Residents Demand a Federal Investigation Into Initial Response
The Sunday edition of the LA Times reported that the U.S. Forest Service initially underestimated the scope and potential of the massive Station wildfire that burned over 250 square miles earlier this month near Los Angeles.
The report refers to records and fire officials that show the initial response was scaled back as crews prepared for a mop-up style of operation, errantly believing the fire was under control. More air and ground was available than was used, according to the report.
The blaze turned out to be the county’s largest in recorded history, torching dozens of homes and killing two brothers when their truck rolled down off a mountain road.
The LA Times story describes a timeline accompanied by specific actions that were taken. A group of very pissed-off Big Tujunga Canyon residents confronted fire officials at a meeting Monday night demanding answers.
Read the full report here.
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