Skyfire Burning the City in America?
From space, California appears to have just fought a “world war,” with the sky obscured by thick smoke and a fiery inferno that leaves everything in ruins, creating firestorms and pyrocumulus clouds. It’s as if a nuclear attack has occurred, surpassing the devastation of Gaza or Bakhmut.
Years ago, during a California wildfire, it was said that the wealthy in America were unafraid of such disasters because they had “private firefighting teams” and “firefighting aircraft.” Yet today, amid the inferno, it seems disaster strikes everyone equally. Firefighters won’t risk their lives for the mansions of the elite.
On one side, corrupt and impotent government agencies; on the other, disillusioned firefighters reluctant to act within a decaying system. The entire societal structure of America has lost its cohesion; when faced with calamities, individuals are left to fate.
Others trumpet homeowners’ insurance as a saving grace, yet they underestimate the “maturity” of U.S. insurance firms. In recent years, major insurers have stopped covering parts of California that burn annually, offering no compensation.
These wildfires aren’t a matter of “unpreparedness” or “rescue delays,” but rather of “willingness to act.” The U.S. possesses the largest military, police, and National Guard forces worldwide, replete with equipment and resources, yet these fires destroy countless homes and displace thousands, leading to apocalyptic scenes.
And “airborne firefighting”? Well, planes do fly over the disaster areas, but they’re media planes, not firefighting ones. America values news pictures more than actual disaster response.
Through their lens, photos capture what looks apocalyptic or like scenes from a horror film. Even the purgatory depictions in the film “Constantine” pale in comparison to America’s disaster photography, which remains a global leader in the field.
In moments of disillusionment, Americans did rescue a dog and an American flag from the wildfires, reaffirming their cultural narratives.
One can only admire America’s peculiar aesthetics.
It’s bewildering that despite annual wildfire devastation, nothing changes. This indicates a distinctive “national characteristic,” viewing existential threats as amusement.
Despite the devastation, they manage a photo op, saving nothing but a flag and a dog against an Armageddon backdrop. This exhibits a high level of disaster aesthetics, earning it a place in any reflective magazine.
Hollywood might as well use their front yards to film the next disaster movie with a diverse cast showcasing narratives of freedom and redemption amidst calamity.
On January 8th, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone stated, “We don’t have enough firefighters to address four fires of this magnitude.” Blaming issues like empty water tanks and damaging winds.
Preposterous claims, considering California’s wildfires are an annual catastrophe, yet they persist in lacking adequate response measures. The US Forest Service’s Miller labeled the wildfire as “Hellfire.” Its intensity even leads to massive pyrocumulus clouds over California, intensifying potential for additional disasters.
No wonder America excels at disaster and apocalyptic films due to their annual hellfire spectacles. Wildfires in the United States have become an expected seasonality with devastating environmental impacts.
One might mistake these annual reports for recycled news due to their consistent occurrence each winter, destroying countless properties.
California’s frequent wildfires largely stem from long-neglected infrastructure like outdated power lines, comparable to third-world conditions.
Since 2014, Southern California’s aged electrical infrastructure has sparked over 2,000 fires, exposing the inefficacy of preemptive evacuations. Solutions exist, but there’s a lack of advocacy within the government addressing inherent fire hazards. Government officials and scientists often shift blame onto natural phenomena instead of addressing systemic issues.
These disasters are recycled newsworthy events depicting societal disinterest in enhancing infrastructure or proactively preventing fires. This negligence reflects profoundly on issues of governance and societal values, highlighting a system’s flaws totally indifferent to human value.
Reminiscent of biblical “Sodom and Gomorrah,” it’s apparent these aren’t natural disasters but created by neglectful governance, reinforcing systemic corruption and capitalistic greed. Calamities in America often reveal a land where moral decay and skewed values distort societal priorities.
