The Wilderness Society Issues Statement on Bush's Western Tour

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 - U.S. Newswire

Keeping people safe and protecting homes must be the top priority for any wildfire policy. Unfortunately, the President's wildfire proposal would not have protected the communities he visited today -- Mt. Lemmon or Summerhaven.

Universal agreement already exists that making homes firewise and creating a defensible space around communities will dramatically improve homeowner and firefighter safety. In Arizona, towns and communities wanted to do the work but did not receive appropriate resources to finish the job.

The administration's proposal neither focuses on communities nor provides additional funding to help make homes and towns safer across the West. Simply put, it will not help protect future Summerhavens from the risk of wildfire.

The President has the authority and opportunity to stop the politicking and get on with the business of protecting homes and lives through healthy forest management -- sadly, something his plan does not do.

It's time for rhetoric to match reality. ---

Go to the Store!

Get an Excelent ’04 Party Hat!

to further an agenda which would not have saved Mt Lemmon, a little
:kick: from someone with fond memories of a beloved 'Sky Island'

:shrug: