Report : O.C. didn’t have the equipment or staff to battle Santiago wildfire

A report shows Orange County firefighters didn’t have enough resources to deal with the 28,000-acre Santiago blaze that destroyed 42 structures during the fall Southern California wildfire siege. Only two Vietnam-era water-dropping helicopters were available to fight the wind-whipped blaze on Oct. 21.The Orange County Fire Authority after-action assessment also says its fire engines were staffed below national standards and it was difficult to find help elsewhere because nine other wildfires were being fought in the region.The Santiago fire raged untamed for 19 days.On Thursday, the Orange County Fire Authority approved $14.1 million for additional staffing and equipment.Source: latimes.com

WestCoast 911: We have had a significant amount of rainfall this winter and the wildland areas have grown tall and thick. There is much talk with municiple departments about cutbacks. CalFire is already seeing cuts and is being affected negatively. West Coast firefighters need more to see more reports like these that continue to stress our point of understaffing and limited resources.