Anger At LA County Fire Over No Help, Anger At Malibu City Over Evac Jam

By SAM HALL KAPLAN / KBUU Correspondent

Discontent with the way the fire disaster was handled by the city and county boiled over yesterday … when the Malibu Times hosted an open house.

No city officials were invited.

It was standing room only for an overflow crowd of residents at the Malibu Jewish Center late yesterday afternoon for  what was billed as the first Operation Recovery meeting.

Attending was an estimated 300 plus residents, many of whom had lost their homes in the fire that ravaged most of western Malibu, destroying at last estimated some 600 properties. 

Also attending were persons whose homes were damaged, including both owners and renters.

Organized by the Malibu Times,  it was hosted by publishers Karen Portugal York and editor Arnold York.

The focus was on what the victims needed to know to begin the long, difficult process of recovery.

The Yorks have been through this before.

They and other fire veterans urged people to review their insurance policy, meet with adjusters, apply for various government assistance, document everything, save receipts and have patience.

Perhaps hire a lawyer.   

But first as the meeting there was a venting, with residents coming forward to tell what they had experienced in the hell that was the wildfire and their varying responses to the mandatory evacuation order, be it leaving via a clogged PCH or staying and hoping for some assistance. .

The stories were chilling, with almost to the person telling angrily of being disappointed, if not disgusted, by the lack of response and presence of the L.A. County Fire Department. 

Residents told of disparaging put downs by some firemen, such as being told to call 911, if not that, calling next of kin. 

The stories prompted a volley of calls for a class action suit, and appeals to the county board of supervisors for both aid and a review of who was responsible for what was felt was a dereliction of duty by the first responders.

City officials were also blasted … for what many said was a botched evacuation … lack of access for those who obeyed evacuation orders … and lack of communication.