Sharon Barovsky, according to Assistant Fire Chief Reginald Lee, may be wrong about a few minutes of fire response time, but she sure is right about her remarks pertaining to Fire Department policy. Having lived here through 52 years of fires in Malibu, I think it’s time to change a few rules of engagement. Lee said, “The best way to fight a fire is not getting ahead of it but reacting to the incident.” That may work in urban areas of the county but, in Malibu, you have to be more creative than that. The wind was blowing toward the ocean. Most of the fires I have been involved in have come at us toward our home on the ocean.
Remember the Paradise Cove fire that destroyed quite a few mobile homes? It came down off the bluffs and into the park. Save the structures should be the policy. In all respect, I have no criticism of the fire fighters. They were wonderful in containment once they got there. But the department cannot be so sensitive as to turn your back on suggestions and should not take every word as criticism. You’re always defending your policies and not looking to make changes where needed. I know you are the professionals but you do need to review policies, especially in the Malibu area.
Jackie Sutton.