Some of the top officials of California blamed climate change for the devastating series of fires that flattened many residential areas in Los Angeles. Climate change? Why blame this rather than being responsible?
We know that there isi climate change but why were not changes made to mitigate the climate chnage?
The Sta Ana winds for example. Undoubtedly many residents marvelled at how fast the fires exploded, spread and raged. Many called the phenomenon firenado.. But surely measures, improvements in infrastructures could have been undertaken to lessen the damage by the Sta Ana winds. These events happen all the time in LA, and am sure we are all intelligent and resourceful enough to mitigage, Some of these:
1. Beefing up of the Fire Department. Instead of doing this the City shaved of $17 million from the budgets. Scores of fire fighting apparatus were not running. The City donated firefighting equipment to Ukrained.
2. Installation of firebreaks and cleaning the forests. DT mentioned this to the governor during his first term to have forest floors cleaned of dry leaves and branches. These served as tinder for the fire
3. Having more water in reservoir and making sure this water reachd the fire hydrants. The news have it that 4 dams were removed to give way to ecological concerns for the natives. Was much done to have the fire hy drants works as they should in emergencies like this. Or having more plane scoops fighting the flames.
In countries where they encounter regularly disasters, their govts prepare for this. As in Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda killed many residents, the govt prepared and disaster coordinating councils to be prepared for calamities. Philippines which is flood prone had billions allocated for flood control (Although now citizens are looking for them)
What caused the fire ?- Probably arsonists and homeless people (to whom bulkk of billions of govt were oing into rather than protecting the citizens) Or sparks from high power lines. Thus there were proposals to have underground power lines. But either these measures were vetoed or lingered in desks of council. (Arsons as probable cause is most likely as the 5 fires were far away from each other)
What caused these to spread fast ?- The tinder fuel on the floors of the forest. Trump asked leaders of California to clean forest floors of dry leaves and branches as they do in Europe. Or putting up fire breaks. It is most likely that they were no done as budgets for them were removed
What caused the fire to raze wide areas uncontrollably/ Lack of water. A large Sta Inez reservoir was left unfilled with water Or perhaps a pumping station was needed to drive up water to hydrants of Pacific Palisade. More fire trucks more fighting personnel. But there were other issues and these need for resources were not adequately addressed
