To the editor: In 1993, Laguna Seaside suffered a fireplace that consumed virtually 500 properties. Whereas this quantity pales compared to the losses suffered in Los Angeles, there are classes that we have to bear in mind. (“Could better brush clearance have helped slow the spread of the Palisades fire?” Jan. 13)
Most significantly, you don’t combat the hearth on the day it occurs. You combat it beforehand with diligent and fixed prevention efforts. This contains fixed gasoline modification of the native brush adjoining to our developed areas and the hardening of properties, companies and landscaping to grow to be extra fire-resistant.
Laguna Seaside adopted a set of fire-resistant development requirements, developed native brush gasoline modification requirements and tremendously elevated the quantity of water saved at an elevation the place solely gravity is required to offer strain to hydrants.
Our gasoline modification efforts are transferring too slowly. The comb that surrounds and infiltrates our developed areas is now not in its pure state. It has grow to be an overgrown supply of limitless gasoline that may burn total neighborhoods to the bottom.
Fireplace development requirements have an effect on new development. Most of our current constructions don’t meet these requirements, and there’s no systemic effort to retrofit them.
A state that doesn’t implement efficient gasoline modification efforts and efficient fire-resistant development requirements for all constructions is an uninsurable state. An uninsurable California will quickly grow to be an financial basket case. Then all of us lose.
JJ Gasparotti, Laguna Seaside
The author is former president of the Laguna Seaside County Water District and former chairperson of the Laguna Seaside Design Overview Board.
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To the editor: Rick Caruso’s inflammatory feedback essential of L.A.’s hearth response and prevention do nothing to convey solace or present any type of help for victims. They’re the preliminary salvo for his subsequent mayoral marketing campaign.
Caruso supplied non-public firefighters for his shopping center in Pacific Palisades as the encompassing companies burned. He’s displaying the type of chief he’s — one who thinks about his personal desires and wishes.
Victoria I. Paterno, Los Angeles
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To the editor: A number of individuals are quoted as saying that poor brush clearance was among the many causes the Palisades hearth and others have been so unhealthy.
Though stopping big firestorms just isn’t so simple as implied, elimination of brush can result in different main issues. Erosion and landslides that may end result from “local weather whiplash” additionally trigger great harm.
With out a lower within the focus of greenhouse gases within the environment, we will count on extra firestorms and extra damaging atmospheric rivers. Those that proceed to publicly deny the worldwide warming that’s brought on by burning fossil fuels ought to assist pay for the restoration from this destruction.
Invoice Roundy, Orange
