Last year's problems persist for California firefighting agencies

[Kadie]

Last year's problems persist for California firefighting agencies

By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press Writer
Last Updated 6:26 am PDT Friday, May 7, 2004

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The shortcomings are clear as the first week of California's wildfire season draws to a close.

Bug-infested, tinder-dry trees have yet to be removed. Firefighting agencies are still understaffed and short on cash.

Inconsistent building codes in fire-prone areas continue to put homes at risk. Confusion persists about the rules for when to activate military aircraft. Incompatible communication networks prevent firefighters from talking to each other.

Despite widespread agreement on these persistent gaps - highlighted in a report last month by a state commission formed after last year's deadly fires - the vulnerabilities are only slowly being addressed.

more... http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/9201648p-10126958c.html

[jcldragon]

1. That just burns me up...

Won't people ever learn?

A ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure.

[LWolf]

2. It looks like a bad year.

In my area, spring was over quickly. Everything has already browned off. It's already dry as a bone.

[livetohike]

3. The forests down here in S. Cal

are in horrible shape. Took a drive in the Lake Arrowhead/Big Bear area on Saturday and stopped at a ranger station. A map showed that 60% of the trees in that area of the San Bernadino National Forest have been infested by beetles. We are in another drought year so here we go again.