to come to rescue
Malibu is ranked as one of the most fire-prone areas in the country. To the person in Las Flores who made and circulated a flyer claiming that because the Los Angles County Fire Department and State Department of Corrections were considering housing an inmate Fire Crew at the top of Rambla Pacifico that “this would cause our property values to be reduced, an unsafe environment would be created, and that fire response and emergency evacuation abilities inhibited,” I must say: Get a grip, stop fear mongering, and look at the reality of the situation.
What is the property value of a burned out house? What are the psychological repercussions of losing everything? Sad to say, there are many people in Malibu who can discuss this.
I volunteer at a correction facility in Ventura and I spoke with a young woman on a Fire Crew. She told me she trains five days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. She had a medical examination to prove that she was physically able to do the work. All members of the Fire Crew train on a five-story building, with steps on the outside, are timed and must be able to run up and down the stairs in one minute and 30 seconds. They also must be able to carry a 120-pound dummy up and down the steps. They have been trained and certified in CPR and First Aid. They have 64 hours of fire fighting class. They have been trained in brush clearance and creating fire breaks.
All members of a Fire Crew are being rehabilitated for non-violent offenses. They are professionals who receive a salary and get credit for community service. Their training includes many projects for the community. I was told: “To do work on a Fire Crew you have to have heart, and take pride in your work.” I might add “courage” into the equation.
Having a Fire Crew in the neighborhood can only be an asset because of their training and because the response is almost immediate. I hope dissenting Malibu residents who became hysterical over the prospect of a Fire Crew being housed in their neighborhood, never, ever, have a wildfire that they might think they can face with a garden hose. Or wonder about a missed opportunity!
Valerie Sklarevsky