Foundation’s Mission Should Include Wildfire Protection

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Editor,

The letter was addressed to Hallie Jones, executive director of the Laguna Canyon Foundation.

The Foundation’s stated mission is to repair trails, eradicate invasive plants and add new parkland.  While these are worthy activities, you’re missing the most important mission of all: that of protecting the wilderness areas from the ravages of a devastating wildfire.

More than ever before, uncaring visitors to the parklands are ignoring the posted signs banning smoking in the wilderness areas.  Evidence of this careless behavior is ever present, no more so than observed every day on the Evelyn Wood Knoll and out on the surrounding trails.

I have personally challenged the leadership of the city of Laguna Beach and the superintendent of county parks to significantly ramp up their efforts to bring the issue of smoking in the backcountry under control.

With the fast-approaching fire season, failure to introduce proactive measures practically guarantees that a carelessly discarded cigarette will destroy the very parkland the foundation is committed to protect.

It is my sense that the foundation needs to reorder its priorities to address the very real threat of a destructive wildfire.  If not, there’s a strong possibility the foundation will have no mission at all.

Jerry King, Laguna Beach

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