• Welcome, Guest! We hope you enjoy the excellent technical knowledge, event information and discussions that the BMW MOA forum provides. Some forum content will be hidden from you if you remain logged out. If you want to view all content, please click the 'Log in' button above and enter your BMW MOA username and password.

    If you are not an MOA member, why not take the time to join the club, so you can enjoy posting on the forum, the BMW Owners News magazine, and all of the discounts and benefits the BMW MOA offers?

Damn….California is really on fire-

I just saw someone from a news crew pick up a downed power line- rather risky.
I hope there is messaging to alert the unfortunate residents about possible hazards in the building remains. This event has emphasized that quite a number of the destroyed homes were older than I would have guessed.
Back in the day, Asbestos was a major building ingredient from 9”X9” floor tiles to the adhesive that held the tiles in place- basically most of the mastic/adhesive's to wallboard tape and compound to window glazing.
Hopefully everyone is being safe as they sift through the remains.
OM
 
Don't bet on that... When so many people, in the best of conditions, don't know how to Properly cross the street, and a TV spot just about advertises "hey, let's play with this cable", what else can we expect?
Recently on the news, a water-dropping aircraft was hit and holed by some fool flying a drone (not just stupid, but Illegal). The aircraft is now Grounded until it can be repaired.
Now they can't turn OFF the "emergency alerts" to cellphones and Everybody is getting them! :scratch
Just a few years ago, many firefighters were fired... because they refused to get Covid shots. 😖
 
pauls1150 said:
Don't bet on that... When so many people, in the best of conditions, don't know how to Properly cross the street, and a TV spot just about advertises "hey, let's play with this cable", what else can we expect?
Recently on the news, a water-dropping aircraft was hit and holed by some fool flying a drone (not just stupid, but Illegal). The aircraft is now Grounded until it can be repaired.
Now they can't turn OFF the "emergency alerts" to cellphones and Everybody is getting them! :scratch
Just a few years ago, many firefighters were fired... because they refused to get Covid shots. 😖
Click to expand...
:dunno


OM
 
PGlaves said:
Another very good perspective:

www.usatoday.com

The wildfires in LA won't be the last. We have to change how we fight fires. | Opinion

When you have 60 mph winds or greater, there is no fire chief, water supply or budget that is going to put out fires like those in southern California
www.usatoday.com
Click to expand...

Prescribed burning should also be a part of the equation, but the public has to be supportive. I’ve had to deal with angry homeowners because the smoke we created from our prescribed burn was a nuisance to them. But six months later, our prescribed burn resulted in saving their entire subdivision.

Homeowners and developers have to take responsibility as well. It’s not just those who live out in the forest who are at risk. Our wildland fires are turning into urban conflagrations.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately controlled burns or prescribed burns are rarely done any more because too many are against it.
 
For the most part what needs to be done is known. The problem is that it has been difficult if not impossible to get the resources and public support to do what is necessary. So we will get more devastated communities among those in the public that fail or refuse to endorse what resources and actions are needed: because we always think it will be "over there" and not here, so "not my problem". I used to think we might learn from these disasters but now I think we won't because it is too much trouble.

So then we want the Sheriff or the Mayor, or the Fire Chief, or the Governor, or FEMA, or the President, or Congress to bail us out of our own failures and misery. It is sad because the failures of the many result in the devastation of the few.
 
pauls1150 said:
Recently on the news, a water-dropping aircraft was hit and holed by some fool flying a drone (not just stupid, but Illegal). The aircraft is now Grounded until it can be repaired.
Click to expand...
The news has been showing what looks like drone footage. I wonder if it was was one of theirs.
 
lee said:
The news has been showing what looks like drone footage. I wonder if it was was one of theirs.
Click to expand...
Maybe. Just because they are the news doesn't mean they are smart. Regardless, I hope they catch the yoyo and impose that neat $75,000 fine and maybe a little jail time too.
 
I doubt it was a news drone - first because they already know it's illegal to fly one in such a zone, and second because I heard a blurb from somebody on KNX stating that "we will find this guy and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law" (NOT an exact quote, but pretty close).
The craft was a Canadian super-scooper on loan:
"Controlled burns" should be done regardless of what the locals want - they most likely don't have the BIG picture, nor the experience in general public safety and/or firefighting specifically - but sometimes the burn is the cause of a fire.
 
The tragedy will worsen even after the fires are out. California has had a strangling homeowners insurance market in recent years as fires, landslides, and other disasters have stressed insurors reserves and profits. Policies have been cancelled, premiums have skyrocketed, and insurance companies have retreated from the markets. In the now burned and burning areas many homeowners are said to be under-insured, or even uninsured. It is likely that many owners may lack the ability to rebuild. And the costs of these fires will very likely drive even more insurance companies away from the market, and raise premiums even higher by those companies which stay.

Current FEMA programs allowed by Congress can provide some outright grants for the costs of temporary lodging for limited periods of time and some low interest loans to help homeowners rebuild. Most outright grant funds are only authorized to go to governmental units to cover public costs and losses. Recovery will take years if not decades.

There will be a clamor for government regulation and subsidies while at the same time there will be opposition to either regulation or taxation. Sadly, I think the ride will be bumpy for some time to come.
 
Last edited:
PGlaves said:
The tragedy will worsen even after the fires are out. California has had a strangling homeowners insurance market in recent years as fires, landslides, and other disasters have stressed insurors reserves and profits. Policies have been cancelled, premiums have skyrocketed, and insurance companies have retreated from the markets. In the now burned and burning areas many homeowners are said to be under-insured, or even uninsured. It is likely that many owners may lack the ability to rebuild. And the costs of these fires will very likely drive even more insurance companies away from the market, and raise premiums even higher by those who stay.

Current FEMA programs allowed by Congress can provide some outright grants for the costs of temporary lodging for limited periods of time and some low interest loans to help homeowners rebuild. Most outright grant funds are only authorize d to go to governmental units to cover public costs and losses. Recovery will take years if not decades.

There will be a clamor for government regulation and subsidies while at the same time there will be opposition to either regulation or taxation. Sadly, I think the ride will be bumpy for some time to come.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, insurance premiums will rise, but this is not limited to California. Florida has an even worse insurance problem. I also remember reading about a mid western state with similar insurance issues. So, time will tell how the insurance availability is impacted.
 
ksdcr said:
www.latimes.com

State to probe why Pacific Palisades reservoir was offline, empty when firestorm exploded

A reservoir in the Palisades that holds 117 million gallons of water was offline this month for previously scheduled maintenance.
www.latimes.com www.latimes.com


www.dailynews.com

LA fire chief lashes out at City Hall over fire preparedness; Newsom demands probe of water issues

Business manager at DWP union said ‘It’s unacceptable that the reservoir was empty for almost a year for a minor repair.”
www.dailynews.com www.dailynews.com
Click to expand...
The blame game as started as expected. It's no ones fault, it's everyone's fault. :whistle:
 
Pacific palisades shows 1,185 people per square mile. The Palisades Fire covers about 47 square miles as of Jan. 9.

Palisades Fire compared to Boston​

The Palisades Fire covers about 47 square miles as of Jan. 9, while Boston spans 48 square miles of land. This is roughly 98% of Boston's total area

www.cbsnews.com

Maps show how California's Palisades Fire in Los Angeles area compares in size to major U.S. cities

California's Palisades Fire is the largest of the deadly wildfires that ignited in the Los Angeles area and maps show how it compares to the size of 13 U.S. cities.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
 
Hopefully those affected by this will be able to immediately have their property revalued at the accessors office to cut their property taxes….. at least in half.
OM
 
omega man said:
Hopefully those affected by this will be able to immediately have their property revalued at the accessors office to cut their property taxes….. at least in half.
OM
Click to expand...
Victims. First and foremost the property owners and renters who have lost their homes, and for many, their livelihoods as well. Second I think will be the first responders who are living through the trauma of fighting fires, witnessing loss and death.

Somewhere way down the line in the sympathy department will be the stockholders of the insurance companies losing millions doing what they are in business to do.

And then the banks. While the burned areas contains homes of millionaires they also contain many less extravagant homes. And reports contain the analysis that many of the thousands of homes that have burned are either under-insured or uninsured. Of those not adequately insured I suspect that as has happened in other disaster areas, many of the owners will simply walk away leaving the property abandoned or to be foreclosed by the lenders. While the banks will still be owed balances by the prior owners these will frequently be discharged in bankruptcy. Banks and other lenders will take a hit just as insurance companies have and will. Insurance stocks are falling as I type and bank stocks will soon follow.

So far the only winners I foresee will be the bankruptcy lawyers. And I attach no smiley to that notion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Replacing a Shattered One way Starter clutch bearing on a 2019 1250gs
Replies
12
Views
1K
beemerchuck
B
K
Yankee Beemers Damn Yankee's Rally ! WHAT A WEEKEND
Replies
4
Views
5K
flyhi2cfar
flyhi2cfar
jcabiles
Another Accident Recap
Replies
17
Views
6K
davidballen
davidballen
C
Pinion seal woes: How I Learned to Stop Worryin' & Luv the flawed FD of my '04 K12GT
2
Replies
23
Views
8K
pauls1150
pauls1150
exgman
Looking Back 70 Years / Analysis from the Boston GLOBE
Replies
12
Views
3K
6322
6322
Back
Top