Furious over delay in lifting evacuation order

I am furious, outraged, disappointed and truly frightened by the competency and incompetence of Big Brother in the evacuation of Fallbrook October 22. I feel so strongly about the importance and significance of the error that was made that I am calling for the

immediate firing or resignations of those responsible. That error was the failure to lift the evacuation order in a timely manner. In private industry or in the military people who commit this egregious an error would be fired or would lose their command. I am 100 percent in agreement that the evacuation was necessary and was a good call. I applaud the evacuation plans that were made and the efficiency with which they were carried out. Once the evacuation was complete the area was reasonably well secured. Good! But this is where the good ends! There was no plan in place to repopulate the evacuated area. Midafternoon Tuesday, when it was apparent that the winds were calmed and had changed direction, I began making phone calls and e-mails to get some idea of when we could begin returning to our homes. From Tuesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon I always got the same bureaucratic shuffle that ended with “We are working on a plan to repopulate the area. Please call back tomorrow.” Once the immediate threat or danger has past, the need to permit residents to return to their homes is overwhelming. There is no reason or argument that supersedes the need to allow people to return to their homes except for real and present dangers (i.e. unsecured downed power lines) or keeping an area clear for fire

suppression efforts (up to a half-mile from the fire lines).

The 48-hour delay in lifting the general evacuation order is inexcusable. This is not a time to err on the side of caution. Residents must be allowed to return to their homes ASAP. Everything does not have to be 100 percent perfect and safe. Just allow us to return to our homes and we can and will responsibly deal with it.

Donald L Conibear