Hard Lessons Learned From Recent Fires

* Much criticism has been laid on the Fire Service and the governor regarding the use of military aircraft for firefighting. I would like to share my views on the subject and its impact on the Laguna fire.

First, it is important to understand the purpose and the limitations of air tankers and helicopters. They are most effective as an initial attack resource. Their rapid response and large capacity of retardant or water allow for an aggressive attack on the fire while it is still small.

They can attack the fire in areas where firefighters cannot reach, such as up a steep slope or far away from firetruck access. Air tankers and helicopters are just one component in a coordinated attack on a wildfire.

The air tanker is not the panacea for fire control. They cannot fly safely at night, their drops become ineffective when winds exceed 30 m.p.h., and they cannot drop retardant on what they cannot see. Smoke will usually make it impossible for them to work on the downwind side of the fire, which in most cases is the most intensely burning area.

Orange County does not have any air tankers or fire helicopters. When the Laguna fire started, there were already numerous fires burning in Southern California. Most air resources were committed to these other fires. We did take the Sheriff’s Department helicopter, which was working on the Stagecoach fire, and diverted it to the Laguna fire.

Requests were placed for air tankers and were filled. What has not been reported is the great job these planes did saving many homes on Upper Park Drive and in the Alta-Laguna area.

Had they not been there, the fire would have surely taken a much greater toll.

Why weren’t they able to do more in the Skyline, Mystic Drive and Emerald Bay areas? They could neither see nor fly into these areas because of heavy, dense smoke. I saw tanker pilots risk their lives trying to get into the areas where firefighters were being overrun by the fire.

They did an outstanding job, and many people owe their homes to some unnamed pilots or firefighters who gave their best, and then some.

Many people have also asked why all the bureaucratic red tape prevented the military aircraft from early activation and use on the fire. Well, it is another of those answers no one wants to hear about. Private contractors have lobbied Congress for years to prevent military resources from doing things that they could be paid for.

As a result, federal regulations require that all local governmental and private resources be deployed before the activation of federal aircraft to fight fires. Yes, that means that air tankers from all over the western United States must be assigned and working before the federal and/or Air National Guard planes, which fall under the same regulations, can be deployed to assist us.

The blame does not belong with the governor, but with a system that long ago placed profit before safety.

LARRY J. HOLMS

Director of Fire Services

Orange County Fire Department

* Less than three weeks ago, we experienced a firestorm that destroyed hundreds of homes and devastated many people’s lives.

I am proud to be a citizen of a city where literally thousands of people have offered services, time and money to start the rebuilding process and to prepare for the rainy season. We have accomplished so much in just a few days, and I know that by working together we can accomplish even more.

I do have a concern about the discussions of a recall that have occurred over the last few weeks. We are blessed with a wonderful and orderly democratic process, and our next election will be in 12 months. To consider changes at this time would be divisive, costly and use energy that could be better spent rebuilding our community. This is a time to learn from the past so that we can better plan for the future.

This means getting involved, expressing ideas, and contributing our time and efforts in the regular election process. If everyone who is concerned about Laguna Beach will do this, we will have a better community because of their efforts. Please join me in the rebuilding effort.

WAYNE L. PETERSON

City councilman

Laguna Beach

* In your front-page article, “Laguna Residents Praise Rescuers, Curse Politicians” (Nov. 5), you make no mention of the fact that at all three reservoirs, the pumps that refill them failed early in the fire.

I called the Metropolitan Water District in Los Angeles, which supplies Laguna with water, and its public information office indicated that water was available to pump--all during the fire.

Before we throw out the three “liberal environmentalists” on the City Council, residents of Laguna Beach and Emerald Bay should demand that the Laguna Beach Water District install adequate pumps and emergency generators immediately.

The board of the water district should resign, not Mayor Lida Lenney, Ann Christoph and Robert F. Gentry, who, by the way, lost two homes in the fire. After all, the water district recently spent a cool million dollars on a downtown “palace” headquarters, but had no plan for adequate pumps at the reservoirs.

Sounds like a nice water district, doesn’t it?

ROGER CARTER

Laguna Beach

* Village Laguna, a nonprofit grass-roots organization in Laguna Beach, has been taking a lot of bashing in the press lately from pro-development groups that claim that its opposition to the proposed Top of the World reservoir is what caused Laguna’s recent fire devastation.

United Laguna and the Laguna Coalition have advocated the recall of City Council members whose environmental policies have been supported by Village Laguna. These well-financed groups are posturing as moderate populist organizations attacking the power elite.

Of course, the truth is exactly the reverse. Since our organization has come under such attack, we would like to clarify Village Laguna’s previous position regarding the proposed Top of the World reservoir. Village Laguna has always supported the construction of an additional water reservoir for Laguna Beach. The only question has been where it should be built.

The water district, a separate entity which has jurisdiction over the reservoir, prepared an environmental impact report identifying several sites. Village Laguna endorsed one of these; a site outside the Laguna Greenbelt.

We also supported a pipeline that would link the Ridge Reservoir in Laguna Canyon with the existing Alta Laguna Reservoir. Although the city approved this pipeline and encouraged the county water district to fast-track its connection to the existing reservoir, the water district failed to do so.

Regarding the proposed Top of the World reservoir, the water district began its Environmental Impact Report in the fall of 1991. The document was not certified until November, 1992, at which time the water district stated that the design phase would take up to nine months.

The proposed reservoir would not have been completed to fight Laguna’s firestorm. Indeed, Orange County Fire Capt. Dan Young indicated in the Los Angeles Times (Oct. 30) that a reservoir would have made little difference against the magnitude of the Laguna Beach firestorm. Village Laguna has always endorsed and will continue to support the construction of a water reservoir to adequately meet our city’s needs. Village Laguna asks that all political factions join hands to rebuild our beloved community.

JOHANNA FELDER

President

Village Laguna board of directors

* False accusations only encourage the spread of rumors. For the record, United Laguna has neither proposed a recall effort nor have we asked that the Village Laguna City Council majority step down.

What United Laguna is doing, however, is striving to make positive changes in our community. One of our biggest goals has always been to provide information, leadership and a voice for our citizens on local issues.

In fact, more people who have never been involved with anything in the past are joining United Laguna in order to support the movement for positive change within our community.

Thus, I would encourage those who have accused United Laguna of being “opportunistic” to get their facts straight. These specious comments only foster and encourage further ignorance and divisiveness within our community and are non-productive.

MICHELE L. OLIVER

Executive director, United Laguna

* If the mayor of San Clemente thinks that the sprinklers mounted inside the house are going to save our homes from a firestorm, then I’m really nervous.

There is nothing between my housing tract and the Ortega burn except seven miles of grass and brush. The Laguna fire moved seven miles in 30 minutes.

I beg you, Mayor Candace Haggard, to order a controlled burn before the winds pick up.

JAMES E. MACDONALD

San Clemente

* The recent fires of California have been devastating, and the toll on human life, security and peace cannot be overestimated. As I read the Sunday Times’ Letters to the Editor (Nov. 7), I was saddened to notice that most of the comments pertained to what should have been done differently and by whom.

What I learned from the loss of my own home by fire just four years ago is that fires can often bring a new cleansing from deep inside the human psyche. What we hold onto also hold us prisoner. When we are free, despite the grief from our loss, we can experience our wings again and move in new directions.

The new directions I’m impressed with is The Times offering free space for those of us who desired to help. Even more impressive was the outpouring of generosity and caring by many who never identified themselves publicly by name, only a phone number amid a list of what they could do to help. From shovels and a strong back for digging to professionals gifting their expertise--over 20 columns of outreach messages got through to fire victims.

In times when the worst in life gets the most press, it is inspiring to discover large pockets of humanity who have not forgotten the message that brotherhood is alive and well. BOBBI NESHEIM

Fullerton

* Among the numerous, amazing stories the Los Angeles Times printed Nov. 7, several were of particular interest. However, the most astonishing piece I read was in reference to T. Jefferson Parker’s personal account of his activities during this frightening time. A.M. Wilson (Letters) wanted to know if he/she read “Optimism and Dread in a Grand Canyon” (Oct. 31), correctly.

I would like to respond with an emphatic “definitely not.”

I feel Mr. Parker was misjudged in a rather harsh fashion. Wilson obviously knows nothing about him, and yet calls him “insensitive and egoistic.” The exact opposite is the truer picture. An author who writes with the sensitivity that Parker does can only do so because he is not “insensitive.”

Wilson also seems to have missed the humor displayed throughout Parker’s article as well as the love and support he offered and received from neighbors who shared his worries. He is to be commended--not criticized.

It was levity that helped them deal with the situation emotionally. How could A.M. Wilson have missed the paragraphs in which Parker wrote so highly about the firefighters and their bravery and skills? How about the way he told of his personal concerns? It is not easy to reveal oneself in many circumstances, yet he did so under the most trying of times.

PEGGY DARNELL

Corona del Mar