A wildfire that grew into the biggest blaze in Los Angeles County history could have been contained early on if fire officials had tapped state and local agency resources, experts told a congressional panel Tuesday. Additionally, the panel sought answers about delays in the dispatch of aircraft and other resources to fight the fire at a critical juncture on the blaze's second day. Instead of relaying an order for aircraft to a joint command center of local and state firefighting agencies, a Forest Service dispatcher held it. "Between 7 and 9 a.m. was the window of opportunity to make a difference," said Will Spyrison, the Forest Service incident commander who ordered the aircraft. By the time Forest Service aircraft made runs over the fire nine hours later, it was too late. The sun had risen, heating up brush and fueling the blaze, which exploded. Two firefighters were killed and 89 homes destroyed by the fire, which burned more than 250 square miles. Forest Service officials offered little in the way of an explanation, saying they didn't know who held the aircraft order or why. "All I know is our dispatcher was told to leave the order open," said former Angeles National Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron. A recent federal review of the Station Fire's handling found Forest Service officials were reluctant to request resources from local agencies in favor of their own, Schiff said. The Forest Service pays local agencies for personnel and equipment used in fighting wildfires on federal land. As a cost-cutting measure, forest managers were urged to use their own resources in an internal memo sent out by high-ranking forest officials weeks prior to the Station Fire. Forest Service officials denied Tuesday the memo factored into their decisions. Schiff rebuffed those claims, asserting there was either a "broad policy" that prevented the orders for aircraft from going through or someone believed the fire wasn't as serious as the incident commander observed...
more
No comments:
Post a Comment