Mapleton PRESS, Thursday, November 1, 2007Last Wednesday, conservative talk radio host Glenn Beck, told his listeners on his nationally syndicated show Monday that those suffering losses in the California wildfires "hate America."
"I think there is a handful of people who hate America," Beck said sarcastically, "Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today."
I wanted to pull my hair out. Cancel that, I wanted to punch Glenn Beck’s lights out. I understand that his intended target were the supposed “Media elite” (of which he himself is one) that right-wing propagandists like Beck are always afraid are going to steer our country more toward compassionate and less toward conservative.
For readers who don’t know, my wife and I taught for seven years at Los Angeles Lutheran Jr/Sr High School, a small school, in the Northern San Fernando Valley. We attended church in the Santa Clarita Valley, between the Buckweed and Stevensen Ranch/Magic Fires. Needless to say, I wrote and asked all of my friends what it was like. I’d like to share some of their stories with you.
Maureen Clemon is a graphic designer who’s safe from fires because she lives near the ocean in Long Beach. “Moe” is originally from the Soldier area.
“I'm okay, I hope all your other friends here in Cali are ok too. It is a little crazy here right now, as you can imagine. It is just starting to clear up today, but it is still hot and hazy from the fires. All the smoke has been in the air and its making people sick, my nose has been bleeding and it is really unhealthy to be outside. the sun is crazy it is neon orange and since there is so much smoke you can actually look straight at the sun without hurting your eyes. We are sad because our camping spot up in lake arrowhead and some of our favorite places to go have burned to the ground. Most of the high schools are cancelling football games and other sports because the air is so bad here. also we are still experiencing frequent and small earthquakes every couple of days. I'm just waiting for a tsunami to hit, seriously. Well, one did hit about two weeks ago-did you hear about that? it was a small tidal wave, it hit somewhere south of long beach I think. That is scary. I don't have to worry about wildfires since I live right by the beach, but i do have to worry about earthquakes and tidal waves. Ah such is life in California.”
I don’t miss earthquakes. We lost our apartment in the 1994 Northridge quake, so I know what it’s like to be an evacuee. I don’t know about Katrina a couple of years ago, but FEMA did fine by us 13 years ago.
Michael is a legal assistant who also helps with his uncle’s documentary film company. Michael’s also relatively safe by the sea in Santa Monica, but you can see that almost everyone’s family is touched by this in some way.
“My brother on the other hand lives in Castaic not far from Magic Mountain. He had to remove somethings from his house and take them to his father-in-laws, but the fire has moved and gotten closer to where his father-in-law lives so he has to do it again. Also my sister now lives in Valencia, I don't think that the fire will make it to where she is, but her Fiancé is a firefighter so I worry for him.”
We have friends our age with small kids who live near Lutheran High. Their kids already suffer from allergies. They couldn’t play outside at all. “We've stayed inside because there is so much stuff in the air,” they told me, “and kept the humidifier and air purifier on in the house.”
Christina, a cheerleading coach and cosmetologist lives near the school too, “It hit ‘close to home’ today when my co-worker went around reporting that Eternal Valley cemetery was on fire this morning. My grandpa is buried there, so when she blurted that out this morning, I got emotional. I had to remind myself that if it was true, it was ok because I know he's not really there, he's in Heaven. Well, turns out it was false, the fire was close behind it, but it was not on fire.” Christina described what it looks and feels like,
“The sky is dark, and the sun is very orange. We weren't allowed to practice outside today because the air is not good. All we can do is pray because although it seems like everything is working against the situation (number of fires, the winds), we know that with God ALL things are possible.”
This was more than a few rich stars in Malibu. Malibu, by the way is more than rich stars, there are a lot of ranchers and farmers who’s lifestyle might seem very familiar in the dry, hilly region.
Consider the fires by the numbers
There were 17 fires from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border. More than 300,000 people were evacuated, nearly 10,000 of them fled to San Diego’s Qualcom Stadium. More than 1,300 homes, businesses and buildings were lost. Costs in San Diego County alone are over $1 Billion, but the fires burned in at least 7 different counties which have been declared disaster areas.
About 6,000 firefighters battle flames in hot Santa Ana winds with gusts up to between 70 and 100 mph!
300,000 acres burned, that’s at least 400 square miles, an area bigger that New York City. At least three of the fires are now suspected to have been caused by arson.
And yet, miraculously, only one person is dead due to the fires.
This was not decadent, anti-Americans being punished by God. But it was Hell on Earth.
There are ways you can help. I’m sure that you can inquire at your local church or fire department, but in case you’re interested, here are a few charities who can certainly use your help:
"Struggling Californians who are having trouble getting the medicines they need may find expedited help through Partnership for Prescription Assistance's disaster relief program by calling the PPA's toll-free number, 1-888-4-PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669), or user-friendly Web site, available at http://www.pparx.org.
Red Cross
http://american.redcross.org
1-800-797-8022
Salvation Army
www.salvationarmy-socal.org
1-800-SAL-ARMY
The Fire Family Foundation is a non-profit corporation established in Los Angeles for the purpose of supporting firefighters, their families, and departments. Tax deductible contributions may be sent to Fire Family Foundation, c/o Los Angeles Firemen's Credit Union, 815 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90041. Contributors may also call 800-231-1626 ext. 2272 for more information, or visit www.firefamilyfoundation.org.
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