Why do people feel that they HAVE to start wild fires?
By Loverbear
@Loverbear (4918)
United States
August 14, 2009 2:09am CST
I live in California, and it seems like we are the home of arsonists! We can't make it through a year without some idiot starting a wild fire. There is one burning now, about 75 miles away from my home, but I am currently getting full benefit of the smoke and particulates. These wouldn't be so bad except that I have asthma caused by second hand smoke (I took care of my Mom for the last 17 years of her life and she smoked like a dozen chimneys!) and I can't go outside for more than a few minutes because of the intensity of the smoke.
Why do people feel that they have to start wild fires? Sure there is a LOT of excitement from the sirens and fire engines...but the destruction is even worse! The La Brea fire has charred over 50,000 acres! And it's only 10% contained. They have to air lift the fire fighters into the area to fight the fire because of the terrain. It is now heading for homes and there have been evacuations. Beautiful hundred year old trees are now ashes, animals are displaced or destroyed, other growth is gone, the erosion will be disastrous if we have heavy rains this winter, the mud slides will destroy even more! The costs for our beleaguered budget are enormous as the fire has been going on for days and days...and there are at least 1500 fire fighters plus air support (I counted at least three tankers that take off and land at our local airport plus spotter planes)and the earth movers that are cutting fire breaks. The costs will amount to millions for a fire that was started by some idiots that wanted to watch natural beauty go up in smoke and have a good laugh while they watched the red lights as listen to the sirens.
Why in the world do these idiots feel the need to destroy our natural areas by fire? Why do they have to light the fires and endanger lives of not only the wild creatures but the lives of the humans who fight the fires, live around the fire area and even those people who live away from the actual fires? I am sitting in my living room and my eyes are burning from the smoke and my breathing is difficult from the particulate matter int he air. It is such a waste to strike that match and watch the show.... I hope they catch the morons!
2 people like this
8 responses
@virusxtreme24 (805)
•
14 Aug 09
Hi loverbear, I can relate to the way you feel. I live in Southern California myself and have experienced the fires, it's really heartbreaking to see many trees and homes burnt down.. all because of one single person. They should be caught and locked up in jail forever. Because of their stupidity, thousands of lives are at risk and taxpayers' money is put to waste. I couldn't even stand to go outside during the Brea/Chino Hills fire because the air quality was so bad.
2 people like this
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
14 Aug 09
I live out in the country in Paso Robles (near Lake Nacimento) and with all the dry grass and the idiots that are running loose I worry all summer about the possibility of a fire in my area.
I chose to live out here because of the wonderful air quality and the beauty of the wild life and the flora. I have watched reports on the fires through the years and I get so sick at all of the destruction of lives and nature for the sake of thrills. I honestly don't think that the punishment is severe enough for the people that start the fires! I would force each and every pyromaniac to fight each and every fire for the next 60 years. I would make them be the ones to collect the fatalities that were caused by someone's desire for excitement. Making them sit in prison and pay the cost of the fires just isn't enough!
How far from the fire are you? I got a report from a neighbor who has a vacation home across the street from me that the traffic on the Gaviota (I am pretty sure I spelled that one wrong!) pass have a vision of maybe 300 feet and they are bearly crawling through the smoke from the fire. He lives in Santa Maria and it is like a continuous snow fall there. Even here in Paso Robles we have had ash fall out! I just found out that there is also a fire 10 miles north of Santa Cruz which has smoke drifting down this way...
and there is a fire in Burney which is in Shasta county. Humm, wonder if they are trying to burn down California a bit at a time?
and there is a fire in Burney which is in Shasta county. Humm, wonder if they are trying to burn down California a bit at a time?@virusxtreme24 (805)
•
14 Aug 09
I live around 20-30 miles away from most of the fires whenever they occur. I also agree with you that we should make them fight the next couple of fires. We should put them in jail and make them fight the fires when there are new ones set by more arsonists.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
14 Aug 09
When I hear about these fires in California I get sick in my stomach. I just think the people who set them are mental cases. They are sick people who need help but once they start their destruction its to late and they end up in jail. Then you have people who set them accidently. I can't believe people could be so careless. Like you said California can't go a year with out fires. Its really horrible situation to deal with each and every year. Fire is the one thing I more afraid of than anything else. I feel for you having asthma. I don't have asthma but I'm allergic to the smoke myself so I can't imagine someone with asthma having to deal with this every year not to mention the people losing their homes. Maybe stricter laws need to be implemented.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Aug 09
I just heard about this last night...seems there are several fires going on in the Southern Calif area and of course it doesn't help that there hasn't been much rain there. Whenever I hear about these fires my first thought is always for the poor animals---don't tell me how pissed I get when I hear when people evacuate their homes that they leave their pets behind. I have no idea why people "get off" on starting fires...they must be real sickos to start such devastation--maybe one day karma will kick them in the butt...and it will be their home endangered by fire
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
15 Aug 09
I am the kind of person that the first thing in the car for evacuation is the animals...all 8 of them. I accepted the responsibility for them and there is NO WAY that I could leave them behind!! Not only that, but I earned their trust that I wouldn't allow anything awful to happen to them...I couldn't live with myself if I did something to destroy that trust.
I swear that someone is trying to burn down California a little at a time!!! There was another fire in Carpenteria just about 30 miles from the La Brea fire. Shoot, between Shasta County, Santa Cruiz, Santa Maria and Carpenteria there is NO air quality left. Another advisory for air quality, which means that I am to stay inside and do little physical stuff because the smoke smell is even creeping into the house.
My BF and I were discussing the fire bugs. He was mentioning the percentage of firemen that set fires to create something for them to do. He has had to arrest several of the firemen from the area he worked in. He did admit there are a LOT of sicko's that are fire bugs that just love to watch the flames, destruction, and the arrival of the fire engines.
I too hope that their karma will kick them in the a$$ soon! The billions of dollars lost in previous fires... Personally I would prefer that the people who lost everything get a chance at the sicko's- I don't think the arsonists would last long.
@animegirl334 (3263)
• United States
14 Aug 09
I don't think people start wild fires on purpose but they really should be more careful. A ciragette butt or a match, anything can start a fire. I've heard about the wild fire on the news. I hope they take care of it soon
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
14 Aug 09
Unfortunately in California we have quite a few in prison for starting fires on purpose. One fire was started by a fire fighter because he wanted to put it out by himself and be a hero. It didn't quite work out that way. It is a sickness that these people have for one reason or another.
The Brea fire is only 10% contained and it is one that is going to be extremely difficult to contain because of several factors. One is that it is in a rugged area that is very hard for fire fighters to reach on foot. They have to be flown in to the spots that they are to fight in. Also it is in a high wind area because of the proximity to the ocean and warm areas. Plus fires create their own wind which will make it even worse to fight. We also are experiencing a drought so that contributes to the problems. I pray that the fire will be contained soon...
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Aug 09
i am another Southern Californian and last fall we had fires so bad inour Area we had to close the windows and live with the
air conditioner on for almost a week. deer came down into
tustin from the hills to get away from the fire.it blackened
'the sky and you could hardly breathe the air was so full
of ashes.these arsonists must be mentally sick people to
do such horrible things and cause so much damage and even
lives.
@laceycyoung (330)
• United States
14 Aug 09
I saw this last year on the new's where alot of people are responsible for starting the fire's. In fact one man was arrested last year for starting one big one out there in California. its shocking that people will do such thing's mostly for kick's.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
14 Aug 09
me too - here in Texas we get the benefit of the fires they light in Mexico and Central America some years and its terrible! One year my former roommate broke out in sores and hives from the smoke from the fires in Mexico - these were intentionally lit fires to clear ground - but got out of control - kicker is that the following season they had massive floods because there was no ground cover to keep the rain from washing the soil away!
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
14 Aug 09
Some wild fire are accidental. Some people doesn't aware the effect of a puny ciggerate butt or such. Some are cause by the area itself. Still, some are cause by people who have some issue (mentally or not~~~) I heard from a show, arsonists are people who want to show they have power in a violence way.
I hope the fire will be extinguish soon before it become worse.
