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Uploaded: Saturday, August 15, 2009, 2:32 PM
Updated: Sunday, August 16, 2009, 10:35 PM

Fire-threatened Bonny Doon residents go home
Governor says state is 'doing all we can' to ensure the response is adequate

Posted by Greg Martin, a resident of the Palo Alto Hills neighborhood, on Aug 15, 2009 at 3:02 pm

Very smokey in the San Lorenzo Valley today:( Blessings out to everyone affected by and supporting the fire fighting efforts! Link below is helpful for updates people are posting on Twitter.

Web Link

Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Aug 15, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

I have been opposed to politicians visiting disaster scenes at least since the VP visited the fire at the Marina after Loma Prieta.

Every public safety person at a disaster scene should be 100% putting out fires, saving people and property. The disruption of rescue and aid operations to host a photo op is an unconscionable waste of personnel and vehicles. I opposed the outcry when Bush overflew New Orleans, and I excoriated Bush when he caved to criticism and flew back for an on the site tour at which local pols slit on another's throats to get in the picture with him. The only appropriate place for an executive during a disaster is in his war room where his incoming and outgoing data capability is at a maximum. I recall a

Willy & Joe cartoon where a General was stand looking majestically toward the front - Joe sez to Willy, "I wish the General would quit inspiring us - he's gonna draw fire."

If Ahnald or Bush or whomever does not believe his representation on site is accurately describing the scene, fire them, but don't leave your post.

Posted by Resident, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Aug 15, 2009 at 4:01 pm

Having the Govenor at a fire scene is miniscule compared to all the senior command staff that must respond to radio and TV crews to give their descriptions and updates.

Thank you Govenor for sparing the time to stop by on a weekend when your Mother-in-law is put to rest, and you obviously have family commitments.

Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Aug 15, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

Bull! If the fire and disaster services have crew to spare for PR and visiting VIPs, they have too many people. I remember an instance in Korea when I noticed all the supply trucks and ambulances were parked clear of the MSR. When I asked why, I was informed that MacArthur was visiting and he did not want any traffic on his route from the airport. I don't know if anyone died that day for Mac's vanity, but lots of us were p***** o** [mildly critical]

Give a guy on the fire line a choice between shaking Ahnold's hand and a cold beer and see what wins. Of course, for today's equivalent of Kim Novak or Doris Day, I would make an exception.

Assign one very junior person to coordinate all media, and any senior command staff who has time to smooze the media is a REMF, suitable to staff a "command center" in the nearest unthreatened town. A commander during the War of Northern Aggression signed his dispatches "From his headquarters in the saddle." Grant reputedly said "He has his headquarters where his hindquarters should be." My criticism stands.

Posted by McGrude, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Aug 17, 2009 at 12:52 pm

I took a couple of pictures from Highway 1 near the Bonny Doon area on Sunday. I saw no smoke, but did see many columns of smoke rising from the trees.

Web Link

Posted by Paul, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Aug 17, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Totally with you on this one, Walter. I wonder how many kids' lunches Arnold vetoed to buy helicopter fuel for this junket.

Posted by I have a question, a resident of Mountain View, on Aug 18, 2009 at 10:45 am

why is it called the "Lockheed Fire"

Posted by WilliamR, a resident of the Fairmeadow neighborhood, on Aug 18, 2009 at 11:10 am

I heard that Lockheed owned some type of campground in the area, so that's where fire officials picked the name.

Posted by rem, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Aug 18, 2009 at 12:19 pm

I wonder why the Air Force Reserve or the Air National Guard was not requested to come and work this fire.

They have special C-130 aircraft equipped to drop “retardant”. The planes are going to be flying whether it is fighting a fire or just burning “crew time”. The planes are budgeted to fly X number of hours a year…

Asking the Air Force Reserve or the Air National Guard to come and drop the “retardant” is cheaper than the “commercial” planes we (CA Tax payer) are paying for plus they can carry a bigger load of “retardant”…

By the way Lockheed does not have a campground in the area. It is another Lockheed facility and has been there for years..

Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Aug 19, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

That is the facility where they maintained a carrier pigeon service to send confidential messages to the main plant, possible the world's last commercial pigeon service..