Michelle Malkin » Wildfires and environmental obstructionism

Wildfires and environmental obstructionism

By Michelle Malkin • October 23, 2007 10:34 AM

Update 5:20pm Eastern. The Blame Bush brigade blows its hot air.

***

Nearly 300,000 Southern California residents have now been evacuated as wildfires spread across the region:

Thousands more residents were ordered to evacuate their homes Tuesday, bringing the number of people chased away by the wind-whipped flames that have engulfed Southern California to at least 270,000.

The dozen wildfires have burned more than 700 homes and set 245,957 acres — 384 square miles — ablaze, and the destruction may only be the start for the region. Tuesday’s forecast called for hotter temperatures and more explosive Santa Ana gusts.

The blazes bedeviled firefighters as walls of flame whipped from mountain passes to the edges of the state’s celebrated coastline, spreading so quickly that even hotels serving as temporary shelters for evacuees had to be evacuated.

Wanda Tomkinson, 79, fled the Doubletree hotel in Del Mar with her husband and their Boston Terrier after employees called each room to tell customers they had to leave. The couple, carrying medication, clothes, tax records and a dog bowl, said they were relying on a family friend to take them in.

If not, Tomkinson added, “the Lord’ll take care of us.”

As the fires spread, most out of control, smaller blazes were merging into larger, more fearsome ones. Evacuations were being announced in one community after another as firefighters found themselves overwhelmed by gale-force Santa Ana winds, some gusting to 70 mph.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling up the National Guard and asking for military support. President Bush has declared a state of emergency.

We’ve been here before and we’ve been warned that these disasters will continue. Just last month, experts were calling on Congress to expedite forest thinning and other forest managment alternatives:

Wildfires thrive in hot, dry weather. But the conditions also contribute to the die-off of trees, which must compete for water in forests that have become unnaturally dense because of a century of misguided fire suppression. Once dead and brittle, the trees become more fuel for catastrophic fires.

The panelists testified that more resources are needed to keep up with necessary tree thinning and removal campaigns. One witness, University of Arizona Professor Thomas Swetnam, said even that won’t be enough to reverse the trend.

“I don’t think we can thin our way out of this,” Swetnam said.

He said more prominent use of intentionally set fires to mimic naturally occurring blazes has certain risks, but is less costly than mechanical thinning with hand crews and chainsaws.

Environmentalists blame global warming for the problem, but guess who’s standing in the way of a solution?

Litigious environmentalists:

The GAO examined 762 U.S. Forest Service (USFS) proposals to thin forests and prevent fires during the past two years. According to the study, slightly more than half the proposals were not subject to third-party appeal. Of those proposals subject to appeal, third parties challenged 59 percent.

Appeals were filed most often by anti-logging groups, including the Sierra Club, Alliance for Wild Rockies, and Forest Conservation Council. According to the GAO, 84 interest groups filed more than 400 appeals of Forest Service proposals. The appeals delayed efforts to treat 900,000 acres of forests and cost the federal government millions of dollars to address.

Forest Service officials estimate they spend nearly half their time, and $250 million each year, preparing for the appeals and procedural challenges launched by activists.

“The report demonstrates that the appeals needlessly delay federal efforts to prevent wildfires, and if the process is not streamlined, millions of acres will be lost this summer,” said Senate Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico).

“The American people will no longer tolerate management by wildfire,” Domenici added.

“This finding is nothing short of appalling, especially when you think of the catastrophic losses suffered in last year’s [2002] horrific fire season alone,” said House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-California).

“These were not only losses of forest, endangered species, and wildlife habitat, they were losses of human life and family property,” Pombo said.

Same old, same old. Lawsuits have tied up the president’s Healthy Forests Initiative passed in 2003.

Prediction: Look to the Bush-bashing Left and the nutroots Democrats to mimic the Kossacks and blame the wildfires on the Iraq war–even as the environuts continue to litigate while the West burns.

***

N.Z. Bear has set up a helpful page of wildfire web and blog resources.

Mark Jackson blogs the view from Oceanside.

Posted in: Enviro-nitwits

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Comment pages: « 1 2 [3]

#201

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:03 pm, feebiebabe said:

#199 - you know you’re gonna get her “fired” up again with that mr. poop disturber.

Ustedes Hablan Ingles, por favor.
#202

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:05 pm, 29Victor said:

What’s a nalga and why does LaEnchiladita have more than one?
#203

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:15 pm, Surveyor said:

Sorry feebiebabe!

“mr. poop disturber”….that’s a good one!
#204

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:29 pm, bear1909 said:

On October 23rd, 2007 at 7:12 pm, LaEnchiladita said:
The “boys” are just acting a fool, no surprise there, doesn’t bother me.

Because I KNOW I’m right.

Until you refute the arguments, and stop calling people names- I don’t care if you are Orianna Fallaci’s daughter- you are more gaseous than feisty.

As for living the news, try this on for size: 1) 5 cousins 3 aunts 4 uncles and a sister with 7 kids live in the fire zone…my relatives. 2) 78 Indian relatives from different tribes. 3) 42 “friends of the family.

Enough?

Keep your nalgas in your britches thank you. How disgusting.
#205

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:34 pm, bear1909 said:

Global Warming I know, let’s start a secular religion to explain our problems as worthy of Mama Nature’s punishment of the human race. Who needs the Bible? We have Al Gore.

Let’s blame human industrialized civilization. And while we are at it let’s blame all of America, the only country that didn’t sign the Kyoto Treaty but actually beat the standards set by those ‘tards. All the signees failed to meet their own standards.

I’d say we have credits to “burn”.

Enjoy the diversion while you can, Al. You will be historically irrelevant by the end of 2008.
#206

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:38 pm, ajmontana said:

Bear,
Tomorrow the house will be full but if they want to pitch a nice tent in the back yard I will welcome them. all they need to do is chip in on the cooking.
#207

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:43 pm, bear1909 said:

Thanks, aj. Blood is heading to the Central Valley near Fresno. None own their homes. Not sure about the others. No reports yet.
#208

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:44 pm, feebiebabe said:

#205 - LMAO.
#209

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:44 pm, ajmontana said:

no problem.
#210

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:46 pm, bear1909 said:

MWAH
#211

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:47 pm, feebiebabe said:

~~#205~~ 204- LMAO.

fixed it.
#212

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:49 pm, ajmontana said:

I’ve heard a couple times now hotels are jackin up prices x 3 what a bunch of @#$^%&*’s.
#213

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:49 pm, feebiebabe said:

MWAH

No clue what that means,,,,but I;ll bet its just as funny as your post.

See you two guys later…I am off to fend for myself at bart and be cranky to liberal men who don’t get up for old ladies.

If you ever see a crazy lady screaming at these men…its probably me.

Just doin; my job.
#214

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:51 pm, feebiebabe said:

ps, God bless everyone and loveones in SoCAl.

Witcheepoo Out!
#215

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:52 pm, ajmontana said:

lol feeb, and bear just gave ya the air kiss. nite.
#216

On October 23rd, 2007 at 8:52 pm, bear1909 said:

Nite feebz
#217

On October 23rd, 2007 at 9:02 pm, 29Victor said:

Just googled nalgas. Figured it wouldn’t be good, but did it anyway.

Want a tip? Don’t google nalgas.
#218

On October 23rd, 2007 at 9:49 pm, taylork said:

TaylorK, you do not help when you continue seeking argument with people who are LIVING THIS TRAGEDY now, as we speak.

Hmmm, so however many posts later it’s okay for you to do it, but I can’t bring up legitamate policy points that have affected the current situation?
#219

On October 23rd, 2007 at 9:52 pm, taylork said:

…and you’ve never made an attempt to distance yourself from the people who blame this on global warming, which is what many of the initial posts were doing. So all I can assume is that unless we’re agreeing with you, we’re bad people because we’re not living this right now. Sounds a lot like another dem human shield tactic to me.
#220

On October 23rd, 2007 at 10:37 pm, feebiebabe said:

#217 - LMAO, i could have told you not to do that!
#221

On October 23rd, 2007 at 11:27 pm, doriangrey said:

Well cr@p…………The rumors floating around now are that they might cut electricity to Ramona and funnel it to the firefighters, that would knock me off the internet……..No fires here right now, so I don’t seem to be in any danger but it’s gonna suck without electricity or my internet connection.
#222

On October 23rd, 2007 at 11:34 pm, feebiebabe said:

hang in there dorian….
#223

On October 24th, 2007 at 12:03 am, doriangrey said:

On October 23rd, 2007 at 11:34 pm, feebiebabe said:

Doing my best, don’t actually have much choice though.
#224

On October 24th, 2007 at 12:21 am, LaEnchiladita said:

You don’t have to be “living it,” just face the fact that Mother Nature is the force at work in these fires. And that humans are doing the best job they can… a damn fine job… at fighting them.
#225

On October 24th, 2007 at 12:28 am, feebiebabe said:

our friend who lives in SD - his wedding is on hold. may sound trivial, but that is so awful. a lot goes into that.

Take care folks.
#226

On October 24th, 2007 at 12:34 am, bear1909 said:

hope it all works out for them and their families, Feebie. for real.
#227

On October 24th, 2007 at 12:43 am, John Ansell said:

Well the Wh press core proved my post right (toot toot tooting my own horn). Bush is to blame for having the gaurd over in Iraq. Plus they throw a twist to compare Katrina with wild fires. Shouldn’t toot that horn too loud as it was extremely predictable.

Now, Gorebal warning will be the media’s next “tool”.
#228

On October 24th, 2007 at 12:52 am, Glamchild said:

Desert climate, millions of people, resources depleted and millions more moving in.

Anyone have a problem with that?
#229

On October 24th, 2007 at 1:41 am, doriangrey said:

I just spoke with a Sheriff, the electricity isn’t going to be shut off after all., and I should have water back by around 1am.
#230

On October 24th, 2007 at 2:01 am, bear1909 said:

On October 24th, 2007 at 12:52 am, Glamchild said:
Desert climate, millions of people, resources depleted and millions more moving in.

Anyone have a problem with that?

Porous borders. People crossing by the thousands. Camping out in the “Wild”.

What’s not to love?
#231

On October 24th, 2007 at 2:26 am, doriangrey said:

On October 24th, 2007 at 2:01 am, bear1909 said:

You are a saint bear1909, I don’t know how you manage to suffer Glamchild…
#232

On October 24th, 2007 at 8:10 am, ajmontana said:

dorian are you still up and running?
#233

On October 24th, 2007 at 8:32 am, ajmontana said:

According to scanner chatter they caught an arsonist in the act.
Arrowhead update “caught one!”
click incident reports for scanner chatter.
#234

On October 24th, 2007 at 2:55 pm, doriangrey said:

On October 24th, 2007 at 8:10 am, ajmontana said:

I’m back, had to get some sleep. The rumors of the electricity being shut off are back, so I don’t know for how long. Nothing has changed from last night, things are still pretty calm here.
#235

On October 24th, 2007 at 4:36 pm, John Ansell said:

So we find out today that the fire was caused by an asonist and not global warming. What do they put in the eggs that makes the media keep wanting them on their face?
#236

On October 24th, 2007 at 9:46 pm, Quiglag said:

I just heard seconds ago on FOX NEWS Hannity and Combs, from the National Guard in California that as soon Gov. Arnold gave the order for national guard to help out with the fires, he had something like 2500 there, and he said with another 15,000 if needed. Sean Hannity asked if Boxers statement about not having National Guard because of the war was true, and he flat out said no. That even if we did need more, we could get them from other states.
#237

On October 24th, 2007 at 11:18 pm, doriangrey said:

On October 24th, 2007 at 9:46 pm, Quiglag said:

Boxer was in San diego today and the more she spoke the more I fumed and wanted to throttle her. CalFire tried pulling the same cr@p again that they pulled in 2003.

Those worthless imbeciles hate the military and would rather see all of California burn to the ground rather than allow the military to help put out fires.

Thank God that Micheal Turko was on the set (KUSI7/39) when Duncan Hunter was there. Turko was his usual pitbull self and demanded to know why CalFire wouldn’t allow the Marine Corp or Navy firefighting helicopter fly.

Duncan Hunter got pissed off when he heard that CalFires was pulling this cr@p again and promptly made some phone calls. I swear to god he must have promised to personally kick the a$$ of the head of CalFires if this was not corrected right then and there. This was Tuesday night, by Monday morning the situation had changed.

There are still a few issues to be worked out, but hopefully they will actually get fixed this time, unlike the 2003 Cedars fire after which CalFires swore to god that what happened in 2003 would never happen again.

My personal prayer is that the upper management of CalFires get their stinking military hating heads chopped off and stuck on polls where everyone can spit on them.

OK so I really mean that in a metaphorical manner. But believe me I really am angry at those stuck up stuffed shirt worthless military hating liberal sack of $hit$…
#238

On October 24th, 2007 at 11:20 pm, doriangrey said:

Opps minor correction, Should read

This was Tuesday night, by ~~Monday~~ Wedensday morning the situation had changed.
#239

On October 25th, 2007 at 1:24 pm, doriangrey said:

Hey the Prez just touched down in Escondido and is speeding like a bat out of hell towards Rancho Bernardo…