Editorial: Fires Are Terrible, Arson Is Worse (SoCal Wildfires)

Orange County Register ^ | Monday, October 22, 2007 | An Orange County Register editorial

[DogByte6RER]

Editorial: Fires are terrible, arson is worse

Amid so much tragedy and destruction, some of it appears deliberate

An Orange County Register editorial

We had hoped beyond hope that, somehow, in this season when all the conditions, including a devastating lack of rain, were ripe for the kind of wildfires that are a regular feature of life in what we like to think of otherwise as near-paradise, we miraculously would be spared.

But it was not to be.

Our dismay is doubled, however, by the circumstances that authorities believe caused the fire that has burned at least 8.800 acres in Orange County. Almost all the other fires in the region have been tentatively attributed to natural causes, mostly power lines knocked over by the powerful Santa Ana "devil winds." (We know some people might call power lines unnatural.) But the fire that began near Santiago Canyon on the northern edge of Irvine is suspected arson.

In more leisurely times one can engage in philosophical or theological discussions about the nature of evil, or even whether evil as such exists. But if anything is evil, purposely setting a fire in Southern California in October in a drought year certainly qualifies. It is difficult to overstate the disgust one feels at a person who would commit such a malevolent act, or to contemplate the punishment that seems appropriate for a Southern California arsonist.

That said, especially compared with other communities in Southern California, Orange County has been almost fortunate. The prevailing winds have mostly blown the inferno away from homes rather than toward them. Considering the weather forecasts, however, nobody in the area can afford to be complacent.

[DogByte6RER]

...

[fweingart]

But the fire that began near Santiago Canyon on the northern edge of Irvine is suspected arson.

Either an environmentalist or a global warming nut, no doubt, anxious to prove Gore is right.

[Badeye]

I’d like to know the ‘carbon footprint’ of these annual events in California, fire by fire.

Then I’d like to know where all the envirowacko’s are, you know, those that worship trees?

Finally, after this is over, and the celebrities that lost their homes begin to rebuild, I’d like to know the enviromental impact of that.

[CaptainK]

Sounds like a copy of what recently happened in Greece.

[arderkrag]

I read a story on this yesterday. I’m interested to see what turns up on it.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

http://www.knbc.com/news/14401132/detail.html?dl=mainclick

State Authorities, FBI Search Home In Arson Investigation
Nearly 1 Million Displaced In State’s Biggest Ever Evacuation

POSTED: 4:58 am PDT October 23, 2007
UPDATED: 12:40 pm PDT October 24, 2007

LOS ANGELES — California authorities and FBI agents searched a home Wednesday as part of an arson investigation into one of the wildfires devastating Southern California, a law enforcement official said.

The search was conducted in Orange County by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, the official said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing, would not say what was taken.

[Don Corleone]

Either an environmentalist or a global warming nut, no doubt, anxious to prove Gore is right.

Or a deliberate Terrorist Act causing an untold amount of destruction and financial pain.

[TNCMAXQ]

Yeah, Mr Bush should stop setting those fires!

[dblshot]

We need to understand what we have done to drive these arsonists to strike out at us. Perhaps we have been insensitive or greedy. If Bush and Cheney had not invaded Iraq perhaps these arsonists would not be compelled to defend their land by burning ours. Perhaps the raping of mother earth by drilling oil wells in California caused these earth children to revolt. Or perhaps they are just A**holes.

[dblshot]

“Yeah, Mr Bush should stop setting those fires!”

Bush fires, no doubt.

[Sherman Logan]

I’d like to know the ‘carbon footprint’ of these annual events in California, fire by fire.

Zero, in the long term perspective. The carbon in this vegetation recently came out of the air and is now returned to it.

Only burning of fossil fuels, carbon that has been stored below ground for millions of years, results in a long-term increase in CO2 levels.

[Sherman Logan]

Either an environmentalist or a global warming nut, no doubt, anxious to prove Gore is right.

Or a terrorist, of Islamist or other variety.

Or a firebug. Some guys have a sexual relationship with fire.

Or a secret government plan to cause problems for southern CA, for some unknown reason. Maybe to punish them for voting Democratic.

[vrwc1]

Almost all the other fires in the region have been tentatively attributed to natural causes, mostly power lines knocked over by the powerful Santa Ana "devil winds."

My brother-in-law was driving a water truck yesterday in Valley Center with two police officer friends of his. As they were driving around they saw a guy starting fires on the side of the road. They gave chase, but unfortunately the bad guy got away.

When it's hot, dry and windy here in SoCal, the fire bugs always come out. I'm not sure why the OC Register is downplaying this, but I wouldn't be surprised if most of the fires around here were started due to arson.

[Red Boots]

When it's hot, dry and windy here in SoCal, the fire bugs always come out. I'm not sure why the OC Register is downplaying this, but I wouldn't be surprised if most of the fires around here were started due to arson.

I was watching TV a few weeks ago and caught a story about an arsonist that plagued the LA area. After they caught they guy, the amount of yearly wildfires fell to one per year, whereas the years previously had averaged 30 fires per year ! This guy was setting a fire or two each month; then writing stories about them. He'd take before and after pictures, interview homeowners, etc. And they didn't catch on to him for several years. It was unbelievable.

[vrwc1]

Wow...amazingly sad.

[fweingart]

Whether it's a deviate firebug or a muslim terrorist, the death penalty should be swift and painful.

Of course in the Politically Correct Peoples Republic there is no chance of that happening.

A stretch in the pristine slammer for the perp with television, pornography, Playboy Magazine and, of course, The LA Times.

[Badeye]

Lot of cars and trucks, not to mention oil heating, propane burnt up the past few days.

Asphalt as well, come to think of it.

So I think there has to be some ‘carbon footprint’ type measurements.