Comprehensive wildfire evacuation plans are needed
The 175 firefighters who responded to the Gilman fire on Jan. 23 did an extraordinary job containing the fire within a few hours and limiting its spread to just three acres (“Evacuation orders lifted after fire in La Jolla,” Jan. 30, La Jolla Light). Their swift action undoubtedly prevented a potentially devastating situation.
However, the chaotic evacuation of the UC San Diego campus, Torrey Pines Elementary School and La Jolla Montessori School highlights significant gaps in our emergency preparedness and could have led to a catastrophe had the fire spread further.
As a professor at UCSD, I experienced this firsthand. Traffic was paralyzed; it took me an hour to exit the campus and reach Torrey Pines Road, which was reduced to bumper-to-bumper traffic moving at a mere 2 mph. Along the way, I couldn’t help but notice the dangerously dry eucalyptus trees and undergrowth lining the streets. A single ember could have ignited these conditions, potentially trapping hundreds of people in a fast-moving inferno.
Simultaneously, my son, who works at Torrey Pines Elementary School’s after-school program, recounted the evacuation of approximately 400 children. The school’s location on a cul-de-sac created a logistical nightmare as parents rushed to pick up their children amid thick smoke and falling ash. My son described scenes of crying, frightened children whose parents couldn’t arrive quickly enough, compounding the chaos.
The 2023 Maui wildfires serve as a grim reminder of what can happen when evacuation plans fail. In Lahaina, over 100 lives were lost as residents were trapped by blocked roads, gridlocked traffic and insufficient emergency coordination. Some had to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot or even seek refuge in the ocean.
Similarly, Los Angeles’ recent wildfires saw people forced to leave their cars and escape on foot due to congested evacuation routes.
These situations underscore the urgent need for better planning to avoid such life-threatening scenarios (“Is La Jolla ready for a wildfire? A look at evacuation routes and safety measures just in case,” Feb. 6, La Jolla Light).
It’s not a matter of if, but when another wildfire will occur. While our firefighters excel at containing fires, those responsible for orchestrating evacuations must do better. Specific, actionable plans are essential to safeguard both people and animals during emergencies.
For public schools, a mass evacuation by buses should be prioritized. School buses could transport children to pre-designated safe zones, such as large parking lots, where parents could reunite with their children. Amber Alerts should inform parents not to drive to schools, thereby avoiding traffic jams and ensuring a smoother evacuation process.
For UCSD, with its daily population exceeding 48,000 students, faculty and other staff, the solution lies in leveraging existing infrastructure. Emergency alerts via email, text and Amber Alerts should direct everyone to use campus buses or the trolley system — which has two stops on campus — instead of individual vehicles. This approach would minimize traffic congestion and reduce the risk of becoming trapped in a wildfire.
The time to study and prepare is now, not after tragedy strikes. The safety of our community depends on well-executed evacuation strategies that leave no room for chaos or error.
Nile Regina El Wardani
Thank you to all who made ‘welcome’ sign possible
If you’ve driven into La Jolla off Highway 52, Torrey Pines Road or La Jolla Village Drive, it would be hard to miss the newly installed “Welcome to La Jolla” sign and garden (“‘Welcome to La Jolla’ sign is installed, with plans for plants and lighting,” Feb. 6, La Jolla Light).
The project was initiated nearly five years ago with seed funding provided by the Rotary Club of La Jolla and local resident Thomas Sudberry.
Planning was revived three years ago following the COVID-19 epidemic. This time we had the assistance of sign designer Trace Wilson, architect Parker Davenport (a La Jolla Sunrise Rotarian who drew up final plans for the garden), San Diego Department of Parks & Recreation representative Erika Ferriera and contractor Salvador Serrano. Each of these people played a significant role in bringing the project to fruition, with Trace and Parker providing their services at no charge.
In addition to the above, 13 community organizations and numerous individuals contributed to the project, and we could not be more grateful.
This time around we decided to make the logo generic, as there are three other Rotary clubs in the area, and we wanted the sign and garden to be a gift from the Rotary organization, not simply from our club, to the people of La Jolla and its visitors.
We will soon recognize all those donating money or volunteer hours. In the meantime, we want to thank those key individuals who put in countless hours to help us get across the finish line. On behalf of the Rotary Club of La Jolla, we are beyond grateful for your time, enthusiasm and hard work.
Cindy Goodman
Past president, Rotary Club of La Jolla
Senate Bill 92 isn’t a ‘savior’
I note that [state Sen. Catherine] Blakespear wants to portray herself as our “savior” with her Senate Bill 92 (which would not be retroactive) but never tells us why she voted for Assembly Bill 1287 [in 2023], which allowed the “Turquoise Tower” monstrosity to be proposed in the first place (“State senator’s new bill would amend law with aim to prevent projects like proposed Pacific Beach high-rise,” Jan. 30, La Jolla Light).
Also, it would be “nice” to hear from Assemblyman [David] Alvarez on what I call his middle-finger-salute building fiasco. And he might be thinking about running for mayor in 2028. Beautiful dreamer he is!
Lou Cumming
What’s on YOUR mind?
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