STATE LEADERS JOIN EFFORT TO ADOPT COUNTY FIRE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIRES IN ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST

 

 

 

       

 

PRESS RELEASE

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

      January 6, 2010                                                                                  For Immediate Release

 

STATE LEADERS join effort to ADOPT COUNTY FIRE RECOMMENDATIONS for fires in ANGELES NATionaL FOREST

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – “We appreciate our State Representatives for supporting our effort to improve the response to forest fires that impact Los Angeles County residents,” said Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.   

 

“Joining with the Board of Supervisors who unanimously supported the County Fire Department’s recommendations, our State Representatives sent a message to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein that vital reforms are needed to prevent future tragedies,” added Antonovich. 

The recommendations proposed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department for the U.S. Forest Service to adopt include:

·              Allowing night time and first-light air attacks by helicopters and other fixed-wing aircraft

·              Increasing bush clearance requirements from 30 feet to 200 feet

·              Permitting the use of heavy mechanized equipment and installation of fire breaks

·              Installation of a protective barrier to prevent future damage to the communication infrastructure and the historical resources at Mt. Wilson

The letter was signed by State Senators George Runner (17^th) and Bob Huff (29^th), and State Assembly Members Cameron Smyth (38^th), Steve Knight (36^th), Anthony Adams (59^th), and Audra Strickland (37^th) expressed support for the regulatory changes proposed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s report on firefighting procedures utilized by the U.S. Forest Service during the Station Fire. 

 

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