[CO fires] Resource confusion a logistics problem

The Gazette ^ | June 20, 2002 | Jeremy Meyer and John Diedrich

[logician2u]

One of the state's largest wildland firefighting departments is stationed just miles from the nation's largest wildfire, but the U.S. Forest Service has yet to ask for its help.

Fort Carson's civilian fire department has 68 firefighters, including Hotshot members and a fleet of trucks and other equipment.

The firefighters have battled other federally coordinated fires in the region, including April's Snaking fire and the Cedar Mountain Road fire. They even have helped on the Hayman fire - but not at the request of the Forest Service.

[logician2u]

This is simply amazing!

Whatever scars a 'dozer blade might make on the government's overgrown forest have to be minuscule when compared to the potential for another 100,000 acres going up in smoke.

Take a look at the area already consumed and ask yourself, "What if they had cleared a 20-mile long firebreak last week instead of letting it get bigger with each passing day?"

This is only the latest of many USFS decisions that appear to have their basis in enviro warm fuzzies rather than reality.

After the fires are finally extinguished (by rain, most likely -- not by the thousands of firefighters digging trenches by hand), Congress needs to launch a top-to-bottom inquiry into the Forest Service. National Forests are no longer the "land of many uses" they once were but rather home to endangered mice, lice and tree-huggers.

[JennysCool]

Funny you should post this. I was just reading this from the AP on the crash of the Forest Service c-130 a few days back:

Built in 1956, the C-130A Hercules that crashed Monday was one of 28 surplus military planes involved in an aircraft exchange program that was the subject of congressional and Justice Department investigations in the mid-1990s.

Hawkins & Powers was never accused of any wrongdoing. But it was one of six Forest Service contractors named as unindicted co-conspirators in a criminal indictment in Arizona in June 1996 that led to convictions of two men -- including the Forest Service's former assistant director of aviation -- for plotting to steal 22 Air Force C-130A transport planes and six Navy P-3A submarine attack planes.

It was a tough choice, but the past several days have sealed it. The 2002 Forest Service is the leading contender for Worst Federal Department. Ever.

[Tijeras_Slim]

In the Pecos (NM) last week, a buddy of mine was up trying to protect what was left of his property (much of it got burned up in 2000), and the bulldozer operators had to get direction on where to cut from an archeologist walking in from of them to make sure they didn't damage any potential "artifacts" (ie. trash over 50 years old, including abandoned cars, etc.) He's writing up this experience, and I'll try to post it when he's done.

[logician2u]

Hey, I remember that. Didn't one of the networks cover the story after it broke? 60 Minutes or Dateline or something?

You have to wonder how many other shady deals have been concocted over the years, especially when some "emergency" comes up and there's little time to seek competive bids.

[logician2u]

Another case of ruining lives in the present to salvage the past.

These people have their priorities all wrong, IMHO.

Please flag me when you post your friend's account. I don't want to miss it.

[Mr_Magoo]

Please ping me when you post your friend's story.

[logician2u]

You may have an interest in this . .

[brityank]

Please ping me also when you get it; thanks.

[brityank]

... Congress needs to launch a top-to-bottom inquiry ...

Like the one they did on the IRS?
... the Post Office?
... the FBI?
... the Clinton Impeachment? ... the Travel Office debacle? ... the ADM scandals? ... ad infinitum.

I won't hold my breath.

[Balata]

I think a strong argument could be made to get rid of the US Forrest Service. They are filled with Greens in their management which would make it impossible to reform and you know it is impossible to get rid of Federal employees.

Congress could then turn the Forrests over to the states who could manage them. If the voters of the state feel they failed then the Governor and responsible parties could be voted out. The way it is now we have no recourse. The state could keep some land as State Forrests and perhaps privatize a percentage.

Hopefully if anything good comes out of the Colorado fires it will be a national discussion of this problem. There are better solutions than to continue with the current way of doing things.