Scorched Earth. . .

(Scorched Earth. . .)

Today, the term has several meanings. Most obvious would be the devastating wildfires that have burned much of the Los Angeles area. Also, on his way out of Office President Biden is conducting his own version of "scorched earth."

Smokie the Bear has the public service announcement that "only you can prevent forest fires." However, what happens to a blaze already in progress ? There are several fires in progress, with little to no containment. The situation has been exacerbated, however by a unique wind pattern, Santa Ana blowing at 100 miles per hour in places. That was further compromised when fire crews found their hydrant system lacked pressure, so the win driven flames had no water with which to contend.

All told, it was a worse case scenario and the most expensive wildfire in California's history. The toll currently stands at %50 billion. But beyond the monetary loss, thousands of homes have burned. leaving families with nothing. Images from the Palisades shows the whole neighborhood has been lost. How many schools have been destroyed ? How many lives ?

Questions being asked as how these fires lit off and why mitigation was not more effective. There have always been mechanisms in place to lessen damage but Sacramento has been loathe to implement any of those policies. A good land management where brush is cleared and controlled burns. Then there is the issue of water.

California has had a lot of rain in recent years. It had its full reservoirs. It has all the snow melt from the Sierra. It gets water from Canada. So, why in this moment of crisis, is there generally no water ? The truth here is absurd. Much of that water flows into the Pacific in order to protect the Delta Smelt, a fish about the size of a minnow but because it is considered endangered, certain allowances have been made. California's Central Valley water is also competing with that fish

As these fires rage. a certain self-inflicted wound needs to be examined. If brush clearings and controlled burns are so anathema to people in charge so, as bad as this blaze might have been, things could be worse. Next time they will be.