Senator Feinstein is calling on President Bush for much-needed assistance to combat the wildfires.

San Francisco - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today
urged President Bush to declare four Southern California counties federal disaster areas as wildfires raged through more than 254,000 acres, killing 11 people, burning 650 homes and driving thousands of people from their homes.

Senator Feinstein spoke today with Mike Brown, the Undersecretary of Homeland Security who directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to urge rapid action by the Bush Administration in response to the fires that are burning in San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

"My heart goes out to the families who have suffered so much from these devastating fires," Senator Feinstein said. "We're witnessing a great tragedy and my fear is that things may only get worse unless we can get the help that's needed right away."

"I urged Undersecretary Brown to convey to President Bush the urgency of declaring the counties devastated by the wildfires federal disaster areas as soon as possible so those people who have lost their homes or have been driven away from their homes by the raging fires can get the assistance they need. A State declaration of disaster has already been declared by Governor Davis," Senator Feinstein said.

"I also spoke this afternoon with San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy who raised the need for additional firefighting resources to help get the blaze in San Diego County under control.

With the drought, the devastation caused by the bark beetle, and the dangerous buildup of dry tinder and undergrowth, I feared that California could face a devastating season of wildfires. Sadly, that seems to be happening now.

Map of the wildfires, affecting 300,000 acres of Southern California.

It has been a long fight in Congress to get the funds and authority needed to help clear the forest of the dead and dying trees that have created such a dangerous condition. We were able to get Congress to approve $30 million last month to help battle the bark beetle and I am urging the Forest Service to put those funds to work immediately."

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