Texas calls for help as wildfires worsen

L.A. Times ^ | September 6, 2011 | Ashley Powers and Molly Hennessy-Fiske

[americanophile]

Reporting from Bastrop, Texas, and Los Angeles— Out-of-control wildfires — among the worst in state history — leaped across Texas' parched midsection, destroying 1,000 homes and killing four as firefighters called for more resources and the governor, a Republican presidential hopeful who's made his mark blasting federal spending, asked Washington for help.

Winds were expected to abate, but only slightly, and the dry conditions will persist for days.

Gov. Rick Perry complained about the slow pace of assistance from Washington and Ft. Hood as Federal Emergency Management Agency officials arrived in Bastrop, where 600 houses were burned, to survey fire damage.

Perry called on the Obama administration to expand the scope of federal disaster relief. He noted that in addition to issuing state disaster proclamations when fires flared in April, he had sent a letter to President Obama requesting a major disaster declaration, which would have made the state eligible for federal assistance.

The Obama administration denied Perry's request May 3. Perry appealed and received partial approval July 1. A request to expand the scope of federal relief is still pending, his spokeswoman said Tuesday.

White House Spokesman Jay Carney said the administration had been monitoring the wildfires and approved seven federal grants to Texas to help with the latest outbreak. "We will continue to work closely with the state and local emergency management officials [in] their efforts to contain these fires," he said.

It was unclear whether Perry, who took an aerial tour of fire-scorched areas near Austin, would be able to attend a Republican debate at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Wednesday.

[americanophile]

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