To the editor: President Trump’s assertion, throughout his inaugural deal with, that Los Angeles confronted the devastating wildfires “with out even a token of protection” did an awesome disservice to the 1000’s of firefighters, first responders, administrative personnel, buddies and neighbors who acted heroically to save lots of lives and property and to deliver these fires nearer to containment.
As with every main pure catastrophe, there have been grave errors of foresight and execution. Likely extra will come to mild. However the actuality is that even probably the most meticulous planning couldn’t have prevented these wind-whipped infernos, as soon as alight, from doing the majority of their injury.
And whereas any deaths are tragic, the fast actions of first responders prevented a far better lack of life. Their work is the very best precedence throughout such a disaster.
Leif Wellington Haase, Kensington, Calif.
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To the editor: Trump’s assertion, “We’re watching fires nonetheless tragically burn from weeks in the past with out even a token of protection,” is unequivocally false.
The fires in and round Los Angeles have been fought by 1000’s of firefighters from a number of U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. The California Nationwide Guard, California Freeway Patrol, Los Angeles Police Division, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division, Caltrans and Cal Hearth are additionally responding.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in 2020, “Californians have among the finest coordinated hearth suppression efforts within the nation, with the State divided into ‘direct safety areas’ the place one company takes the lead in initially attacking fires, drawing on the assets of the others as crucial.”
The U.S. authorities owns 46% of all land in California and is liable for upkeep and hearth prevention on federal land. The Eaton hearth, Palisades hearth and Hughes hearth are burning on each native and federal land.
Trump possesses the authority to handle these ongoing disasters. As a substitute, he makes use of disasters to make specious criticisms of elected officers for his private political profit. He’s utilizing California hearth victims as political pawns. This should cease.
Victims of the Palisades, Eaton and Hughes fires are entitled to reality, empathy and monetary assist from the president and the federal authorities, not petty retribution.
Gail Reznik, Olympia, Wash.
