Photo from the LATimes
Not only do firefighters have to deal with one of the largest fires in California’s history, they also have to deal with rescuing people who didn’t listen to the evacuation order.
The Station Fire, which has burned 140,000+ acres AND IS 38% contained, has already taken the lives of two of LA Counties Bravest. Yet amid all the work that Firefighters have done to keep people safe, try to contain the fire, and attempt to save as much property as possible, they have to contend with something they cannot imagine. People who have been told to leave defy the order only to call back and ask for rescue.
Some people say to hell with them. That is not something firefighters are about. We answer the call…every time. However, sometimes we just cannot effect a rescue. Sometimes, even with our best efforts, we cannot get in and rescue everyone. In this case, it isn’t our faults. We gave them ample warning, told them to evacuate but they didn’t.
Our jobs would be a lot easier if we could cure “Stupid”. But we cannot. The people who decide to ride out fires of any sort are STUPID!
Five people who refused to leave Gold Canyon when the area was evacuated made it through the Station fire.
“They survived, they made it through,” said Mark Savage of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.The five residents created quite a drama Monday when the fire moved closer to their homes. After defying the evacuation order issued over the weekend, some of the residents changed their minds and asked to be rescued. Read the entire article
Photo from the LATimes
Two other people were burned when they tried to ride out the fire in their hot tub. A freakin hot tub! I have an idea, lets ride out this fire that might be burning at 1000 degrees in a pot of water that is already at around 100 degrees! That sounds like a great idea.
The sad truth is that when people disregard evacuation orders, whether mandatory or voluntary, they put themselves in harm as well as the lives of their rescuers. We don’t just make up evacuation orders to mess up your day. We do it to remove the potential life safety so that we can focus on fire containment and property conservation.
If we cannot guarantee that lives are protected, we have to focus on that. Others who lose are the people who’s property we might be protecting instead of rescuing non-evacuees, and those who might be effected by the growth of fire while we divert our resources from the fire line to rescue those who disobey.
For all of those who have been asked to evacuate the Station Fire, please listen to the Fire Officials!
I would like to add that the Firefighters working on the Station Fire should be commended for a great job thus far. The statistics show the great job they are doing: 94 buildings destroyed, 6 injuries, and unfortunately 2 firefighter deaths.
For information on evacuations please visit these sites:
LA County FD
LAFD News and Information Blog
NBC Los Angeles
I wrote about people not folloginw evacuations on my blog, but you called it what it should be called – STUPID. People want to live in wooded areas or mountainous for the scenery, the tranquility, the isolation, the whatever, ignoring the fact that they are intruding on nature and sometimes have to let nature win!
Thanks and prayers to all of the firefighters and first responders, and prayers to the families of the fallen firefighters.
I wrote about people not folloginw evacuations on my blog, but you called it what it should be called – STUPID. People want to live in wooded areas or mountainous for the scenery, the tranquility, the isolation, the whatever, ignoring the fact that they are intruding on nature and sometimes have to let nature win!
Thanks and prayers to all of the firefighters and first responders, and prayers to the families of the fallen firefighters.
I now live inland, but after 20 years on the Texas coast I can tell you that fire or hurricane, there are bozos who will not evacuate, then expect to be rescued in the middle of the mess when they realize they got more than they bargained for. Last year in Galveston there were countless 911 calls, and the most notorious was a bunch of drunks who decided to ride out the storm in a shack on a fishing pier–the Coast Guard risked their lives and a helicopter to get those clowns to safety. And like with fires, once the wind is blowing fast enough and the water’s rising, helicopters and boats can’t always get there. You can’t fix stupid.
I now live inland, but after 20 years on the Texas coast I can tell you that fire or hurricane, there are bozos who will not evacuate, then expect to be rescued in the middle of the mess when they realize they got more than they bargained for. Last year in Galveston there were countless 911 calls, and the most notorious was a bunch of drunks who decided to ride out the storm in a shack on a fishing pier–the Coast Guard risked their lives and a helicopter to get those clowns to safety. And like with fires, once the wind is blowing fast enough and the water’s rising, helicopters and boats can’t always get there. You can’t fix stupid.
Kudos on a right on post! I know it sounds “un-american” to say this but people in situations like this ought to either be forcibly removed from their homes, or should be made to sign a waiver of responsibility which, in essence, says … “I’m on my own and don’t expect anyone to put themselves in danger in any attempt to to rescue me if I get into trouble because of my decision.”
Kudos on a right on post! I know it sounds “un-american” to say this but people in situations like this ought to either be forcibly removed from their homes, or should be made to sign a waiver of responsibility which, in essence, says … “I’m on my own and don’t expect anyone to put themselves in danger in any attempt to to rescue me if I get into trouble because of my decision.”