Full Quiver wrote:I do wonder why it is that this is such a huge news story that all the network news folks are sending their big wigs out to be on scene and report.
Full Quiver wrote:their are wildfires every year in not only California but in Florida, Nevada, Georgia, etc. and this type of coverage and protection (National Guard) didn't happen.
It's the scale. Firefighters here are calling it a once-in-a-century fire, like nothing they've seen. The NG is only doing security to protect the hundreds of thousands of empty houses from looting and keep looky-loos out of firefighters' way. Again, it's the scale. Local police aren't enough. And of course, the pictures the media folks can get are both dramatic and very easy to get and there's not much else going on right now that would be better for ratings.
Full Quiver wrote:It seems that the wealthiest neighborhoods are being effected and affected this go around and they are being treated differently or helped better.
The wealthy communities in the hills are at risk every year. This year is different because houses in middle-class suburbs are burning. The amount of state resources that go every year into protecting (and rebuilding) the rich folks' little fantasy lands is a perennial bone of contention here in CA but this year everyone's being hit.
Full Quiver wrote:Again, these fires stink, they are not the fault of Bush per se, but they are the fault of spineless politicians and leaders that allow environmentalists to dictate what the forestry dept. does. If the underbrush is controlled then these fires would not be out of control.
Doesn't apply here. These (for the most part) aren't forest fires. Our problem is unregulated development and sprawl.

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