I feel great sadness when a tragedy affecting millions is used to criticize others. What is happening to California residents calls for compassion, kindness and prayers, not criticism directed at those who work to make their communities thrive. In a moment when leadership should be focused on doing everything possible to save lives, people with little understanding of the situation or the economic dynamics should not criticize.

Such callousness is heartbreaking. There is so much disinformation and lies, so much anger at any help directed at those who need help that one may despair. As the fires show, all of us are a disaster away from losing our possessions.

With every tragedy, we must ask ourselves: what is the lesson? Always, the answer is to be less prideful and selfish. To be more understanding and compassionate.

Last time I visited family in California, they were under water restrictions. Southern California has not received any measurable rains in eight months. Firefighters are facing hurricane force winds from 80 to 100 mph. Weather patterns have changed, and the entire country is unprepared for stronger hurricanes, more tornadoes, wildfires and extreme weather.

Let's pray for the families who lost everything, including relatives. Let's help volunteer organizations. Let's pray for the firefighters from all over the country, Mexico and Canada, helping to combat the wildfires. And let's forget our differences and unite as a people, as children of the same God. At least, let's do so during apocalyptic tragedies.

Maria Swanson,

Cranberry Township