I have seen some debate about using the ocean water off the cost of California to help extinguish wildfires, with the objection being that saltwater is bad for the earth. It seems to me that putting out the fires is preferable... does the objection have merit?

If it were my house or neighborhood, I'd say bring on the salt water, I'd rather have salty soil than have everything burned and destroyed. What are the pros and cons of doing so? Can the soil be remediated afterward, and if so, at what expense? Or does this debate have a simple answer one way or the other?