Bush Vows Not to Leave California Stranded As Firefighting Costs Strain Budget

Jul. 18–President Bush took a helicopter tour of charred forests above Shasta Lake on Thursday and vowed to do the “best … we possibly can” in directing federal assistance to help California respond to devastating wildfires.

With nearly 2,000 lightning fires since mid-June devouring more than 880,000 acres and burning a hole in the state budget, Bush promised not to leave California stranded.

Federal disaster officials to date have pledged $31 million in direct reimbursements for California’s firefighting costs, and the White House said Thursday that a total of $154 million in aid is on the way. The state has deployed more than 2,000 firefighters and support personnel while running up costs of more than $100 million since mid-June. Federal firefighting costs have surpassed $220 million.

The most recent fires come on the heels of the costliest fiscal year in California history. Major blazes near San Diego, Lake Tahoe and elsewhere last year helped push 2007-2008 state firefighting costs past $390 million, more than $310 million more than the state had budgeted.

“I would like to just let the people out here know that we’re paying attention to you in Washington, D.C.,” Bush said after Air Force One touched down at Redding Municipal Airport.

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