escaped from these single-building fires were always harrowing; people were often in shock. My admiration to the reporters covering these fires; this is a very dangerous assignment. Very few consider the risks that journalists face in these situations.
The scale of this tragedy is incomprehensible. I cannot imagine the trauma of the survivors of these fires, and now it has been compounded by a display of astonishing callousness and cruelty by Donald Trump. This is a time when the people of California need compassion and reassurance from the president, not dismissive disinterest.
If fire prevention plans and forest management programs need improvement, then the government should fulfill that role. But with a president who views people hit by misfortune and tragedy as losers, and who repeatedly denies the human role in this tragedy, Californians should remember his ignorance come 2020 - if, in fact, he's even still in office to be considered for re-election by then.
Given Trump's pattern of cowardice when confronted by a threat that could affect him personally, he will likely have resigned before he can face any consequences in office, in the hope that he can cut one more deal. We can only hope. In the meantime, the people of California should know that the rest of the country cares, politics aside. This could be any of us, in many other parts of the United States.
309
Why do you admire the reporters who covered this assignment ? I live in a mandatory evacuation zone. Residents who can not evacuate or choose not to evacuate are eviscerated by commenters, while the reporters
who do not live in the mandatory evacuation zone
rush into harm's way. endangering themselves and the lives of first responders.
Why did you place yourself and the lives of first responders in jeopardy, in order to cover a story ? First responders in my area had their hands full trying to get to burning homes on rubber rafts, as they could not get firetrucks through the street. They did not need the additional burden of havng to rescue the reporters who holed up in the local hotel , as they do.
Safety is more important that a story.
"Fools Rush In where angels fear to tread."
3
@DLM
As California burns, our President disgraces our country because of a few rain drops.
31
The real problem, DLM, is privatization of OUR utilities like power, water and communications.
Robber Baron investors like Carl Ichan, Peter Thiel, Sheldon Adelson and the Koch brothers do not "maintain' anything. They simply destroy OUR infrastructure and move on.
WE THE PEOPLE must DEMAND that OUR governments at every level take over management of OUR crucial resources. NOW.
28
The sense of helplessness I feel while reading the stories and viewing the pictures is overwhelming. I will keep the people affected in my thoughts.
10
'Wildfires have become a staple of life in this state. They start suddenly and grow feverishly. Tracking their unpredictable movements, and awaiting the authorities’ orders to get out, are now part of being a Californian."
So, is there anything causing the wild fires to get worse? Could it be conditions caused by climate change? If yes, was it a conscious decision by the writer or editor to frame it as just the way things are?
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No, it’s not climate change. It’s failure to clear fuel loads from forests in advance. The “tree huggers” own this catastrophe.
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Deny climate change all you want. Half of the fires are in forests managed by the federal government. Fires are also starting in the suburbs. Trump cut millions from forest management.
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What about the federal government’s responsibility for 45% of the forest lands? Deny climate change—like a typical Trump supporter
3
This is so incredibly sad. We seemingly accept the deaths of so many individuals so calmly as a society and as a mankind? Climate change is real. Humans are the largest contributor. California gives the illusions of being hospitable enough for more population growth. It is not. We just ignore these realities. We are a species. The only one that actually knows that it is going to die, as it lives. Isn't that a wake-up call? We need leadership that protects every member of the "group." We can't simply sit idly by and argue about some "greater good" when there is none. Our attitudes that foster "survival of the fittest" will overtake us as surely as the sun remains our only constant. The source of both life and our ultimate deaths. Imagine if we had taken bold action for the last 30 years, rather than politicizing our common humanity.
19
Money may not be the answer to every disaster. Still, seeing that fires like these occur regularly, it may not be a bad idea to spend a few hundred millions to mitigate their effects. Instead of 44 dead, we might read about, say, 12 victims. Saving 32 lives seems more worthwhile than new gadgets.
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This is a terrible disaster. Over 97% of climate scientists agree that wild fires like these will get worse, if we do not curb greenhouse gas emissions and replace with renewables. When I break a leg I consult a medical expert (not a politician, or a random person in the street,) when I want to know about climate science I consult climate scientists with credentials (not politicians, not oil/coal lobbyists, not random people.) The cigarette industry was able to confuse the public (check out a cigarette disinformation "documentary" called: "Smoking and Health: The need to know") for many years on an issue which is now obvious to us all: That smoking is a health hazards. How long can Big Oil/Coal/Gas keep confusing the public until we realize that climate warming by humans is real and very serious. With increasingly effective solutions (renewables are becoming cheaper than oil/coal/gas, and generate large number of jobs) we must all take action now. Vote with your money: buy an electric car, install solar panels/house batteries, refute disinformation.
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Ridiculous. Liberal “tree huggers” have prevented clearing of fuel loads from the forests, which created a ticking time bomb that brought about this catastrophe. Get out of denial, liberate the chainsaws, apply some sensible timber management programming; then you can mitigate these risks.
Scientists don’t know anything—typical Trump response while ignoring the response of professional fire fighters. And the fact that 45% of forests in CA are managed by the federal government which has slashed funding.
Don’t you worry ! Nothing will be done about climate change! Thanks to willful ignorance.
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@Edwin Sixty percent of the forests in California is managed by WASHINGTON D.C. They are on FEDERAL land. California has always had a "fire season". When I grew up there, it was late-August until early November - now it is pretty much year round. And they burn hotter and spread faster than before. That is due to the fact that California suffers more frequently now from drought and temperature averages are going UP. So, Edwin, if you have a problem with forest management in this country, talk to Mr. T - see if you can get him to understand that it is on his plate.
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I didn't imagine the experience, until reading your article. To the people in this area, I hope you will find what you need to go on from this devastating and traumatic time. To our country and world, I hope we gather our senses and resources to figure out how to live on this planet more harmoniously.
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For an occasional visitor California remains a beautiful place with wonderful people. This is so disheartening to see. May the winds settle down and the fires dozed. May we see no more loss of life. Climate change hits our way of life in so many ways unimaginable. We need to develop strategies to mitigate these dangers.
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@SridharC
I wonder if it is possible to start a massive tree planting project? I've read that the chapparal is like dry tinder to the hot winds. Can millions of trees help-somehow-the lack of water in CA?
This disaster saddens,too, because CA, w/ so many creative, progressive,liberal people, has always seemed like "the promised land" to this progressive voice suffocated in red state south carolina, whose reactionary Sen.Graham has hitched his wagon to Terrible Trump.
What especially cruel irony that a town named Paradise was burned in this holocaust.
2
Some amazing reporting. Those searing quotes, full of fear and relief, are stunning and remarkable statements of an event more suited to an Auto-da-fé. How terrifying. That bulldozer that saved that one motorist was incredible.
Thoughts of love and healing at this time of loss and separation in California.
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One thinks of the many works by Mike Davis, excoriating the overselling of California and its inherent lack of water to support its now-massive population. A semi-arid to desert climate is really inimical to human life and settlement and we as a species would be best served to take that lesson from this latest of innumerable disasters linking overpopulation to climate change.
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@Tournachonadar
I'm sure the people watching their neighbors burn alive in their cars can take solace in your safely detached and lofty words, but are the rest of us as a nation doing enough to pull together and support Californians in the immediate face of disaster?
One's superior enlightenment is not the first thing that ought to come to mind when reading this article. A lecture is not what is needed by the actual human beings trying to survive this.
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@Tournachonadar
Excellent post and thank you for leaving politics out of it!
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C Wolfe: Pulling together to support Californians who've seen their neighbors burning to death in their cars? Got the truck loaded up with supplies and 'get well soon' cards? Or just chastising people with sensible ideas aimed at preventing the reoccurrence of this disaster?
8