"can't wait to hear the approving comments about the commitment to testing while houses burn down for lack of available fire crews."

High risk areas. Priorities.

Yes and as shown above, the CL-415 are particularly effective when the fire is near a body of water, and in LA it's pretty much an ideal situation where each plane can make about 30 runs without refueling. So one CL-415 is worth well over a dozen Hercules C-130 in the volume dropped but also because the CL-415 can fly lower/slower with more control thus getting more accuracy for its drops.

By the time the plane is out of fuel (over 6 hours later), the crew would also need replacement/rest and their replacement comes in for the next shift. In fact the crew might tire out a bit before the plane runs out of fuel because the job requires enormous concentration with the delicate water-skimming, the water drop, and the low-altitude navigation often under low visibility conditions.

In France the pilots are almost exclusively ex-French Navy pilots with at least 5,000 hours of flight, guys in their 40s and 50s. No shortage of Navy ex-pilots in CA of course. The accident rate for the French fleet is 1 in 25,000 drops.

Agree with ML, we could definitely do with up to 30 planes for the whole country, that fleet would have paid for itself several times over in one catastrophic event like this fire. Those planes are also very durable and low-maintenance, it is a proven design. Most of the older Canadair CL-215s delivered to France in the early 70s are still operational today, despite the high maneuvering flight demands of their mission and the exposure to salt water. That sturdiness is part of their lore.

If the Governor is going to parade that we have the 5th largest economy in the world, then act like it. Quit playing small ball hoping nothing bad ever happens, just like our levee systems. We know the dangers.

Instead he chose to focus on Global Warming, Green New Scam, solar panels, DEI, bullet train to nowhere, enormous funds for public drug users (aka homeless), buying a new home, running for President, etc. I'm told the public yearly cost in LA County for one drug user is $750,000! But we don't do the basics.

Wow the LA Mayor’s fire scandal gets worse

We all know she cut $17.5 million from the fire department budget, but now a leaked memo shows she wanted to cut nearly *triple* that amount

Over $49 million!!

Karen Bass needs to resign NOW pic.twitter.com/qemnQwJX1e

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) January 10, 2025

Newsom has now requested an investigation into why the fire hydrants were dry

This comes on the same day that LAFD DEI Chief said she blamed Mayor Karen Bass for not enough budget $

You better believe Karen Bass will point the fingers right back

It’s a circular firing squad of… pic.twitter.com/pMWlVhYmlo

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) January 10, 2025

YouTubers document arsonists across LApic.twitter.com/uwXAqXFdxR

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 10, 2025

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14270193/homeless-man-blowtorch-la-kenneth-fire-cops-arson.html

BearGoggles said:

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Why are you dissembling and being so abrasive about it?

People are saying "we should have more than 2 CL-415 planes" and your responding with: (i) we have 2; and (ii) California has a lot of other types of planes and helicopters that fight fires.

The assertion is that we should have more of a specific thing that is particularly effective in fighting fires - CL-415 planes. Fine to dispute that - but your arguments are not even addressing that point.

It is almost like you just want to call people names and tell them they're stupid (which boomerangs right back at you).

---

Because he's unable to think for himself and does nothing but "parrot" the lies of Alex Jones, Elon Musk, and the rest of the Trumper universe. He literally spends his days here CUT AND PASTING the same talking points, or have you not noticed that?

I don't deny that these planes can be useful.
But I also realize that CAL FIRE probably has its own reasons why they only have 2 CL-415s at their disposal.
And I also realize that 3,000 gallons in a water drop or also having the capability of using fire ******ant is a lot more than 1,620.

But you apparently find no fault with the rest of his anti-California narrative by repeatedly POLITICIZING this tragedy.

He doesn't give a rats ass about California.
He just wants to use it to own the libs.

The fact that you ignore this speaks volumes.

You wear the "goggles".
Not me.

California has a history of such fires. Solutions will be a little about local water storage and hydrant systems, probably more about land use and building codes to protect from embers.

Current LA fires have amazing low death tolls! Good job with warnings & evacuations. pic.twitter.com/Xup0gMf6Tf

— Jay Lund (@JayLund113) January 10, 2025

For those wondering how long the Santa Ynez Reservoir has been empty the answer is June 2009. Go to Google Earth and locate Santa Ynez. There's a slider top left allowing you to scroll through historic satellite imagery which I marked with a yellow rectangle. pic.twitter.com/TjD29jqpNf

— wretchardthecat (@wretchardthecat) January 10, 2025

Huh? Years to replace one cover? Makes no sense. If so, planned disaster.

Daily Wire: Newsom cut $150 Million from fire prevention; overstated his fire prevention work by over 600%.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/ca-fires-newsom-cut-roughly-150-million-from-wildfire-prevention-budget-in-the-past?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0nSUytSd3DgV4tB4yI0tYbVplAV5JvNruENrZ0A7v2QPA0n2X3IOzolNE_aem_hiahZyrkxzHcslnpVtCRQw

In addition to the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, Hurst, Lidia and Archer fires, we have a fire on Newsom's pants.

I bet a practical state like Texas, with their no-nonsense, non-woke leadership, has a handle on most all natural disasters.

California's problem is that 87.3% of our money for government and public education goes to DEI. You could look it up...

bear2034 said:

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movielover said:

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8. Pacific Palisades 117-million-gallon reservoir was offline and empty for cosmetic repairs.

"Officials told The Times that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed for repairs to its cover, leaving a 117 million gallon water storage complex empty in the heart of the Palisades."

This high reservoir feeds smaller tanks and lines below it.

Officials argue it wouldn't be full; but why not fill it 100% before a peak fire period?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pacific-palisades-reservoir-offline-empty-163924460.html

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JUST IN: Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley turns on Los Angeles leadership, says they failed her.

Remarkable interview.

Crowley called out the city for having no water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir.

Reporter: "Did the city of Los Angeles fail you and your… pic.twitter.com/fUQPoW32QA

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 10, 2025

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I thought this person was an unqualified DEI hire? Trying to keep up here.

Big C said:

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I bet a practical state like Texas, with their no-nonsense, non-woke leadership, has a handle on most all natural disasters.

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Indeed, no recent issues I can think of.

There is disinformation on the internet that 278 people died in Texas in 2021 because it was "cold" and they had no alternative like "heat."

In 2021! The **** they expect us to believe.

sycasey said:

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Big C said:

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I bet a practical state like Texas, with their no-nonsense, non-woke leadership, has a handle on most all natural disasters.

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Indeed, no recent issues I can think of.

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Nope.

Its not like the power ever went out with all that oil and gas during an ice storm and 244 people died.

Must have been fake news.

DiabloWags said:

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BearGoggles said:

---

Why are you dissembling and being so abrasive about it?

People are saying "we should have more than 2 CL-415 planes" and your responding with: (i) we have 2; and (ii) California has a lot of other types of planes and helicopters that fight fires.

The assertion is that we should have more of a specific thing that is particularly effective in fighting fires - CL-415 planes. Fine to dispute that - but your arguments are not even addressing that point.

It is almost like you just want to call people names and tell them they're stupid (which boomerangs right back at you).

---

Because he's unable to think for himself and does nothing but "parrot" the lies of Alex Jones, Elon Musk, and the rest of the Trumper universe. He literally spends his days here CUT AND PASTING the same talking points, or have you not noticed that?

I don't deny that these planes can be useful.
But I also realize that CAL FIRE probably has its own reasons why they only have 2 CL-415s at their disposal.
And I also realize that 3,000 gallons in a water drop or also having the capability of using fire ******ant is a lot more than 1,620.

But you apparently find no fault with the rest of his anti-California narrative by repeatedly POLITICIZING this tragedy.

He doesn't give a rats ass about California.
He just wants to use it to own the libs.

The fact that you ignore this speaks volumes.

You wear the "goggles".
Not me.

---

I know exactly what Cal88 does and how he posts a lot of crap and questionable links. But even a broken clock is right twice a day. In this case, he has a reasonable point/argument and you're now acknowledging . You don't deny the planes are useful. In fact most news reports are pointing out the unique value of the CL-415s. Its fair to ask why we don't have more. So why attack him with ad hominin?

And its rather funny that you accuse me of "POLITICIZING" the tragedy while literally in the same post you're ranting about Alex Jones, Musk, and Trump talking points. You truly are one of the least self aware people I've ever encountered.

Stating that liberal policies (and incompetence by a complacent liberal dominated California government) exacerbated the fire is a fair opinion. Yes - its political. But it is no different than liberals on this board posting that conservative gun policy is tied to mass shooter events, which is also an opinion. Ultimately, these are policy/political arguments.

BearGoggles said:

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Stating that liberal policies (and incompetence by a complacent liberal dominated California government) exacerbated the fire is a fair opinion. Yes - its political.

---

To me the "liberal policies" argument loses steam when it becomes about how the government should have spent more money on X thing. Typically conservatives are against that, and to bring it up now smells of convenience.

sycasey said:

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BearGoggles said:

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Stating that liberal policies (and incompetence by a complacent liberal dominated California government) exacerbated the fire is a fair opinion. Yes - its political.

---

To me the "liberal policies" argument loses steam when it becomes about how the government should have spent more money on X thing. Typically conservatives are against that, and to bring it up now smells of convenience.

---

There are always tradeoffs. What did the government spend on and what did they cut? It's hard to blame conservatives in a state and city overwhelmingly run by Democrats.

bear2034 said:

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sycasey said:

---

BearGoggles said:

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Stating that liberal policies (and incompetence by a complacent liberal dominated California government) exacerbated the fire is a fair opinion. Yes - its political.

---

To me the "liberal policies" argument loses steam when it becomes about how the government should have spent more money on X thing. Typically conservatives are against that, and to bring it up now smells of convenience.

---

There are always tradeoffs. What did the government spend on and what did they cut? It's hard to blame conservatives in a state and city overwhelmingly run by Democrats.

---

In this specific case yes. But when natural disasters hit in Republican-run states the same people aren't going on and on about blaming the local politicians. Excuse me if I'm skeptical of your motives.

I looked up the head of the LADWP, and her resume was odd and unimpressive for such a critical role. Her degree is from Puerto Rico, not UCLA, CalTech, Princeton. Then she's spent 20 years in the Coast Guard... great, but not the focus needed. But she checks two boxes.

If Palisades rebuilds, they need a second reservoir along w other upgrades.

DEI: Janisse Quiñones, LA’s Water Czar is paid $750K/yr and says her primary focus is equity, not water. She covered up the fact that she shut down Santa Ynez Reservoir for repairs and THAT was the reason there was no water to fight the wildfire.

h/t @CollinRugg pic.twitter.com/fuHhqhsuLQ

— @amuse (@amuse) January 11, 2025

BREAKING NOW - A LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICIAL has stated that there have been nearly 300 fires set intentionally by acts of arson and or terrorism in and throughout the city by either homeless individuals and or organized arsonists.

Los Angeles is under attack by those with a…

— Jack Hibbs (@RealJackHibbs) January 10, 2025