Fire in Puako!

[mella l]

During my entrapment in San Diego earlier this week it was interesting to compare newspaper and television coverage with radio coverage. No mention of arson in the newspapers or on television from Sunday thru Tuesday, however the radio mentioned arson on Monday. I think this was an attempt to avoid feeding the egos of arsonists, also to not spur copy cat type arsonists on. By Wednesday afternoon when the fire suppression was in full force and the weather was cooperating, we escaped north. The television started identifying specific fires as arson as did the newspapers, on Wednesday. These fires began on Sunday afternoon, by Sunday evening the town of Ramona was evacuated, and subsequently most of it burned.

By Wednesday looters were loading up the belongings of evacuated peoples homes.

It is interesting to note that an arsonist was shot and killed when caught setting a fire and speeding away from the site then failing to halt for a sheriff.

Somehow thru this trauma of magnitude, I have developed the opinion that arsonists and looters could be shot and it wouldn't bother my conscience at all. I hate having that opinion, but that is the one I now am dealing with.

Nature is nature and lava is lava, understanding that we bought property on a live volcano, but human evil is beyond my understanding.

I hope your family is safe Joey, and that the trauma of fire will lift soon.

mella l