After the fires: heat and light

Re “San Diego set no enviable standard,” Oct. 26

Steve Lopez takes the opportunity of loss of life and property to politicize with his poison-pen tactics. I have spent 50 years of my life in San Diego (city and county) and have experienced firsthand the truth of people coming together and assisting those in need and not counting the cost, beginning with World War II and on through the many wildfires and floods we have endured. San Diego is a true community that does not judge by color, background, political persuasion or socioeconomic status.

Lopez needs to find out what really happens. In doing so, he might have a change of mind and heart, perhaps dry up his poison pen and actually learn something from those who have lived through the many realities such as the one they have just experienced.

Anna Mary Meyer

Encino

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Lopez’s observations held validity as far as they went. Since coming to live in San Diego, I’ve experienced three major county fires. What Lopez fails to mention is that local leaders have learned from experience and done their best not to repeat their failures. If another Hurricane Katrina-like disaster is to be avoided, all organizations have to set aside their special interests and communicate as one, as did San Diego County support agencies. They had practiced together in anticipation of the fire. Reverse-911 calls worked, minimizing the death toll. Disaster personnel knew immediately where they were to report and what had to be done.

San Diego County will do even better the next fire.

Michele M. Yepiz

Lemon Grove, Calif.

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Re “Shortages added fuel to O.C. fire,” Oct. 28

With firefighters spread thin, fires of this magnitude are almost impossible to fight even in a perfect world. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. A perfect world would not have arsonists, and tax dollars would be spent where they are earned. Orange County is the sixth wealthiest in this state, yet our tax dollars support many other counties while we suffer by not getting our fair share. There would be fewer shortages for Orange County if Sacramento would quit giving our tax dollars to other counties.

Tom Davidson

Orange

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So many of the articles and letters about the fires blame politicians for their unwillingness or inability to do something more, something different, or to have been better prepared. We seem to forget that we are a government by the people. We have no one to blame but ourselves if the politicians aren’t doing their jobs or are doing the wrong thing. We need to think about our desire for lower taxes, which make it impossible to fund the necessary firefighting resources, or our desire to live in pristine woodlands without too much concern for keeping the brush trimmed around our homes, or our desire for limited access roads that make it difficult or impossible for emergency vehicles to get to the fire -- and the list goes on.

As the great philosopher Pogo was wont to say, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Remember that the next time you vote -- you do vote, don’t you?

Bill Ellis

Ladera Ranch

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With all those shortages of equipment and firefighters in Orange County, it’s clear that President Bush doesn’t care about white people.

Joel Engel

Westlake Village