"Trucker Bombs" are becoming a big problem in California (and other states)

I appreciate the teachings on fire. We used fire as a tool for years on our land as did others. I think only once the wind ramped up and we called the Fire Fighters to show up and get it put out before it escaped our property. (That was a day to remember... shifting winds of varying strength as if the weather didnt know what it wanted that morning. We should not have burned then) Once it organized and gained power the fire took off.

If I remember right, we are about that time of the year where large farms will be burning off the left overs from the growing season making ready for winter near the interstate. So from time to time traffic will be a problem. We actually have a few burn bans up in the state as well.

I am not knowledgable too much about forest fires. I was raised around the Baltimore Fire Dept and it's history dating to the great Baltimore Fire, some damage of which can be seen today in the very granite in some of our older buildings that cracked and warped at about 2500 towards melting believe it or not.

 

Hey, maybe we could take all those "trucker bombs" and use them to put out the fires ! (Quatto's awkward attempt to un-hijack the thread)

 

Our family owns timber and ranch ground in the Paradise, Magalia, and Concow area. We lost some houses, a few outbuildings, what would have been our winter pasture, and some old second growth pine and fir. We didn't lose any people and we're grateful for that.
The town of Paradise was an excellent example of the dangers of urban inter-face and the impossibility of surviving a wildfire the magnitude of the Camp fire.
We always said that a catastrophic fire wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when. I wish we'd been wrong.
Too many people, not enough access roads for fire equipment, not enough evacuation routes, propane tanks in almost every yard, thousands of mature pine and fir trees, and several mobile home parks with residences jammed in together made the area ripe for what happened.
Too many people lived in denial that something like the Camp fire could happen. People died because of that.
PG&E has some culpability, a great deal actually, but until people realize that a firestorm can and will happen and take some personal responsibility for how they live, it will happen again. Count on it.

 

I've wondered if part of their problem is other cities did exactly that, providing free bus tickets so the homeless can get away from the cold Midwest and out of their city. It might be one of several factors like expensive housing and some have untreated mental illness or abuse drugs.

 

Im sorry to hear that.

I have some good memories of the Sierras and so forth. And would like to think I can keep those.

However as you described the losses, I don't know if there will ever be preventable losses other than not living in a forest or area where those kinds of fires are possible. Here in the east we dont have the forests you all have. And in the south we have a special kind called grass fires that can absolutely take off and run. If you are caught in one with a car you might not be getting out.

Hopefully you and yours futures are bright.

 

When I was in a small town up in the Mason Dixon south of Gettysburg we had about a dozen homeless. One in particular never bathed. A relative was foolish to give her a ride and the car smelled like the homeless who never bathed for a month. Even the best detail work of the time could not get it all. (Thats why you don't put plush carpets etc, cloth seats etc)

Even more importantly don't give rides no matter how far your bleeding heart and emotions yank your chain...

One time while working a gas station several showed up. Then more. A early form of what we call flash mob happened then. We had inventory losses through theft. Never mind anything in the store except one item. Premade sandwitches piled with meat and greens etc. They went straight for that as a dog goes straight to steak so to speak.

We had the Lawman show up and prosecute all of them. They kept coming. Making a mockery of the law.

The Owner thought about it a moment and then canceled the sandwitch account and a couple others in that type of ready made food. (Ready to steal and eat in a few moments...)

Once the homeless were confronted with nothing but canned goods in there there was no more reward to stealing and facing arrest again for trespassing.

Thats one of the reasons I don't work in public places like that anymore for minimum wage. Maximum trouble and chaos in life.

 

Just to clarify, the free bus tickets are provided only to those who have family in another state that is willing to take the homeless person in. Therefore, it is not an attempt by the state to simply push off their homeless problem on some other state.

 

I have an opinion on this matter.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

And I hate California.

 

I struggled hitting the reply button on your post because I have come to know you as a thoughtful man. That said, your post broadbruses a group of Americans in a "them vs us" kind of way that I find somewhat narrow and similar to the way our present "administration" is attempting to demonize those on our borders who are simply seeking a better way of life.
The homeless are, to a large extent, those who are mentally ill and unable to work; those who can't afford skyrocketing housing costs; those who are ex-cons that nobody will hire; and children who have been abandoned or abused. They are the rejected souls that call upon the rest of us as an opportunity to actually put into action an elevated morality rather than just espouse it in words.

We are the lucky ones. We have found, by some means, how to cope in life. They haven't been so lucky. And I know it's comforting to find some rationale where we can justify treating them as contemptable and beneath us "regular folks". I know that, but Is that really what you wished to do?

 

Actually, your hate is the real enemy. But then, it's not really "yours" . It belongs to those who have brainwashed you.