"You got what you got,... Nothing else is coming."
"The entire governmental system broke down; we had to rely on ourselves and our neighbors."
These are some quotes from residents of less populated areas of Mendocino County, who have essentially been left on their own to fight the wildfires (set by lightning strikes), with only little assistance and equipment from governmental sources. Those who haven't become instant volunteer firefighters provide the support - food, farm equipment, small tools, and even gas for the few fire engines available.
As eugene pointed out in their diary, How Bush Destroyed Federal Firefighting, Federal funding for firefighters has been greatly slashed under King George. And the California budget shortage is straining already shorthanded CalFire and local firefighting crews. So unless you're lucky enough to live in a densely populated or high priced residential area, be ready to break out a shovel and hose to protect your home, because trained firefighters or air support probably won't be coming to the rescue anytime soon.
My sibling is in the thick of the fires and smoke. Although "neighbors" may live miles apart, they know each other better than I know the neighbors who live within 100 feet of me. This is an area where the barter system often trumps a cash economy. People are fiercely independent, yet they work together like family when someone has a need.
As David Severn, part of an all-volunteer ambulance crew in Boonville, said, "Fending for yourself in this community does not mean you’re standing alone."
That community is a mix of people who live off the land, raising small livestock or apples, and those in the upper income brackets, such as winery owners or those who are lucky enough to retire with a nice nest egg. Yet, they manage to pull together when they have to.
The owner of a hardware store refused payment from volunteer firefighters for crucial supplies. When a local radio station called for money to help defray firefighting costs, people descended on the Redwood Drive-In, known for its malts, shakes and curly fries, and donated more than $4,000.
Landscapers whacked and carted away brush around houses free of charge. A caterer fed 150 volunteer firefighters daily. One market delivered submarine sandwiches to the weary workers, while residents baked gooey cakes and made quinoa salads. A fire chief’s wife grilled steak fajitas for a crew of inmates. Another woman delivered tinctures and balms to firefighters to soothe sore muscles and dry throats. On a map in the Boonville firehouse, a sign offered free massages.
Nice reporting, but what's curious is comes from an article in the New York Times. Is the NYT genuinely concerned about folks in some tiny towns all the way out on the liberal left coast? Or are they pushing the Grover Norquist meme ("see how well people do on their own when they have to")?
As for my sibling, they will continue to nervously watch the firelines, and hope they don't have to leave the house they (with the help of friends) built themselves.
If you have some spare cash to send, my previous diary provided a list of organizations that help with post-fire relief efforts in and around California. If you know of other groups in the region that help the local firefighters, please list their contact information.
Other groups that might use some assistance -
Mendocino County Animal Care
Community Foundation of Mendocino County Angel Fund