The surplus equipment included “hoses, nozzles, turnouts, helmets, body armor and other associated personal protective equipment.”
Let’s have like an ounce of skepticism and contextual analysis. Yeah some surplus engines were probably thrown Ukraine’s way. No that gear would not have made an iota of difference because even if ukr was somehow sent planes (doubt), the sticking point was the wind being too strong to even fly planes. Fuck the empire but this seems wholly irrelevant
That’s what a whole lot of the right-wing outrage is
‘can you believe liberal LA did with their firefighting stuff’ completely ignored the root cause of the problem and why the fires have been so destructive
Westerners look down on the Romans throwing clothing and jewellery into funeral pyres, decrying how hysterical they were. And then they do this shit.
Firefighters in areas with regular forest fires don't have "surplus" equipment morons, only reserved for later use. This is what happens when an entire society live their lives convinced that infrequent disasters and so-called worst case scenarios may as well not happen.
Westerners look down on the Romans
The Roman Empire is fellatiated by the Western Zietgeist as an origin point that "western culture/values/civilization" can be traced back to. It was a cruel shithole slave empire that mass murdered jews (literal antisemetism) and according to His Holiness St. Bhagavan Shree Matt Christman (SAW) provided the framework for the same anti-human "private property" laws that exist today in the West.
Wider point still stands thoughbeit the USA is a stupid country
Westerners look down on the Romans throwing clothing and jewellery into funeral pyres, decrying how hysterical they were.
I'll be real. I've never heard anyone even utter one murmur of such acts to the point I didn't even know they did such a thing.
Generally, what few depictions of the romans that make it into the collective unconsciousness tend to be positive in wider Yankee society. Even the most common negative depictions of them are usually played off humorously, such as their aqueducts being lined with lead therefore they all suffered lead poisoning just like us! (A common 'fun' fact you'd have most likely learned - either directly or cultural osmosis - if you were among the late boomer, gen X and early millenial.)
If you're a common Yankee prole you're more likely to learn about the "barbarity" of some regional Indian funeral rites as a form of "subtle" justification for British colonization and imperial conquest of the Indian subcontinent, than you are of learning of the wanton acts of cruelty the Roman slavers inflict upon their captives.
Of course with the era of multi-media, voyeurs of Roman extravagance have an ever-overflowing troth of slop to feast from, so there's a chance that some chunk of the West is actually aware of that Roman funeral act. But being honest they're probably in some form of perverted pleasure over that knowledge and posses a twisted reactionary desire to bring it back.
I heard it a few times, mostly about Caesar's funeral. Every time the person talking/writing about it has the tone of "look at these crazy people giving in to hysteria." I couldn't say it's definitely true, not my area.
You're completely right on how they're portrayed generally. Storytellers will regularly mention generals making a fortune out of loot and slaves, neither the teller not listener will ask what that entails or how moral it is. Folks read Cicero proudly talking about being a slumlord and not bat an eye, at this point I wonder if they just compartmentalise it all, turn off major parts of their brain when the subject of certain ancient peoples comes up.
Friend I think you'd really enjoy reading "The Assassination of Julius Caesar" by Dr. Michael Parenti. It's a nice book that touches on everything we've seen here and a bit more.
Firefighters in areas with regular forest fires don't have "surplus" equipment
They definitely do? Surplus is more than just extra shit sitting in storage until you need it. You gotta maintain that equipment, which requires people, time, and money. If the equipment isn't maintained it would be just as useless as not having it at all. Obviously there is a line somewhere when it becomes too costly to maintain surplus equipment and it's better to get rid of it.
I'm not saying LAFD is run well or defending any of this shit, but to call people morons (kinda ableist btw) over this is silly and you're wrong anyway
Disaster management is preparing for the worst scenarios, that includes having more equipment then just enough for the people already signed up to do the work. I didn't say or imply that they should just hoard stuff and forget about it.
California has wildfires regularly. They should have a whole lot of people on the payroll as regular firefighters, train potential volunteers to assist in fires, and have trucks, planes etc ready for this exact situation. This state and its cities are extremely wealthy. I can criticise countries like Greece and Turkey when they make errors, call out blatant mistakes, but at the end of the day I won't call them imbeciles as I do people in charge in California and LA. One has all the resources in the world, the other doesn't.
I don't think you should uncritically believe this story as is. Any actual analysis that's worthwhile and more than "LOL, LMAO!" here is probably going to need a comparatively deep understanding of accounting rules surrounding the LAFD and such and political dealings. Usual thing for this type of stuff is you donate old equipment and buy new shit, somebody might've just thrown a wrench in that last part or whatever.
While neither the LACFD or the LAFD have mentioned equipment shortages hampering their efforts fighting the January 2025 wildfire outbreak, the LACFD did say that the combined fire departments across the Los Angeles area lacked the personnel necessary to quickly suppress this week’s major wildfires.
“There are not enough firefighters in L.A. County to address four separate fires of this magnitude,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a Jan. 8 press conference. “The L.A. County Fire Department was prepared for one or two major brush fires, but not four, especially given these sustained winds and low humidities.”
There is currently a fundraising campaign to help the LAFD acquire equipment, but that equipment is not the same type of equipment as what the LACFD said it donated to Ukraine. The campaign seeks to raise money for emergency personal fire shelters, hydration backpacks and wildland brush tools.
Excerpt from the article linked. This seems like a non-story pushed by reactionaries. Not sure that extra hoses and nozzles would have done a lot without extra fire engines to go with them.
They should invoice the oil and gas industry for everything as a "cost of doing business." It would be a much better fundraising campaign and better publicity. Shine the light on some of the true culprits.
lol
Banned? DM Wmill to appeal.
No anti-nautilism posts. See: Eco-fascism Primer
Slop posts go in c/slop. Don't post low-hanging fruit here.