Planes from McGuire Air Force Base were practicing bombing runs and dropping flares in dry and windy conditions over the Warren Grove section of the Pine Barrens National Forest in South Jersey when they ignited a huge wildfire. As I write this over 12,000 acres have been destroyed, at least 1000 homes evacuated, and the fire still has not been contained.
I live about 10 miles from the outer fringes of the fire. All afternoon into this evening smoke has been blowing from the west while ashes have been falling from the sky and piling up on lawns and hard surfaces. It smells like barbecue smoke. Traffic is horrendous as some roads have been closed to make way for emergency vehicles. Evacuation centers are being set up in public schools, and the likelihood now is that my kids will be staying home tomorrow.
So far there has been no response from the federal government which is completely responsible for this disaster. As with Hurricane Katrina and the recent Kansas tornadoes, the Bush Administration puts its head in the sand and won't do anything until compelled by the media and public outrage.
Part of the problem, as with Kansas a few days ago, is the shortage of equipment to deal with this type of emergency. The reason for this is the diversion of men and material for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that has left New Jersey and the rest of the country unprepared for disasters here at home.
Another problem is the Air Force's use of open space near developed areas to practice dropping bombs before they do the real thing to Iraqis and Afghans. This is not the first episode endangering lives and destroying property. A couple years ago a plane accidentally strafed an elementary school; fortunately it was closed and nobody was inside. Another time a bomb exploded prematurely and ignited a fire, though not as serious as the one we have now. One plane even crashed near a heavily traveled highway but the pilot ejected and no one on the ground was hurt.
The area I live in is solidly Republican, but I suspect there may be a backlash if the Feds drop the ball as they have in the past. We have a Republican Congressman, Jim Saxton, who always brags about his influence in Washington with the Bush Administration. If he doesn't use it now to get a quick and adequate response, as well as put an end to these training flights which pose a greater threat to me and my neighbors than any insurgency in Iraq or Afghanistan, he may be looking for another job next November, along with the rest of the GOP clowns managing the executive branch.