EDITORIAL HOMELAND HEROES FIREFIGHTERS RISK THEIR LIVES FOR US AND OUR HOMES.AS the wildfires still rage across Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, after ravaging nearly half a million acres, it's tempting to dwell only on what has been lost so far: 16 lives, more than 1,500 homes, countless animals and innumerable precious and priceless items. But we should also note what was saved. It has been a bad fire season - the worst combined fire situation in more than a century, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. state officials. But it could have been much, much worse were it not for the thousands of seemingly tireless men and women beating back the fast- moving flames day and night. ``We're ready to do battle,'' said Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Fire Capt. Rick Pearson as he prepared an overnight defense of San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. residents. ``It's what we're here to do.'' From every corner of the state and beyond, they have come - city, county, state and U.S. Department of Forestry units. From Sacramento and San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden , from Nevada and Arizona, to work 12, 24, 36 hours at a time, cutting fire lines, setting back fires and evacuating people from harm's way. They've been putting their lives at risk and working without relief to save lives and property - you can't ask any more than that. |
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