I just read an article in The New York Times about the toxic cleanup that has to take place before allowing the Paradise residents back to their properties. And I thought about the helpless fury I felt at not being allowed back to Monte Nido for a week after our fire.
I appreciate the expertise that is called on to make our houses, burned and intact, safe for return. However, I think a much more efficient and respectful use of people would be to use these experts to train homeowners in safety techniques for use at their own properties. Teach us to fight spot fires after the wind has died down. Teach us how to use masks and coveralls, and to recognize and dispose of toxic materials. Involve the community in mitigating the risks. The attitude that homeowners are idiots who need to be locked out for their own safety is demeaning and infuriating.
Monica Minden