Use Military Resources in Civil Emergencies

Re “Reports Appraise Response to Fire,” Dec. 4: As is so often the case in California, more of the problem in fighting the San Diego wildfires stemmed from bad planning rather than lack of resources. Because of the military bases there, San Diego has more fully trained, taxpayer-funded firefighting assets than any other community in California. Yet political turf wars block their use. Every Marine and sailor is trained in emergency response and firefighting. Hundreds of helicopters, earthmovers and other necessary equipment are available for the asking, right in the neighborhood, yet sit silent and unattended until each emergency situation is out of control.

For the service, civil emergencies provide useful training opportunities; for the city and county, the assets already present in the community mean that locals need not make further capital investment in equipment. All that is necessary is a sensible agreement that mobilizes everyone, right away. If they fail to do this now, the next earthquake or flood will result in the same sad tale of woe, and I, for one, will be unsympathetic.

Lisalee Anne Wells

Long Beach