Most Recommendations in Wake of California Wildfires Still Not Implemented
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Only nine of 48 safety recommendations made in the wake of last year's deadly wildfires have been carried out, leading to a split between fire officials and representatives of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appointed the panel that made the recommendations.
Schwarzenegger created the panel soon after last fall's series of wildfires had left 24 Californians dead, destroyed 3,361 homes and blackened 739,597 acres.
But six months after the panel issued its recommendations, most have not been implemented, and a variety of reasons, from lack of money to the war in Iraq, have been given.
``The governor is responding to the greatest needs in Southern California,'' said Schwarzenegger's resources secretary, Mike Chrisman, adding, ``California should feel safer,'' knowing nine of the panel's recommendations have been fulfilled.
A coalition of the state's major firefighting associations disagrees, saying the most important recommendations have not been acted on. Among them are determining whether fire agencies have adequate resources, upgrading emergency communications equipment and purchasing fleets of new fire engines.
``There has been no effort by the administration to see if there is a way to accomplish some of these things in a different form or fashion,'' said Alameda County Fire Chief Bill McCammon. ``We believe that California's fire safety, and that its future fire safety, hinges on some of these recommendations.''
The relationship between Schwarzenegger and fire officials was further strained when he vetoed bills that would have provided the funds for more fire equipment and increased the number of firefighters on California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection trucks.
``What message does this send to those who did his work? Our work was for nothing,'' said San Diego Fire Chief Jeff Bowman, who served on the panel.
Schwarzenegger complained that the legislation would have limited the flexibility of authorities to direct firefighting resources and would have taken resources from other important programs, including the fight against terrorism.
Chrisman said Schwarzenegger has made an additional $12 million to $15 million available for firefighting responsibilities and has increased staffing, equipment and training programs.
Some of the panel's recommendations have also turned out to be more difficult to implement than anticipated. The state reached agreement with the Department of Defense to train more than a dozen Marine and Navy pilots to fight fires, for example, but the pilots were all sent to Iraq as soon as they were trained.
