As Calif. fires burned, copters grounded

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: AP

LOS ANGELES - As wildfires were charging across Southern California, nearly two dozen water-dropping helicopters and two massive cargo planes sat idly by, grounded by government rules and bureaucracy.

How much the aircraft would have helped will never be known, but their inability to provide quick assistance raises troubling questions about California's preparations for a fire season that was widely expected to be among the worst on record.

It took as long as a day for Navy, Marine and California National Guard helicopters to get clearance early this week, in part because state rules require all firefighting choppers to be accompanied by state forestry "fire spotters" who coordinate water or retardant drops. By the time those spotters arrived, the powerful Santa Ana winds stoking the fires had made it too dangerous to fly.

The National Guard's C-130 cargo planes, among the most powerful aerial firefighting weapons, never were slated to help. The reason: They've yet to be outfitted with tanks needed to carry thousands of gallons of fire retardant, though that was promised four years ago.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071025/ap_on_re_us/wildfires_grounded_aircraft

[liberal N proud]

1. But Anold is so much better leader than that Democrat from Louisiana

So bu$h wants the world to know.

[YvonneCa]

2. Glad to see this story is ...

...out there. A lot was learned from the Cedar Fire and a lot was done well this time, especially by firefighters...but those helicopters could have mad a big difference if they had flown earlier.

[JBoy]

3. Proud to see that one of Canada's

Mars water bombers, out of Port Alberni BC, biggest water bomber in the world, arrived on the scene this morning to help out.

[Javaman]

4. Who's gonna say it???

heck of a job there arnie!

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Terrible