California Firefighters Catch a Break

Tell us what you think about today's top story!

President-elect Barack Obama is urging people who live in and around Southern California to volunteer to help the long-term wildfire recovery efforts.

What are your ideas for ways to help those who have been affected by the fires, after the danger has passed? Check out the California Volunteers Web site for ideas.

(Image: News photographer Darren Phan, of KTLA in Los Angeles, looks over a wall to
see the devastation of Oakridge Mobile Home Park after a wildfire swept through in Sylmar, California, Monday, November 17, 2008. Photo: ©Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images)

Comments

[Victoria]

My ideas are to volunteer at your local firefighters station and help out the fifefighters there. Also you could help prevent the fires from happening by using your regular fire prevention skills that you have learned. Also research on the internet and go to the library so you can freshen up on how firefires really get started and what you can do to prevent them.

[Emma]

I think that the people who get hurt there friends pray for them & give food to them.

[Davis,Jay]

We could raise money to rebuild their houses. We could raise money by raking peoples yards. We could also pick up trash by the roads to help raise money.

[amanda]

send "Shoe boxes" with Happy meal toys, bandaids in case they were burnt, and some chicken noodle soup.

[William]

Those are some tough fire fighters.Also the way I would help by sending some packages with some food and clothes and some other stuff.There would be water,some toys for the kids and some transportation and a couple beds.By having bakesales and fundrazers we could send alot of money.

[Davis]

We could raise money to rebuild poeples houses,by raking and mowing poeples yards,and start fundrazers.

[Symone]

I suggest that you should give them a place to stay and a nice supply of food.To show them you care for them and there property send or give them cards you can even let them stay with you,you can also give the fire fighters a little something for putting out the fire,evreyone needs a little love after what happend.I think that a human started the fire,I doubt that anything besides a human could"ve started that fire it was really big.
I hope that evreyone is okay.

[Daniel]

It must be very frightening for the firefighters. It is very sad that the people lost there home. I suggest that you should give the people a nice place to stay and try to give them somehow some of the things they lost. Also you can try rebuild there home. You can send them things and try to help the firefighters by congratulating them and thank them for there braveness just like you thank a veteran. I hope they are okay.

[Jake]

I would pray for them that no one will start a fire after this one is finished and no one would forget to leave there camp fire going at night after asleep. I would rase money by selling lemade.Rake my yard because I have a bunch of tree's that have a lot leaves so I could raise some money.

[zac]

i think that we could help by donating money to the people who lost everything they had.we could raise the money bye selling lemonadeand having carwashes.
we could also send blankets,clothing,food,water and toys.we could also send sleeping bags.we could also make money by selling stuff like little buttons and things like that.

[Abby & Grace]

We think that we should raise money for the people in California. Then we will use half the money to buy wood and stuff to rebuild their homes and schools. The other half of the money we will send to Californna so they can pay their bills.

[Mara]

I can help by making sure I turn off anything that can start a fire, and by sending money to help people pay for foods and other items. I can also help by sending medical boxes in case they have burns. Also by sending food.

[nxjkgnujhuhnfbuihrghduigh]

There is way to many people in California already,just let the people move out.

[Griffin]

I think we can take control of our actions and go up against smoking.We can also put out fires after your done with them.Another thing people can do is go to relitives so they don't have to live on the streets.If I can I'll try to start a fundraiser, and to the people in Calofornia we pray for you!

[Kevin]

You could make a charity to recyle to raise money to repair the damages of the community. When you start a campfire put it out so it does not start a wildfire.

[Owen]

I think we dont need them to move out,because they are already evacuated and they will have to travel back to the real estate agent there and ask them to sell their house.Then again,it would be hard to sell your home,because of the fires anyway.I think they should take a vacation to their relatives.then we could send recycled materials over to california.Things like old shoes,bottles,and ect...people in california we will pray for all of you over there...make wise decisions firefighters!!!

[Heather]

I think we could make Chrismas Boxes and send them to California. In side we could include toothbrushes , toothpaste,hairbrushes/combs,small toys/beniebabies,staytionary ,candy ,cerel box toys,coloring books ,school suplies,and many other things.

[Jacob]

We could raise money to get temparary homes for them to live in until they find jobs again. We could send the aproprite medicines and anything to make thier life in the temparary homes enjoyable. Like games, blankets, beds, and clothes.

[John Ross]

I think that when camping,you should put out a fire before you go to bed.That way a forest fire cant start.Because if you were camping in california and you didn't put out a fire,itcould start a forest fire and find its way to society,and it can't just happen in calofornia.

[matthew]

All the kids at our school
could raise money to buy emergencey supplyes and to build a big hotell like thing that the people could stay in untill they could get a job and get a house that they could handle.

[marilyn]

i think your right many fires are going on fast its not the world that does it people that destroy EVERYTHINGGGGG

[Kassidy Johnston]

I think the people who houses got burn should be provided with food water & shelter.

[Haley]

I think that people who have lost everything should be put in a shelter. They also should be given food and water. It would be great for people to donate money to them. We need to pray for them and hope that they get everything they need. We should make boxes with food,water ,toothbrushs,ect. I think we should donate christmas presents. I hope the people get home safely.

[chase]

I think that they could should get t.v.shows to come like Home Improvment.They could get the Goverment to help.Just get the whole Enviorment to help.Once their done alot of people would be happy.Just dont do it because your parents say so...do it for the people in need.Maybe you could speard The Gospel.It would be the perfect time!So look for those in need and go help them!

[Dylan]

I think it must be scary for the people in California. I think it is people causing the fires. We should raise money for the people in California. So they don't have to live on the streets. We should get food for them because they don't have food,water,and shelter with there house burned down. it is sad they have to worry about this. They should make more buildings for work.

[Paulina]

These people already had a house that they probley loved!So you only have to send money to help them and older kids that live in California voleenter to restore their houses.
Donate things like everyday stuff.also, for everyone! DO NOT use anything in the woods,forest that can catch on fire!!!! First, because you will die and the animals in the trees.People that live in the woods and forest mostly you guys just don't do it OK!

[Hannah Grace]

I think that if houses fall down that firefighters should help them rebuild their houses to make it look the same. I also think that the mayor should agree to let their be a place were people can come and help them. If there is a place that has alot of peoples houses fall down that other people should be ready for if their house falls down. I hope that cities can have a place wre they can buy items and be prepared. People in a area were fires happen should have the number 911 on speedial.If some people lose their homes that their should be a huge place were people can go if they do, and it will be just like a camp until their house is ready. If there is a neighborhood that iis small, that they should build a fire department incase of a fire. I think that my friends and I could go to a game and ask people if they could help raise alot of money for their houses to be ready to buy the items that got burnd.

[Ryan]

I think that we could make a fundraiser.To sell hot choclate.That money would go to a emergency hotel.And to rebuild houses.

[Desniege]

My ideas are to join your local firefighter group in your community and help them with local or out of town fire's.

[Bailey]

My ideas are to help your firefighting people only that i dont live any where near there

[Kaylee]

That is Really god story/ documentary

[Sumner]

What I would do is probably do the best I could to save people from the wildfire and give the people some water and food at the closest hospital that was not burt down. I would die to save the people in the wildfire. I would do anything to save the lives of the people caught in a wildfire.

[Riley]

I think we should make a fund raiser to bring money for people whos house has been burned.use the money to buy them clothes and make houses and schools. I think we should buy toys and get food for them.

[Taylor]

I think more people should pay for the damages and help out for a limited time.We can pray for those who are hurt. We should help the people that are in hospital and talk to them and keep them comany.We can give them toys,hairbrushes,and food

[sydney]

i think that that we could donate money to people that do not have a house anymore.or we could go to the fire house and help out the fireman.

[Kaylon]

I think the people whose got burn out and homeless need help from the government