TOTAL INFORMATION ANALYSIS

Sunday, November 02, 2003

From Associated PressOct. 31:

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The first helicopter pilot to see the patch of flames that became the catastrophic Cedar Fire radioed for aerial water drops.

But state firefighters rejected his request because it came minutes after such flights had been grounded for the night.

Dave Weldon was the San Diego County Sheriff's Department pilot who on Saturday rescued the lost hunter believed to have started the fire.

Weldon tells The Associated Press he asked another helicopter with a dump bucket to fly to the scene.

The chopper made it within five miles of the fire, but state officials told it to turn back because it was about ten minutes past the deadline for safety guidelines set for such flights.

Weldon's request for an air tanker was rejected for the same reason.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 27:

Elected officials complained bitterly that Davis did not formally request aerial tankers on Sunday before fire destroyed hundreds of homes in Valley Center, Ramona, Scripps Ranch and Tierra Santa.

County Supervisor Greg Cox said that he encountered a "nightmarish tale of red tape" while seeking the governor's help in asking the Pentagon to authorize the use of military-owned helicopters and tankers.

But Davis, in a press conference at Scripps Ranch, said it was the duty of the U.S. Department of Forestry, not the governor's office, to ask for the Pentagon's assistance.

TOTAL INFORMATION ANALYSIS: Some talk show callers have mentioned local teevee reporting military helicopters in the vicinity of some of the fire outbreaks, counducting "training exercises." I'm still trying to confirm this. Send along any info you may have.

| Posted at 11:37 | PERMA-LINK |

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