ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO FOREST SERVICE'S FAILURE TO UTILIZE AIR SUPPORT ON STATION FIRE

 

 

 

       

 

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:  Tony Bell, Communications Deputy Office:     (213) 974-5555  Cell: (213) 215-5176 E-mail:     tbell@bos.lacounty.gov

      December 21, 2009                                                                                       For Immediate Release

 

ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO forest service’S FAILURE TO UTILIZE Air support ON STATION FIRE

  

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – “Recent press reports indicate that the Forest Service was not forthright in reporting why water-dropping aircraft was not employed in the earliest stage of the Station Fire,” said Supervisor Antonovich in a letter to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein requesting a congressional investigation.  “Originally the Forest Service reasoned that mountainous terrain prevented aircraft water drops.   However, their logbooks reveal that their own incident commanders repeatedly asked for air support.   What’s needed is a congressional investigation into the false reports by the Forest Service and its failure to stop the fire before it spread -- taking the lives of two firefighters, burning over 160,000 acres and destroying over 100 homes and structures.”

 

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