California wild fires / Incendies en Californie

26 October 2007. Approaching Los Angeles airport from the Nevada desert, ca. 9000 meters: plumes (centre of photo) and dispersed smoke (right) from the wild fires (photo by JJS, with Nokia E90 'phone)
26 octobre 2007. A l'approche de l'aéroport de Los Angeles, après le survol du Nevada, altitude environ 9000 mètres : colonnes de fumée (centre de la photo) et fumée dispersée (droite) provenant des incendies (photo par JJS avec un Nokia E90)


The scope of the wild fires in California was visible from the sky, as I flew in on Friday afternoon to attend an ICANN meeting in Los Angeles. Television news footage shows the loss of property at close quarters, as well as the huge task with which firefighters are faced. But in the height of action, be it of home owners fleeing for safety, or teams trying to put out the flames, the wider picture is sometimes lost. Seen from the sky, the magnitude of the area affected by these wild fires suddenly becomes evident, not only some plumes from ongoing fires, but even more impressive was the extent of the blanket of smoke. My thoughts go to friends and colleagues who live in the area. If you wish to leave a comment, please click below on "ajouter un commentaire". Or back to Serenidee homepage.

L'ampleur des incendies en Californie pouvait se deviner depuis le ciel, lorsque je suis arrivé vendredi après-midi pour participer à une réunion de ICANN à Los Angeles. Les actualités télévisées donnent à voir, de façon saisissante, à quel point les flammes ont ravagé certaines propriétés, de même qu'elles mettent en évidence l'énorme défi que doivent relever les pompiers. Mais ces images dramatiques de gens fuyant leurs maisons, d'équipes tentant de maîtriser les flammes, empêchent parfois une vision plus large du phénomène. Du ciel, soudain l'étendue de la zone affectée par ces incendies devient claire, non seulement en raison des colonnes de fumée provenant des incendies en cours, mais plus encore de la couverture de fumée. J'adresse mes pensées aux amis et collègues domiciliés dans la région. Si vous souhaitez donner votre avis, cliquez ci-après sur "ajouter un commentaire". Ou retour à la page d'accueil de Serenidee.

Comments

[Retty]

Indonesian forests were always in this kind of problem, that makes disputes between neighbouring nations. Blaming the local farmer or even the logging company or the palm plantation are not the right solution. We should study how to avoid this kind of wild fires to end the agony each year.

[JJS]

Hello Retty, yes I see your point. In Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia, extended forest fires over the years were the result of smaller fires started by farmers wanting to dispose of more arable land. Logging is quite another thing, and the vast destruction wreaked by them cannot be excused, if only because of the scale and durability of the negative effects. The wildfires in California are quite another matter, started (it seems) by arsonists who had no reason nor claim to clear more ground for agriculture. In any case, thank you for you comment. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, once again, on your interesting blog "Buah Pena". Regards, JJS.