On Being High--and Dry--in O.C.
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Coming on the heels of a five-year drought, I expected to see a picture and story on the fire danger in the local hills long before your story and cover photo of May 16 (“Red Alert: Fire Season Could Be Worst in Decade”).
Every year we hear the same dreadful threats of an impending fire disaster. If we have a lot of rain we hear: “Oh! We are going to have the worst fire season in a decade!” If we have little or no rain, we again hear: “Oh!, we are going to have the worst fire season in a decade!”
Seems I read a story a long time ago about a young boy who yelled “wolf” one too many times for the local villagers to take him seriously in time of real need.
As long as local politicians continue to approve developers’ plans for new housing located in and near the chaparral-covered hills, fire disasters will continue to be a part of the Southern California lifestyle. The yearly harping by Orange County fire officials and U.S. Forest Service employees will do nothing to preclude future disasters. Give it a rest.
JEFF PANTHER, Cypress
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