California wildfires

[Raptured]

Thoughts going out to anyone affected.  Simply horrific events going on.

[Encia22]

Yes, my prayers and thoughts go out to those caught up in those fires. The images and videos are like watching an apocalypse in slow motion.

[quintessentone]

Yes, my thoughts and prayers go out to all affected there too. It is an apocalyptic scene, for sure. Horrible to and sad to watch. I also hope people's insurance companies don't stiff them, if they do, I hope that the government steps in to assist and held to rebuild.

The article I am reading, so I can to learn more, states that 95% of wildfires there are caused by humans, but they also go on about climate change and how that affects Western America.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyxypryrnko

Here is what the government in Cali has done so far in fire prevention. So, blaming one thing or one person is an irresponsible stance to take, IMO.

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/08/califo...r-climate/

Cali's new cutting-edge dashboard:

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/10/10/califo...mmunities/

https://wildfiretaskforce.org/treatment-dashboard/

Wow, a reporter just said that there are people coming into the devastated areas to steal what they can from burnt out homes. Are people that desperate there?

[Nerb]

Crazy that a country can be so powerful around the globe and yet can't put out a fire in it's own back yard.

So much failure. Things must change.

[quintessentone]

Crazy that a country can be so powerful around the globe and yet can't put out a fire in it's own back yard.

So much failure. Things must change.

 
It's not one fire. It's many large, out of control raging fires in many different areas that were fuelled by dry vegetation and strong winds and thick smoke preventing fire fighters from getting in the air to fight these fires.

As one firefighter says about the low water pressure "If you stick a lot of straws in a glass of water it will empty faster."

[KKLoco]

I sincerely feel for all these displaced people.

I’m seeing a lot of people on the internet blaming the citizens for continuously voting for Newsom. I don’t think this is fair to the voters, as I do believe California was the testing grounds for the cheat. I don’t believe that the overwhelming majority, is really that stupid. 

Sorry, got to make a prediction: Do we have some new 15-minute cities underway?

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

The winds are slightly diminished... for 4 or 5 days. Then another moderate to strong Santa Ana event begins. With the current one ramping back up in the next few hours.

This is just beginning. And there's nothing you can do to prevent a fire moving up to 15 mph in 80-100 MPH winds gusts.

Paradise always has a price. Florida knows this well. And like them this state will come together, not tolerate opportunistic criminality (mostly) and be fucked by insurers in the end.

I thank this thread for not immediately focusing on the budget cuts to the LAFD and doing the false dilemma thing.

No failure to claim when there's no chance to begin with. People just don't understand Santa Ana/Diablo wind fueled fires at their worst. People don't understand how futile the most equipped fire departments efforts are. No preparedness is enough for The Palisade and Eaton fire.

They tired, but the amount of water needed and manpower needed is not achievable by any infrastructure anywhere. No hydrant system has the capacity for these fires. And we don't need conservative America being angry at our liberal politicians alleged failures.

The fire chief might have said budget cuts would hamper a large scale response a month ago, but even a 10x increase of funding isn't saving Palisades or Altadena in retrospect. It defines false dilemma and is ignorant to the fires abilities.

It's like there's no real concern, but instead its an excuse to criticize wicked California again.

Please don't let conservative media (Looking at you Fox) try to instill an anger vs our liberal policies on this. You don't need to roast the California demon this time. They can just stop politicizing an event they have remedial first hand knowledge in.

[quintessentone]

To: IdeomotorPrisoner - What an absolute 'right on' post. Bravo.

Edit to add: https://www.latimes.com/california/story...urst-fires

[Encia22]

Here's a good analysis of the situation... 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...-explainer

From the article...

Areas already affected by the fires:



Evacuation plan:  



That kind of spread and the expanses make containing the fire impossible, let alone fighting it.

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

Thank you for that.

We as a state do a lot of mind boggling and ridiculous irresponsible liberal things, even cutting funding to first responders, but there's no room for Captain Hindsight here. Even with the budget cuts and only 3 gravity fed water tanks.

"See, they should have had 30 1 million gallon tanks instead of just 3. Then there would have been more water."

Which is all well and good, but these fires move so fast there no defense to be had. By the time a call for the brush fire comes in to dispatch its over an acre. By the time the first trucks can arrive its gone and moving faster than they can really take defensive positions for.

I have heard, not on the news, that overnight when the Eaton fire blew up it was burning a block every five minutes at its worst.

Only difference between Altadena and Paradise is the escape routes for the former were much more plentiful and flat.

Altadena is 138 years old but really exploded in the 1920s. Central Altadena has stood for decades in Santa Ana winds. It's an unprecedented event, Even for the LA area. And you never know which 80 year neighborhood is gonna go..

So thank you, less angry DI participants, for keeping clarity and compassion and not falling into a bias fox trap. It's easy to call out our politicians for a lot. Thank you for not making this an opportunity to vent about Madam Pelosi of the Undead and Gruesome Newsom.