The FB post blames emergency personnel for not "doing something". Perhaps this individual who put it up spoke from emotion rather than logic and has since thought better of it, but I still feel compelled to speak up about this kind of 'blame game'. It happens far too often and, perhaps, this will give someone pause in future.
At least one of her neighbors who knew Ms. McWilliams was there stopped to help her. They offered to take her to safety while they were in the midst of evacuating themselves, but she declined. She probably didn't realize how bad it was and thought she would 'ride it out'.
By the time her family realized what was going on, it was too late. The area was cordoned off and fire crews and law enforcement had their hands full trying to get others out, keep the roads clear for the fire equipment and so on.
It's horrible. It's tragic. Unfortunately, it almost couldn't be helped given the entirety of the situation if the woman wouldn't agree to leave when she had the time and opportunity.
It's easy after the fact to point fingers and place blame. Which is what got me started on this. A post on Facebook where one woman "demanded" to know why "someone" didn't do "something" - laying blame squarely on the doorstep of the emergency crews. Another, Ms. McWilliams's caretaker, is doing the same.
This is an ugly sport in which people participate. When something like this happens, fingers fly and blame soars. But I cannot help but ask everyone to stop and answer one simple question: What were emergency workers - already spread thin across the state of California - supposed to do when there were hundreds of other people trying to get out, to find safety?
Take a look at this map:
These are the fires currently burning in California. How many thousands of exhausted, overstretched firefighters are on the lines of those fires, working ten, twelve, fourteen and more hours per day with little rest, doing their level best to keep things from getting worse? How many sheriff's deputies, CHP and police officers - on and off duty - are helping to keep things moving around these fire zones, to keep the way clear for firefighters and emergency crews? Yet people lay blame and, personally, I think that's shameful.
Yes, Barbara McWilliams's death is tragic and horrible, but it's no one's fault. Except, and yes, I will be "brave" enough to say it, perhaps her own for refusing the ride to safety when it was offered.
It's not as if she was deliberately left behind by the emergency crews. No one laughed and pointed and said, "Sorry, no ride for you!" Now that, if they had, would have been beyond criminal - but no one did.
Instead, they tried. The neighbor tried. Emergency crews, when they had the opportunity, tried but, by then, it was too late.
I am terribly sorry for Ms. McWilliams's death. My heart and prayers, along with those of many others, go out to her family but, knowing the little that I do about this woman, I don't think she would be proud or pleased to know that others are blaming the people who were and are doing their level best to save lives and property.
Think about that and, instead of laying blame try offering a hand and a quiet 'thank you'.
Philippa
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