Gold Canyon residents who refused to evacuate survive Station fire

[question everything]

Gold Canyon residents who refused to evacuate survive Station fire
September 3, 2009 | 8:38 am

Five people who refused to leave Gold Canyon when the area was evacuated made it through the Station fire. "They survived, they made it through," said Mark Savage of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The five residents created quite a drama Monday when the fire moved closer to their homes. After defying the evacuation order issued over the weekend, some of the residents changed their minds and asked to be rescued.

The problem is there is no way to get to them. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department considered sending a helicopter up to get them, but fire officials determined it would be too dangerous. Later in the day, there was word the group didn't want to be rescued.

It's unclear if all their properties survived the flames.

(snip)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/canyon-residents-who-refused-to-evacuate-survived-fire.html

[Warpy]

1. I hope they go on record and admit staying was a stupid idea

If they gloat that they were right all along, it will encourage other people to be stupid when faced with impending disaster.

[hobbit709]

3. Future Darwin Awards

You too stupid to leave, you're too stupid to live. Right up there with idiots that drive around the barricades at low water crossings and then scream for help when they get washed downstream

[Warpy]

5. You're right about people who have a choice to leave and don't

it doesn't apply to people who are trapped by economic status or infirmity.

These people, however, were just plain stupid. I just hope they admit it.

[charlie]

9. If they cop a 'tude

then their calls for help should be put into PSAs. And tough toenails if they don't like it.

[Creena]

2. Good News.

Hopefully this will be a lesson for others to evacuate.

[JonQ]

6. I think it will be a lesson the other way

those guys refused to evacuate when you said they had to and they're fine, why should I bother?

[Creena]

8. I fear that some will take it that way.

I wish all those who think about refusing an evacuation order could view a demonstration, just to see how a small shift in wind means life or death.

[damntexdem]

4. One might argue a right to refuse a mandatory evacuation, but ...

there can be absolutely no right to endanger emergency personnel by later requesting evacuation. You made your bed, now possibly burn in it.

[question everything]

11. Right. Except, of course, someone will always sue

that the rescuers did not do enough.

And there will always be a stupid jury that will give the family millions.

[JonQ]

7. Glad they made it

annoyed that had things gone otherwise emergency personnel would have had to put their lives at risk to rescue these idiots.

It would be one thing if you could actually say "I'm staying, and I relieve the state of any obligation to try to rescue my stupid ass if things go wrong".

Unfortunately that isn't really possible.

[Nikki Stone1]

10. Maybe it's just the fires and stress of the last week, but I really don't care that they survived

I'll probably feel differently next week, but this week I just think they were selfish ingrates who didn't care enough to get out of the way and let the firefighters do their jobs. The Station fire is extraordinarily dangerous still, and the largest in LA history, I believe. When the firefighters tell you to go, you GO! You put far too many others at risk if you don't, and the firefighters on the ground have to worry not only about the fire but about you.

Like I said, I might feel differently next week.