Missed Opportunity

I missed it. I was leaving for work. I saw what would have really captured the smoke and fire from the Santiago Canyon Fire and I didn't have a camera on me. I have lived in California for what will be 6 years next month. When I lived in Ventura County, we saw a lot of smoke and even flames once when fire came dangerously close. We make a conscious plan about what we would take if evacuated.

Smoke has made it difficult to sleep for the past couple nights but at the end of each day we know we are thankful. We are at least in our home. It hasn't been lost to fire. We are safe. We have more comforts than most people right now.

So far, since I've been in California, I've not seen the devastation to homes that these fires seem to be packing. It is horrible to see homes destroyed, lives ruined. I really don't worry about the people in Malibu who lost their vacation home, or their weekend retreat. I do worry about the average person who pays a mortgage on the only piece of shelter they have and now its gone.

I have driven PCH so many times that Malibu feels like a second home. I was saddened to see homes lost, churches destroyed. I feel very bad for the firefighters who are stuck without sleep forced out into the 90+ degree weather in full gear to drag people out of their homes when they should have left hours before. I don't think we should spend resources trying to save people who are ignorant and can't heed a warning to evacuate. I think when you buy a house, you need to sign on the dotted line that when asked to evacuate, if you choose to stay, then you take your own life in your own hands and if you burn to death....oh well. No one is going to put their life on the line to try and save you just because you are stubborn.....my own opinion.