To Kevin wrote on Nov 8, 2007 9:06 AM:You are 100% correct.

esteban wrote on Nov 8, 2007 9:33 AM:You are right. Rider is just one of many know it all citizens who have the expertise and the answers for everything. Nothing the gov't does is good enough for these types. These types are society's down trodden, who lack life skills, motivation, and self esteem. No one should take them seriously. And count on the NCT for giving someone like that a forum.

Our FFs Rock wrote on Nov 8, 2007 9:42 AM:Kevin, why don't you just get Rider's phone number and give him a ring every time you get a call? Then you can ring him back after you get back in quarters and finish your paperwork... So much for just sitting around. Keep up the good work.

Reardon wrote on Nov 8, 2007 10:35 AM:Having spent 26 years in the Navy, enlisted and officer, (mostly in submarines) I have a feeling for military capabilities. The Navy/Marines are not, currently, qualified for directly fighting fires, but there are many current qualifications in support roles they can fill to spell firefights to go to the front line. (And we can train thousands in other than shipboard firefighting, because almost ALL are trained in shipboard fires!) The Navy (including Marines) has HUGE equipment, here, operated by highly qualified CB (Construction Battalion) personnel who can cut a mile-wide fire line in less time than I can write about it. You want people rescued? There is no one braver, or more qualified – or faster -- than Seal Team One! (They are right here in San Diego!) If you need hand crews – how many? 1,000? 10,000? More? Give the military an hour. Equipment? High pressure pumps, emergency lighting so powerful it can blind, portable electric generation…you want a hundred? IT’S ALL PAID FOR! Anything we don’t have in San Diego can be here via airlift in hours – we don’t have to get Cal Fire’s permission to fly, and we fly regardless of weather. No, fighting fires is not the first priority for the military, but we can make an aluminum overcast with planes filled with men and equipment, if called on, so you can fight fires. Fire trucks? We don’t drive them from remote locations for days – we airlift them in hours! Medics and paramedics – we have them by the thousands, and can set up field hospitals to save firefights and residents lives when they are overrun, with helicopter air-evac when necessary – and can handle more then a thousand casualties. Communications? We can set up a multi-screen video Command, Control, and Communications system, with remote (or completely autonomous) unmanned aircraft doing the infra-red fire spotting (day or night), while you are still drawing on scrap paper and using wall mounted maps! Oh, yes, the military is all volunteer, and doesn’t get paid overtime. The military does not want your job – it just wants to help. I’ll bet the public (our common Boss) wants the military to help. You should too. We have some useful capabilities.

Can someone please wrote on Nov 8, 2007 1:18 PM:tell me why, and I admit there probably is a very good answer. But why when the call comes in for someone who has a broken whatever, it takes a fire truck to respond with the ambulance? Now I don't know if this is true, maybe a reader can help me, but I was told once by a firefighter, it is due to the Unions, so they may show activity on the fire engine and that the firefighters aren't spending so much time with nothing to do. I apolgize in advance if this is incorrect information, I would just like to know.

Francisco wrote on Nov 8, 2007 2:03 PM:I like the idea of using the Navy. Not for the hard brush fires, but when it comes to fighting fires in neighborhoods like Rancho Bernardo, why not? They are athletic and could help people. It would allow the trained fire fighters to focus on the more dangerous situations.

Phil Luddite wrote on Nov 8, 2007 2:07 PM:Come on. Well trained volunteer firefighters can be a tremendous asset to professional firefighters. Apparently the "brotherhood" fears that non-union firefighters will show them up.

Philistine wrote on Nov 8, 2007 2:10 PM:Come on. Well-trained volunteer firefighters can be a tremendous asset to the professional corp. Is it possible that the "brotherhood" fears that non-union firefighters will show them up?

josil wrote on Nov 8, 2007 2:17 PM:Although Navy personnel are not trained to fight wildfires like well-paid union members, they can be pressed into action and have been. Not too long ago, a large Navy contingent from a US frigate, on a visit to Australia, was cited for their heroic efforts in controlling an inferno blazing in southern Australia...where brush fires are fairly common. When fires are raging all over Southern California, I'd think that all available resources would be employed. Similarly, when mobs get out of control and local police are insufficient to handle them, the National Guard is often invoked.

edwardtlp wrote on Nov 8, 2007 2:31 PM:Mr. Lynds letter is wrong on so many points it is hard to decide where to begin. Addressing just one of his points: A former fire chief stayed behind to protect his own home. Who can argue that he didn't know what he was doing? It doesn't take a genius to fight a fire. There are tens of thousands of prospective (volunteer) fire fighters here and yet that, along with the military, is a resource that hasn't been tapped.

politicalsanity wrote on Nov 8, 2007 5:03 PM:Apparently Mr. Lynd has never been back East, where volunteer fire departments are the rule rather than the exception in most of the small towns. As for the time being spent-- he may be right in that the time spent on calls may be in his percentage range-- but there is an awful large chunk of time during the day when they are NOT responding to calls.

Deborah wrote on Nov 8, 2007 6:25 PM:I agree with Mr. Rider in that San Diego needs to utilize more tools when wildfires rage. We have a huge military presence here composed of well-trained, disciplined personnel that would be very happy to assist in any way possible. As a taxpayer, I'd like to see utilized resources (equipment and people) that I've already paid for and that isn't being 100% utilized anyway. What is the problem with this? As for volunteer fire departments, coming from the East coast, volunteer fire departments are everywhere and do a great job helping their communities. It's always baffled me as to why San Diego doesn't have any. But now I understand why, many firefighters and their unions wouldn't want that, even though it would be in the best interest of San Diegans and their properties. Shame on the City and shame on any firefighter union that work to prevent two very useful tools from being utilized during fires that could help save and protect both people and property.

Don wrote on Nov 9, 2007 12:39 PM: During the October fires, I was disappointed that the various politicians being interviewed on TV seemed to be ignoring the fact that 1000's of people in San Diego County were willing & eager to help contain the brush fires. I assumed the politicians did not want to lose Union endorsements by recommending use of military or volunteers. As a minimum the volunteers could've been put to use as fire observers and reporters, and they could've safely been put to use in "containing" fires upwind of the fires, with the volunteers' own spades, rakes, chain saws, etc. I think construction firms could use their own bulldozers, etc., and even claim tax deductions for the work as "charitable contributions." Volunteers including HAM operators could be used to direct other volunteers, including reporting to radio & TV what kinds of volunteers are needed at what location, and seeing that the volunteers are properly instructed and bring the necessary equipment to safely do their volunteer work. It's disappointing and worrisome that the safety of our homes (and our bodies) seems to be monopolized and controlled by unions whose main concern too often seems to be job security and pensions, in spite of all the accolades they get on TV. I'd like to see the unions and politicians endorse and publicize more positive cooperative ways of using willing volunteers to end disasters. Volunteers should be allowed to do something more than handing out water bottles at prescibed sites and preventing homeowners from going to their houses.

Richard Rider wrote on Nov 14, 2007 1:31 PM:See my column responding to Mr. Lynd's comments in the 11/15/07 online edition of the NC TIMES.