Honestly…|an honest take on the world of PR and other things by Cindy Ronzoni

Iowa had floods. Mississippi did too. Tornadoes came early and ripped across half our country. And now the State of California is up in smoke. What a crazy year!

My post today is about irony-basically. I think it’s incredibly ironic that at a time when our State’s Public Service Officers are pressed beyond belief controlling wildfires, protecting houses and looking out for our general safety…that so many Americans partook in illegal activity on Independence Day. I could not believe my eyes last night at how many homes shot off illegal fireworks. This while my friends are battling blazes in unmanageable terrain with no visibility and pulling 24 or 12 hours shifts! There’s something wrong with this picture!!!

If Californians haven’t realized it yet our State is one big tinder box. Fire season is too early. And as our Governor said today “there’s no such thing as a fire season anymore.” According to the Gov, more than a half a million precious acres of the Golden State have burned so far and it’s only the beginning of July.

The Big Basin Fire, The Gap Fire, The Big Sur Fire…right now there are 1,400 fires burning in Calyfornia and nine counties have declared states of emergency. How bad are things? The National Guard has been called in and is being trained to fight fires in order to bring relief to thousands of firefighters who spent the holiday saving America’s precise land-the land our forefathers fought for.

The fires are all over the news and yet, in neighborhoods across the Southland the sky was lit up with not sanctioned community events, but displays of illegal fireworks. As our local police and sheriff departments were manning the community events, others lit off their own. And if like most holiday events I’m sure a bit of the alcohol was consumed. Hmmm. Fireworks and alcohol. Not a good mix. At one point during our unauthorized display of “boom cracks” (that’s what my nephews used to call fireworks), our city’s fire truck raced down the street. I only hope it was a false alarm, but my head thinks it wasn’t.

This post is dedicated to the personnel engaged in fighting our 1400 infernos. These individuals are risking their lives to protect homes, businesses, orchards and preserve our beautiful land. It’s hot. Very hot where they are and their conditions are make-shift. They are pulling incredibly long hours. They are sleeping on cots and some are making their own meals. And if they get some sleep, it’s not for long for they are immediately thrust back into the fires. Breathing. Forget about it. They are in the midst of the ash and smoke. They are also away from their loved ones during the holiday with little or no cell reception. So these are very tough times for them — be sure to remember them in your prayers.

So Californians PLEASE listen up. Our land is EXTREMELY DRY. Dry to the bone. One small spark or dry lighting can cause hundreds of acres to go up. Please be very careful until our next rainfall and for heaven’s sake if you have any fireworks left over, please throw them out.

FOR ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES!