Ranger Rick: The avoidable tragedy of Calif. wildfires

On Nov. 8, the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. high voltage line near Poe Dam malfunctioned and started a fire in the early morning. A captain of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection looked across the dam to the river canyon and saw a 10-acre fire on the rocky slope.

The access road to reach the fire area was so poorly maintained, he knew no equipment could reach the source of the fire. With the high winds, he knew it would only take minutes for the fire to spread and roar into a conflagration, eating its way up slopes and down into canyons and valleys. This is what was known as the “Paradise Fire” where the small towns of Paradise and Concow were destroyed.

There had been no appreciable rain in the area north of Sacramento since late summer. With the dry conditions and high winds, the fire had perfect conditions to spread and quickly overtake the overgrown fuel ridden forest. It quickly threatened the towns of Concow and Paradise, where many were injured or burned to death.

There was one main road out of the area and it was quickly crowded with cars and trucks trying to evacuate. It was a popular place where individuals retired to mountain homes in the small communities and outlying slopes and hillsides.

The fire overtook people trying to leave so they either stayed in their vehicles or got out and ran from the fire. Some were overtaken by the flames, others survivors told of harrowing experiences in creek beds and ditches while the fire and smoke were overhead. Paradise was spared 10 years ago from a fire that stopped at the edge of town, but weren’t so lucky now.

In the state government of California, I’m sure fire and flooding is a small part of the budget and if anything can be cut, money can be cut there and nobody will object loudly. With the environmental faction having so much sway with legislators and the public, not much gets done in maintaining fire break trails or buying more equipment to fight fires. If the trail had been maintained, maybe the fire could have been either contained or slowed in spreading along the ridges and hillsides. Certainly some firefighters feel this is the case in this instance.

However, the incident proves a point President Donald Trump brought up that the forestry practices in California are not conducive to maintaining good fire prevention practices. People in the state need to examine their own property to clear out the dead wood and debris fuel that helps the fire grow and spread. They will only help themselves and save their homes if they maintain their property properly.

Now, the bare mountains, hillsides, ridges and canyons will be open to mudslides due to the winter rains coming as they do every year to California. There will be more misery ahead for the state. The state needs to prepare for these occurrences, because it isn’t a matter if they will happen, but when. Guaranteed.

The land of golden hills, beautiful coastline, and majestic mountains is being threatened by the same people who claim they love it. If you love something, you will maintain it properly. I know family and friends who are there or have lived there, and it was a wonderful place.

But the kook ideas the Greenies have put in everyone’s heads about not doing anything and leaving everything “natural” is criminal. Not only do the adults abide by these idiotic ideas, but the young are subject to it in public schools as well.

Open your eyes, California, and save your beautiful state and your citizens — it’s up to you.

The rotting of America from within continues…