Not enough crews to fight fires (California Wildfires)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: The Mercury News

A shortage of equipment and staff has contributed to the spread of fires across the state, according to frustrated fire commanders trying to subdue the state's 320 raging wildland blazes.

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More than 725,000 acres have burned - and 100 homes lost - since a series of wildfires scorched the state. One firefighter has died and 233 have been injured, according to Sen. Barbara Boxer.

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On Thursday afternoon, secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff promised to provide federal helicopters to dump water. He also said he would send out-of-state firefighters to train incoming National Guardsmen. FEMA director R. David Paulison, a former U.S. Fire Administrator, said he is mapping
out an integrated federal response, in coordination with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's staff, to quickly meet the state's needs.

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Pleas for assistance

In their reports submitted to U.S. Forestry Service and Cal Fire, fire commanders have also been asking for help.

In Kern County's Piute fire, commander Chris Hoff asked repeatedly for more officers, writing "lack of overhead positions continue to hamper suppression efforts." In a Humboldt County fire, called Hell's Half Complex, commander Jess Secrest wrote that "continued inability to fill critical resource orders increases the fire's ability to enter residential areas."

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9848630

[Betsy Ross]

1. The fires started last month.

And NOW FEMA and DHS says they'll send help. Oh yes, our governor called in the state National Guard. All 200 of them. Louisiana, Iowa, California: which state will be next to suffer a disaster and not have the local resources to address it. But California will have to pick up most of the bill for fighting fires so it's no skin of the noses of the * administration.

[NV Whino]

2. Are these the same helicopters that keep crashing

or do we only sent those to Iraq?

[NMDemDist2]

3. now that the rains have started here and our fires are out, I heard on the radio

this morning NM is sending off 6 crews to help in CAL.