California Wildfires: Insights from a Resident Affected by the Blaze

Natural disasters affect many people each year worldwide. Because of conditions that people cannot help, some natural disasters often become uncontrollable. Across much of North America, there has been a drought and with high winds and a dry environment, wildfires are often sparked. In California, wildfires are burning out-of-control and forcing thousands of families to leave their homes and jobs.

It seems that the affected spans from San Diego to Los Angeles, which covers quite a large area and affects many people. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, has issued a state of emergency in many counties that are affected by these wildfires. President Bush has also claimed a major disaster in the area. Not only are forests affected by the fires, homes, churches and other public places are now considered to be threatened.

Some individuals are under the impression that firefighters are fully capable of fighting these blazing wildfires. However, with fires this large and intense, that simply is not the case. Because of the high wind gusts, helicopters are not able to dump water from they sky above. Fire engines can not get close enough to the fires for the water hoses to reach the flames either. There have already been several firefighters injured as their fire engines were swallowed by the massive flames.

I have spoken with Ted Misselhammer, a friend of mine who lives near the area, and he is truly concerned for the entire area. He says that thousands of families have been relocated and that there will be thousands more evacuated soon because of the disaster. Because of the evacuations, many Californians have had to move in with family members and friends. People have also been given the option of being moved to public shelters that have been set up for affected families.