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CLOUDY Temp: 64 °F Wind: NNW at 8 mph Monday, September 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 10, 2003 Firefighting money request ignites Hannon Ashland Republican says feds’ ‘arrogance’ hampered firefighting efforts last summer By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — A request for $1.3 million in state revenues to pay the costs of protecting homes from forest fires last summer came under heavy attack from Sen. Lenn Hannon Thursday. The Ashland Republican, after listening to a presentation from the state fire marshals office, said the "damned arrogance" of federal officials hampered efforts to combat the 500,000- acre Biscuit fire and other blazes in Southern and Central Oregon in July and August. Hannon is chairman of an Emergency Board subcommittee handling the request. He said firefighting pilots complained to him that they were not allowed to dip untreated water to fight fires. As a result, nine pilots "sat on their butts" in Grants Pass, he said. He also cited restrictions on road-building in wilderness areas that allowed flames to nearly reach developed areas. "When you come in with this bill, I’m not inclined to help pay for it because of their (federal agencies’) damned arrogance," he said. Hannon was supported by Rep. Betsy Johnson, D-Clatskanie, who owned and operated a helicopter for 20 years. "We offered one of our helicopters for free to help fight a fire in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington, but we were turned down because our gas-cap locks did not meet federal standards," she said. The 2002 fire season was one of the most costly in recent memory (to fight the Biscuit fire alone was $150 million). To protect structures, Gov. John Kitzhaber invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act that allowed the fire marshal to hire fire crews from outside the area to keep flames away from developed sites. Costs under the act totaled $3.63 million. The subcommittee finally agreed to pay $1.3 million for 2002 and another $974,000 for firefighting efforts in 2001. The U.S. Forest Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Oregon Department of Forestry and private timber companies also will contribute. Hannon directed Glen Andreassen, business manager for the fire marshal’s office, to put pressure on Oregon’s congressional delegation to persuade the federal government to change cumbersome bureaucratic rules. He also asked the fire marshal’s office to explore the possibility of the state assuming primary responsibility for fighting forest and range fires within its borders. The full Emergency Board, which doles out funds between legislative sessions, is expected to approve the request Friday. The Oregon Legislature convenes on Monday. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times