NJFFSA16
09-30-2002, 02:16 AM
Critics say Forest Service responded slowly to wildfire that became
largest in Ariz. history
SHOW LOW, Ariz. (AP) - The Forest Service responded slowly to
build fire breaks and save homes from a wildfire that later grew
into the largest in Arizona history, local officials told members
of Congress.
But a Forest Service official defended the agency's handling of
the blaze, saying that given its size and intensity, there was
often nothing to be done but get out of the way.
The wildfire near Show Low destroyed 467 homes and burned 732
square miles before it was stopped in July. It originally was two
fires, the Rodeo fire which started June 18 and the Chediski fire
which started June 20.
At Saturday's congressional field hearing, Heber-Overgaard Fire
Department Chief Mell Epps said the Forest Service didn't move
quickly enough to battle the Chediski fire when it was small.
He said federal fire commanders should have known the blaze was
volatile because the Rodeo fire had already exploded under
identical conditions.
"Had our side of the fire (Chedeski) been taken as serious as
the Rodeo, our losses could have been as small as our neighbors to
the east," Epps said.
Firefighters kept flames out of Show Low, home to 7,700 people.
But Linden, 10 miles west, lost more than 100 homes, and
Heber-Overgaard lost more than 200. About 30,000 residents of
several communities were evacuated at the height of the fire.
Forest Service fire plan coordinator Bob Leaverton said all that
could have been done to fight the fire was done. At one point, the
fire was burning a square mile of forest every minute, he noted.
Republican Reps. Jeff Flake and J.D. Hayworth headed the hearing
to gather testimony about the fire response and forest management
in the region. Hayworth is a member of the forest health
subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee.
APTV 09-29-02 1823EDT
largest in Ariz. history
SHOW LOW, Ariz. (AP) - The Forest Service responded slowly to
build fire breaks and save homes from a wildfire that later grew
into the largest in Arizona history, local officials told members
of Congress.
But a Forest Service official defended the agency's handling of
the blaze, saying that given its size and intensity, there was
often nothing to be done but get out of the way.
The wildfire near Show Low destroyed 467 homes and burned 732
square miles before it was stopped in July. It originally was two
fires, the Rodeo fire which started June 18 and the Chediski fire
which started June 20.
At Saturday's congressional field hearing, Heber-Overgaard Fire
Department Chief Mell Epps said the Forest Service didn't move
quickly enough to battle the Chediski fire when it was small.
He said federal fire commanders should have known the blaze was
volatile because the Rodeo fire had already exploded under
identical conditions.
"Had our side of the fire (Chedeski) been taken as serious as
the Rodeo, our losses could have been as small as our neighbors to
the east," Epps said.
Firefighters kept flames out of Show Low, home to 7,700 people.
But Linden, 10 miles west, lost more than 100 homes, and
Heber-Overgaard lost more than 200. About 30,000 residents of
several communities were evacuated at the height of the fire.
Forest Service fire plan coordinator Bob Leaverton said all that
could have been done to fight the fire was done. At one point, the
fire was burning a square mile of forest every minute, he noted.
Republican Reps. Jeff Flake and J.D. Hayworth headed the hearing
to gather testimony about the fire response and forest management
in the region. Hayworth is a member of the forest health
subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee.
APTV 09-29-02 1823EDT