Govt. May Cut Federal Firefighting Crews 30% As Season Begins - LA Times

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON — The federal government may have about 30% fewer firefighters for this year's Western wildfire season than it did last year, according to lawmakers — setting the stage for what could be an election-year debacle on the fire lines. "All indications suggest that this will be an extremely challenging fire season, and we cannot afford to allow our federal firefighter capability to fall so far below last year's level," Reps. Charles H. Taylor (R-N.C.) and Norman D. Dicks (D-Wash.) said in a letter last week to Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, addressing funding problems.

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An internal memo for House Appropriations Committee members painted a dire picture. It said major shortfalls in the budget have created an "immediate wildfire funding crisis."

The staff memo warned that, "absent action, this will result in failed firefighting efforts, with potential for significant loss of lives and property."

Last year, the Forest Service hired 10,500 temporary firefighters, but funding shortfalls mean the agency may only be able to hire 7,554 this year — about 3,000 fewer — according to the subcommittee."

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[MikeG]

1. When the West burns, W will blame it on the environmentalists

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. It's pretty dry here in Montana

there was a big fire in my hood last summer, they didn't get a grip on it till they had a Type 1 Incident team with thousands of firefighters including an Army battalion. I hope they are prepared for this summer.

[hedda_foil]

3. And don't forget ... they've grounded the fire fighting air tankers too.

This is going to be a disaster of almost biblical proportions given the fact the West is in its 5th year of drought and the Colorado River, which waters most of the Western states is at what might be an all-time low.

Even for the amazingly stupid *maladministration, this one has to take some kind of prize.