Evening star., 1933-10-16

Grief over the loss of life in the death
trap produced by brush fire in Los
Angeles ravine, sympathy for the friends
of the victims and demands for expert
handling of such problems are disclosed
in the comments on the tragedy. There
is public concern over the fact that the
victims were inexperienced fire fighters
employed in relief campaign.
The awful consequences which may
flow from faulty and fallible leader
ship" are pointed out by the Omaha
World Herald, with the suggestion that
it was ''au because they were led, while
fighting the fire, into a position from
which there was no retreat" The
World Herald concludes: "A heavy re-
sponsibility lies upon those who under
take to lead others in hazardous situa-
tions. They cannot, in the face of great
danger. insure perfect safety to their
followers, but they can and should
avoid subjecting them to unnecessary
risk. Possibly those at fault paid the
penalty of their folly along with other
victims"
1T has stirred the hearts of Cali
fornians to the depths of grief and
sympathy for surviving relatives and
friends" declares the Pasadena Star
News, with the query, would not ordi-
nary prudence have prevented it?" That
paper also asks, Was there no gross
and inexcusable mismanagement some
where in ordering inexperienced men
into the heart of raging fire?" Care
lessness in starting the blaze is suggest
ed by the Pasadena paper, as well as
"a general need of cleaning up COM
bustibles in park areas" The Star
News also advises: Should there not
today and henceforth be stern resolve
to correct any deadly menaces that NAV
exist, such as this, throughout the coun-
ty, and correct any tragic mistakes
which may have been made in sending
these men, unused to fighting fire, into
the very jaws of death? The Star
News feels strongly that from this ir-
remedlable page of deadly history of
Los Angeles County there should be
drawn Immediately life-saving lessons
which should prevent a recurrence of
such ghastly episode at any time in
the future"
"The pity of it wrenches the heart"
comments the Glendale (Calif.) News
Press. with the estimate that, "in all
the history of fire fighting, which in
this State Is recurring experience
there is no precedent for such an ap-
F*.iAAo Nf1io1AitS Lie NeWS.ETeSS
adds: Perhaps the blaze was started
carelessly. There is mention of suspi-
cion that it was deliberately set. In
all probability the exact truth never will
be known, perhaps not even as to the
number of victims, since some may have
been utterly consumed The community
owes to survivors every consideration
and to their families it is under deer
moral and possible legal obligation"
That the victims should have been
Jobless men intensifies the pitiful as
pects," says the San Antonio Express
observing that "the men sent into tina,
valley Of death to put out the blaze
were experienced neither as foresters
nor as fire fighters: that "they were
from cleanup squad. working to earn
a meager allowance from the Unem-
ployment Relief Committee." The Ex-
press also states: 1.-The forest fire is
often deadly. but rarely kills by whole
sale; usually the people in its path are
warned in time to escape To be sure
In pioneer days the brush fire on the
prairie menaced the settler and the
traveller by covered wagon: but they
could save themselves by the redman's