The fires in California

[herpastcanchangethefuture]

Is anyone else watching in disbelief? It just so awful to see so many people lose their home and I keep thinking about all the animals who would have been terrified and trapped too. I was watching the news on it last night and people were saying their insurance companies had recently revoked their insurance so they won’t be covered.

It’s just awful.

I agree, for everyone losing a home it is a disaster. Some people won’t have the means to recover or rebuild which is another layer of tragedy, and why wealth is being mentioned so much on the thread, but I feel for anyone involved, whatever their circumstances .

Little people with little minds. Empathy isn't a finite resource. You can have empathy for all.

It doesn't matter who's lost their house or how much it was worth or how much money they have to rebuild. These were still people's homes, filled with precious belongings. Billy Crystal had lived in his since 1979. Does he not deserve sympathy for losing everything he and his wife owned?

I actually wish mumsnet would delete this whole thread given some of the posts on here. People are suffering right now as this unfolds and I’m not comfortable with the posts on here gleefully expressing a lack of sympathy for this disaster. It’s not right.

There are plenty of normal people there, the Pacific Palisades is a family area. i follow someone on instagram (because she's got a giant tortoise) and her grandparents, parents, uncles family and aunts family, as well as the giant tortoise) have all lots their homes. Absolutely devastating, streets after streets of family homes scorched to the ground.

It's terrible. Given that America has the biggest influence on global warming, the best outcome we can hope for is that Trump sees it as an act of God telling him to change his views on climate change.

Including actor James Woods!

No doubt Trump believes that he outranks god and therefore will not be taking orders from him.

The scariest part to me is the gridlocked traffic. There need to be better plans in place for evacuations.

And the wildlife. I saw a bit of video of a deer running around a smoke town looking for safety today. Broke my heart.

lljkk · Today 08:33
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Meh. These specific fires now are happening to people who have high net wealth mostly, and they knew they had high net wealth living in those areas

So wealthy people aren’t deserving of sympathy when they’ve lost most of their personal effects? Photos of their kids, items of real sentimental value?

Lovely!

Wow some of these replies !Even millionaires deserve some sympathy surely.They have lost their homes ,possessions and peace of mind .My heart goes out to them.

I feel for the animals and and normal people who are affected...the rich celebrities not so much.

I bet LA will be rebuilt more quickly than other areas of the US that still haven't had much input years after severe flooding.

lovelysunshine22 · Today 14:07

I feel for the animals and and normal people who are affected...the rich celebrities not so much

Why on earth not? Billy Crystal and his wife have lost their home, where they’ve been since 1979. Brought their children and grandchildren up there. How would that make you feel?

Meh? I'd have thought having a family member who's experienced similar would make you more sympathetic. It's not just rich and famous affected it's widespread, not to mention animals , general air quality and also the fire fighters working their arses off in such a difficult and dangerous job!
What a stupid comment 🙄

I think the points being made here are that more attention is being paid to the liss of hom3s of the rich people than the poor and that rich people have far more ability to bounce back and rebuild than poor people, because you might be heartbroken to lose everything bit you at least won't be struggling to pay for food, rent, furniture or other basic necessities.

It was quite eerie seeing just the fireplaces left standing of a street of houses on the news earlier.

It's horrific. I wonder how many will have to sell the land and move elsewhere?

This. Of course it’s terrible for anyone to lose their home but ‘high net worth’ people will have an easier time recovering.

I don't know. I'm American, so might consume different media, but there has been lots and lots of attention on these fires and the devastation, even before they reached the Hills. I think it might be difficult to really understand the scale of this catastrophe if you aren't really familiar with the area.

Sorry - was responding to @DucklingSwimmingInstructress

well, they've not only lost a much higher valued thing but also they have memories and irreplaceable possessions just like anyone else. it's not necessarily about the material goods. they've also lost photos, the ability for their grandchildren to see things in real life as they were. as one put it, "that was the place my baby took their first steps"

you're thinking of China

This article is a good explainer @Moreinheavenandearth

https://www.vox.com/climate/394005/palisades-eaton-wildfire-los-angeles-santa-ana-winds-california-explainer

And not been cut back. Trump is blaming Newsome.

It's absolutely devastating and nothing less. I'm not in Cali. I'm in Washington state, but I can understand what they are feeling. We have wildfires in the summer, and there is no terror like seeing the fire out of control moving closer, having to take what you can and evacuate, praying your home will still be there when you return. Rich or poor doesn't matter.