I Find It Interesting

I’m a Californian. More than that, I’m a native Californian, second-generation, in fact. I have lived in southern California all my life. Every year has brought a “fire season”. That’s the way it is out here. The chaparral dries out, the Santa Ana winds blow hot and fierce, and the combination is either an enticement for people with a peculiar fire fascination or fodder for a flying spark from some non-human source.

I have been affected by this year’s firestorm in a second-hand way: I reside about 20 miles northwest of Malibu, and the smoke floats up the coastal canyons and over into my valley. My sky is reddened, ash falls and my sinuses go whankey. I have piles left from the winds to clean up.

All that said, I am amazed at the accusations that certain people have made in the last couple of days, that these fires are the fault of global warming, of human mismanagement, of overpopulation, of too much money spent on the Iraq war, or of some devious plot devised somewhere. We can’t point our finger at nature and its processes and get any satisfaction, so instead we stand on a soap box and cry “foul”.

Granted, these are the worst fires with the greatest damage I think this state – this nation – has seen. We’re in a prolonged drought. Humidity has been low. The Santa Anas were blowing at hurricane force for several days. These all came together and things ignited. Power lines snapped in the winds. Arsonists made the most of the opportunity.

I find it interesting that people stand far off and complain, accuse and politicize. Those who are not affected directly by the fires appear to be the most vocal. Some who lost a second home in Malibu are also bitter and loud. People who have no business complaining are complaining. In contrast, whole families who lost home and livelihood, pets and neighborhoods in a matter of minutes are expressing thanks and appreciation for lives for the heroic firefighters the support services and relief they are receiving. It’s more than contrast, it’s a polar opposite.

Life happens. Out here, life includes fire season. We have a lot of clean-up and restoration to do this year. We’ll accomplish it a lot faster if we stop complaining, come alongside each other and get to work.