Red Tape Grounded Copters in California Fires

Residents pick up the pieces after blaze
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 26, 2007 1:26 PM CDT
Red Tape Grounded Copters in California Fires
Dan Keane looks at his neighbors destroyed house as a melted toy fire truck sits in the front yard in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. The Santa Ana winds that helped fires explode across Southern California were dying down Thursday, but the fight was far from over   (Associated Press)

Firefighting helicopters sat idle as wildfires broke out across California, an AP investigation concludes, thanks to a web of bureaucracy. By the time Navy, Marine, and National Guard aircraft got clearance, up to a day after blazes started, it was already too dangerous to fly. Others were missing crucial equipment that had been promised for 4 years.

“When you look at what's happened, it's disgusting, inexcusable foot-dragging that's put tens of thousands of people in danger,” said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican. Helicopters were flying today, helping contain the remaining blazes, which still endanger 16,000 homes. Thousands of evacuees were allowed to return home and survey the damage. Qualcomm Stadium closed as a shelter, symbolically ending the crisis. (More wildfires stories.)

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