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Editorial
November 14, 1943
Imperial Valley Press
El Centro, Imperial County, California
What is this article about?
The San Diego Union editorial attributes a series of recent county fires to human carelessness rather than sabotage, exacerbated by dry autumn conditions and unfamiliar newcomers. It warns that such widespread carelessness equates to sabotage and urges greater awareness to prevent annual fire perils.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
CARELESSNESS IS SABOTAGE
(San Diego Union)
In the absence of definite evidence of sabotage it must be assumed that the series of fires that have been raging over the county during the last 72 hours are the results of carelessness. Temperature and humidity conditions have aided in spreading the flames, but neither high temperatures nor low humidity, in themselves, start fires. Man must help and he evidently did--with a vengeance.
Fire is an annual peril in southern California about this time of year. Lack of rain all during the summer months and the searing winds from the desert which occur periodically during the fall combine to dry the underbrush and grassy hillsides in the county to the point where they require but a spark to ignite them. Add to this peril thousands of newcomers who are not familiar with this condition, who do not stop to realize that autumn rains here do not safeguard the countryside, and the dangers are multiplied.
But it is not enough to pass these fires off as accidents. There have been too many of them for that excuse to be valid. Either a deliberate campaign of sabotage was directed against us, or the highways and woods were filled with an unusually large number of careless motorists last Sunday. Carelessness to that extent IS sabotage.
(San Diego Union)
In the absence of definite evidence of sabotage it must be assumed that the series of fires that have been raging over the county during the last 72 hours are the results of carelessness. Temperature and humidity conditions have aided in spreading the flames, but neither high temperatures nor low humidity, in themselves, start fires. Man must help and he evidently did--with a vengeance.
Fire is an annual peril in southern California about this time of year. Lack of rain all during the summer months and the searing winds from the desert which occur periodically during the fall combine to dry the underbrush and grassy hillsides in the county to the point where they require but a spark to ignite them. Add to this peril thousands of newcomers who are not familiar with this condition, who do not stop to realize that autumn rains here do not safeguard the countryside, and the dangers are multiplied.
But it is not enough to pass these fires off as accidents. There have been too many of them for that excuse to be valid. Either a deliberate campaign of sabotage was directed against us, or the highways and woods were filled with an unusually large number of careless motorists last Sunday. Carelessness to that extent IS sabotage.
What sub-type of article is it?
Social Reform
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Forest Fires
Carelessness
Sabotage
Southern California
Public Safety
Newcomers
What entities or persons were involved?
Newcomers
Careless Motorists
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Carelessness Causing Fires Equated To Sabotage
Stance / Tone
Warning And Accusatory Against Carelessness
Key Figures
Newcomers
Careless Motorists
Key Arguments
Fires Result From Carelessness, Not Just Natural Conditions
Annual Fire Peril In Southern California Due To Dry Weather And Winds
Newcomers Unfamiliar With Local Conditions Increase Dangers
Too Many Fires To Dismiss As Mere Accidents
Excessive Carelessness Constitutes Sabotage