Local politics also plays a role in this "natural" disaster. San Diegans have failed to learn the lessons from the terrible firestorms that ravaged the county in October 2003. At the time, San Diego had no unified county fire department. The city, the county, and outside agencies failed to work in concert. The city had a small fleet of antiquated fire engines, no firefighting helicopters, and not enough money for radios, batteries and emergency fire shelters for its firefighters. At the time, the city, arguably the most fire-prone major city in the United States, ranked 40th in the nation in firefighters per capita.
This time, firefighters have again fought heroically. Generous citizens are offering time, money and supplies. Inter-agency communication is decidedly better. And the city owns a firefighting helicopter.
But little else has changed. There's still no unified countywide fire department, and San Diegans refuse to tax themselves (or even out-of-town hotel guests) to bring fire service up to national standards. The city and the county remain underequipped and understaffed.
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