Running Springs Communities

The National Forest remains extremely vulnerable to catastrophic fire. After we experienced a near-miss with fires reaching our home within sight, several hundred yards away on three sides, we later learned that the fires continued to burn underground for monthd or longer. Furthermore, effective fire prevention management is a safety and economic issue, reducing the risk of life and limb for our valiant firefighters, residents and visitors while saving loss of property and billions of dollars in this economic crisis.

I sent a letter to Federal, State and local elected leaders, receiving a two responses and follow-ups from Congressman Jerry Lewis. I met separately with Forest Service Supervisor Virginia Wade-Evans and Cal Fire Unit Chief Thomas O’Keefe for several hours to discuss my concerns in greater depth.

Congressman Lewis candidly reported that Congress no longer considers these major disasters as a priority on a potential scale to that of Hurricane Katrina. Fire has affected drought-stricken areas throughout the entire Western and Southeastern U.S., including even Florida. Arson and human-generated fires are unique among natural disasters. The SBNF provides an easy target for urban or international terrorism.

Public pronouncements to the contrary, California wild fires are a federal responsibility as well as that of state and local government. Wildfires know no political boundaries and are therefore non-partisan in nature. Insufficient funds are being budgeted for fire prevention while incomplete estimates have been made regarding the direct/indirect economic impact and cost/benefit of fire prevention vis a vis fire suppression.

Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar proposes to increase insurance fees to cover the cost of fire suppression.

The following questions remain unanswered:

• A completed direct and indirect analysis of the total cost of the Grass and Slide Fires. Also comparative cost analysis for prevention versus suppression utilizing an actual case study. We were offered a unique opportunity to analyze this issue when a reserve force remained behind immediately after control.

• The Press Enterprise on October 25, 2007 stated that a, former SBNF supervisor, identified serious problems, requesting assistance from Washington, D.C. before the catastrophic Old Fire four years ago, and was told to shred his report. What happened?
• I learned from several sources that personnel and equipment were deployed away from the San Bernardino Mountains on October 22, 2007, the first day of the fires. Why were not resources immediately available, possibly avoiding the catastrophic consequences that followed? What is being done to remedy that situation?

The proposed Federal budget reduces appropriations for wildfires whereas a focus on prevention could reduce the cost of catastrophic fire suppression. The County of San Bernardino has budgeted funds for only a portion of the San Bernardino National Forest. We are only as strong as our weakest link.

More than two years ago the U.S. Forest Service completed a management intervention plan for the Slide Fire area that today remains under funded and unfinished. Suppression must be matched by prevention based on sound forest management practices monitored by knowledgeable citizens and utilizing personnel on a year round basis.

CAL FIRE estimates that the economic impact of the recent fires costs us billions of dollars. The recent forest fires closed the critical interstate rail and truck freight corridor connecting the Port with the rest of the country. That has a huge negative impact on our economy. Furthermore, the loss of tourism and tourism potential is not included in these calculations nor is a study being undertaken to address this important sector of our economy. The San Bernardino National Forest serves a market of more than 43,000,000 people annually in one of the most intensely utilized forests in the world. Yet fire has forced closure of major areas affecting thousands of acres for a year or longer, more than 20%, preventing their recreational use.

The Mountain Communities must address the security and economic impacts of wildfire as part of the disaster management program, emphasizing prevention to the maximum extent feasible. I look forward to working with them.