MY THOUGHTS ON THE CARR FIRE NEAR REDDING

The fire near Redding, California is making national news: Governor Brown has declared it to be in a state of emergency and President Trump is invoking rules to provide for Federal assistance.  This fire started last Monday in the mountains due to a flat tire on a motor vehicle causing sparks.  That night, the fire stood at 65 acres.  Tuesday night, it had grown to 265 acres... and then things blew up.  Wednesday, it was almost 3,000 acres; Thursday, over 28,000 acres; Friday over 43,000 acres; Saturday it hit 83,000 acres and Sunday morning it was 89,000 acres. 

In the process, it burned into the northwest section of Redding, destroying businesses and houses, and started to take lives. 

Unfortunately, a lot of bad things have been happening: some jerks are driving around with their cameras, trying to get a fire shot; some have taken to looting; and some are refusing to leave areas that are under evacuation, meaning that fire personnel now have to worry about them instead of fighting the fire.  Some techie sportsmen are even flying drones over the fires, creating potential dangers for helicopters and tankers.  

Most people mean well, but simply have no clue.  They want to donate food, water, clothing and other items to evacuation centers and to firefighters.  Firefighters are ell-equipped and adept at setting up their own food centers and the logistics involved in that.  But, picture this: I'll pick up two cases of bottled water and take them to the evacuation center down the road; that sounds like a good idea, right?  In a city of 95,000 residents with another 35,000 or so within reasonable driving distance, if just 1% follow through with two cases each, that's 2,600 cases of water that are going to show up.  

The center has to store that water someplace where others might want to sleep.  It has to provide someone to haul the water in.  If the evacuation center has to move, it now has to contend with moving 2,600 cases of water along with cots, food and people.  Add to that... baby diapers, blankets, clothing, cases of hot dogs, chips, dips... it becomes a nightmare.  

The best thing to do if you want to help, is donate to a local veterans group, a civic club, a church, the Red Cross or the Salvation Army; all of these organizations can use the funds to help their own members who may have been burned out, or they can funnel the funds to evacuation centers which can then order in what they actually need and as supplies run low.  

These fires can move suddenly and erratically.  If you get told to get out... get out.  If you're within ten miles of an evacuation area, you should already be packed and ready to go... and you should have a destination and route planned.  

Be safe, be smart. 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.