Paradise fire update
Diana Chapman (Wed, 21 Nov 2018 05:21:47 PST)

Dear Friends:

I have received e-mails asking about the progress of the efforts to help
the victims of the Paradise fire in California, so I though I would fill
people in with the little information I have.  This is a bit off topic
for the bulb forum, but so many have participated in the fund raising, I
think it is appropriate.

I have been so touched by the response of bulb enthusiasts.  Many people
sent extra money to donate to the fire victims, some as much as $100.  A
customer in England sent me an order and an additional $65 to donate. So
kind, to care about people so far away.  I have counted up about $2000
so far, but I have a stack of orders on my desk that haven't been
tallied, so it is more than that.  The charity I am sending the money to
will use the funds to help people get back on their feet, there are many
charities and businesses taking care of their immediate needs, but
housing is going to be a terrible problem, following on from the fires
in the Redding area in August.  Redding is about 80 miles distant from
Paradise and the Carr fire there destroyed over 1000 homes.

As far as blaming environmentalists for the fire.  First, we have had no
rain up until now.  By late November usually we have had several
significant storms.  Second, the area where the fire started I know
intimately, I go there to gather seeds of Erythronium multiscapoideum,
Pulga form. It is very steep rocky terrain, very sparsely vegetated, and
has power lines crossing the area.  Those same power lines have caused
fires in the past.  About ten years ago three or four pylons came down
in a wind storm in that area. PG&E, the utility company, has been sued
several times for fires started by poor maintenance.  It is a fact that
there was a downed power line at Pulga that started the fire, then
another incident that started another fire nearby.  The dryness and the
wind then caused the fire to spread rapidly.

Paradise was uniquely vulnerable.  It was an old community, with
neighborhoods that grew haphazardly, with narrow lanes in some areas
where two cars could hardly pass.  There was a very high proportion of
low income seniors, many who lived in trailer parks, some with
disabilities and many who would not have had transportation.

Rain is coming in today which hopefully will put an end to the fires. 
There won't be mudslides in the Paradise area, Paradise was mostly built
on a plateau.

Again, my heartfelt thanks to all who sent in orders and donated.

Diana

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