Here's something you might be interested in.
When the fires began Sunday morning, I asked my wife, "How long will it be before the U-T blames Aguirre for starting the fire?" It didn't take long for the U-T to use the fire to smear him. This morning (Wednesday, Oct. 24), the U-T has a grossly inaccurate story headlined "Aguirre wants San Diego evacuated in wake of wildfires." The lead says Aguirre "advocated a voluntary evacuation" of the City. That's false, as can be expected. In a memo of Oct. 22 that I will quote in full below, Aguirre recommended a voluntary evacuation PLAN. That is much different from a voluntary evacuation. He stressed the possibility of respiratory damage from smoke. He suggested officials contact nearby cities such as Yuma in the event that winds shifted and San Diegans would be in harm's way. At the time of the memo, Highway 8 was open, and could have accommodated people leaving if lung damage became severe. He did not recommend a voluntary evacuation -- just a PLAN for one. In the U-T's story, the police chief, fire chief and mayor's office falsely said Aguirre urged an exodus. The memo will show that he considered a PLAN for such an exodus.
Here is the memo:
"Given the current unprecedented wildfire condition which is exacerbated by Santa Ana conditions and the number of people and homes impacted by fires, it is respectfully submitted that a voluntary evacuation PLAN (emphasis mine) of the entire City be immediately implemented. "A voluntary evacuation PLAN consistent with current local, state and federal policies should be considered for the following reasons: "1. Remove Citizens from Harm's Way: "Weather reports as of the date of this memo predict that 'a strong Santa Ana condition will continue to bring very windy, dry and hot weather with a critical fire hazard through Tuesday. The strongest winds will be through and below mountain canyons and passes today and Tuesday. ' Weaker offshore flow will maintain very warm and locally windy conditions Wednesday. Gradually cooler Thursday and Friday as high pressure and offshore flow weaken.' "The probable future route of the fire is of foremost concern in determining which areas to evacuate first. The probable route of the fire can best be predicted by referring to weather forecasts. The westerly off-shore Santa Ana winds are forecasted to remain high through today and tomorrow, and diminishing Wednesday. By Wednesday evening and Thursday, on-shore flow is expected to resume. If the Cedar Fire is any example, the fire could shift and take an easterly direction. The foreseeability of this factor should be considered in implementing a voluntary evacuation PLAN. "2. Access routes may be unavailable, making future evacuation impossible: "Minimizing the impact of traffic congestions by implementing a PLANNED (my emphasis) and scheduled evacuation: the north and east access routes out of San Diego may be in jeopardy of full utilization due to closures from the fire. A PLANNED voluntary evacuation would lessen congestion on the access routes if this process was considered now rather than delayed, which may result in a massive exodus if the current situation continues. "3. Limit Citizens' Exposure to Hazardous Air Quality and Its Adverse Health Impacts: "Wildfire smoke is composed of Particulate Matter (PM), gases, and water vapor. One of the biggest health concerns of smoke comes from PM. Most of the PM produced in wildland fire is respirable; that is, it is small enough to pass through the upper respiratory system and enter deep into the lungs. Respirable particles can also aggravate existing heart and lung diseases, such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis), and asthma. Exposure to smoke may also depress the ability to fight lung infection. IN THE EVENT THAT YOU CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION PLAN (emphasis mine), we recommend you contact the cities of Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Riverside to coordinate a location(s) to house evacuees. The Ciy Attorney's office stands ready to assist in any way our services can best be utilized during this emergency. Respectfully submitted, Michael J. Aguirre, City Attorney"
This is a well-reasoned memo. Aguirre was recommending a PLAN (not a course of action) that should have been in place after the Cedar fire. But the U-T jumped it, quoting notoriously unreliable officials saying that Aguirre was RECOMMENDING an immediate evacuation.
Don Bauder
When the fires began Sunday morning, I asked my wife, "How long will it be before the U-T blames Aguirre for starting the fire?" It didn't take long for the U-T to use the fire to smear him. This morning (Wednesday, Oct. 24), the U-T has a grossly inaccurate story headlined "Aguirre wants San Diego evacuated in wake of wildfires." The lead says Aguirre "advocated a voluntary evacuation" of the City. That's false, as can be expected. In a memo of Oct. 22 that I will quote in full below, Aguirre recommended a voluntary evacuation PLAN. That is much different from a voluntary evacuation. He stressed the possibility of respiratory damage from smoke. He suggested officials contact nearby cities such as Yuma in the event that winds shifted and San Diegans would be in harm's way. At the time of the memo, Highway 8 was open, and could have accommodated people leaving if lung damage became severe. He did not recommend a voluntary evacuation -- just a PLAN for one. In the U-T's story, the police chief, fire chief and mayor's office falsely said Aguirre urged an exodus. The memo will show that he considered a PLAN for such an exodus.
Here is the memo:
"Given the current unprecedented wildfire condition which is exacerbated by Santa Ana conditions and the number of people and homes impacted by fires, it is respectfully submitted that a voluntary evacuation PLAN (emphasis mine) of the entire City be immediately implemented. "A voluntary evacuation PLAN consistent with current local, state and federal policies should be considered for the following reasons: "1. Remove Citizens from Harm's Way: "Weather reports as of the date of this memo predict that 'a strong Santa Ana condition will continue to bring very windy, dry and hot weather with a critical fire hazard through Tuesday. The strongest winds will be through and below mountain canyons and passes today and Tuesday. ' Weaker offshore flow will maintain very warm and locally windy conditions Wednesday. Gradually cooler Thursday and Friday as high pressure and offshore flow weaken.' "The probable future route of the fire is of foremost concern in determining which areas to evacuate first. The probable route of the fire can best be predicted by referring to weather forecasts. The westerly off-shore Santa Ana winds are forecasted to remain high through today and tomorrow, and diminishing Wednesday. By Wednesday evening and Thursday, on-shore flow is expected to resume. If the Cedar Fire is any example, the fire could shift and take an easterly direction. The foreseeability of this factor should be considered in implementing a voluntary evacuation PLAN. "2. Access routes may be unavailable, making future evacuation impossible: "Minimizing the impact of traffic congestions by implementing a PLANNED (my emphasis) and scheduled evacuation: the north and east access routes out of San Diego may be in jeopardy of full utilization due to closures from the fire. A PLANNED voluntary evacuation would lessen congestion on the access routes if this process was considered now rather than delayed, which may result in a massive exodus if the current situation continues. "3. Limit Citizens' Exposure to Hazardous Air Quality and Its Adverse Health Impacts: "Wildfire smoke is composed of Particulate Matter (PM), gases, and water vapor. One of the biggest health concerns of smoke comes from PM. Most of the PM produced in wildland fire is respirable; that is, it is small enough to pass through the upper respiratory system and enter deep into the lungs. Respirable particles can also aggravate existing heart and lung diseases, such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis), and asthma. Exposure to smoke may also depress the ability to fight lung infection. IN THE EVENT THAT YOU CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION PLAN (emphasis mine), we recommend you contact the cities of Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Riverside to coordinate a location(s) to house evacuees. The Ciy Attorney's office stands ready to assist in any way our services can best be utilized during this emergency. Respectfully submitted, Michael J. Aguirre, City Attorney"
This is a well-reasoned memo. Aguirre was recommending a PLAN (not a course of action) that should have been in place after the Cedar fire. But the U-T jumped it, quoting notoriously unreliable officials saying that Aguirre was RECOMMENDING an immediate evacuation.
Don Bauder