The beginning of school and the accompanying traffic
jams can bring out the worst in people, especially when we are
experiencing the kinds of torrid weather that we had last week.
But it seems to me that people could show more
tolerance for workers who are laboring in the hot sun to make
things just a little safer for everyone the next time that there
is a fire.
There is something disturbing about seeing parents
behave like spoiled children in front of their own children
when they are confronted by a traffic delay while taking them
to school. Such people should consider taking a course in anger
management.
Everyone loves to complain, but the fact is that
the Fire Safe Council, and the people they hired to do the foliage
cutbacks: Powerland, are performing a service that may save
lives, especially if you happen to live in the Lilac Road area,
which has hundreds of acres of brush that hasn’t burned
in many years.
The purpose of the work is to create a safe way
out of town. A burning bush may be appropriate if you happen
to be on Mount Sinai, but you don’t want one next to your
automobile when you are trying to escape a conflagration.
The work is being done according to county, state
and federal environmental guidelines.
Randy Hill, a fire prevention specialist from
the VC Fire District, who is also a contractor with the FSC
for this job, has been marking trees and brush to be trimmed
within the guidelines.
And yes, you may find that you encounter traffic
control during this time. The average delay is 2 minutes.
Consider keeping your cool next time you encounter
one of these delays. Check with the kid sitting in the seat
next to you. Maybe he can give you some advice on not losing
your temper!
