Rense.com


National Guard Anti-Pot Helicopter
Caused 50,000 Acre CA Fire


By Preston Peet
For High Times
8-19-2


"This has got to be the very worst marijuana-related damage done in this state in my entire lifetime." -- Dale Gieringer, California NORML
 
A forest fire that burned out of control for almost two weeks and devastated over 50,000 acres near San Diego was caused by a helicopter looking for pot farms, a California Department of Forestry investigation has concluded.
 
"A California National Guard helicopter was in the area looking for drugs, and clipped a power line, which caused a spark which started the fire," said Martie Perkins, fire information officer for the department. The helicopter was working with a DEA antidrug task force, out looking for marijuana grow operations.
 
Called the Pines fire, the blaze started on July 29 outside the town of Julian, about 40 miles northeast of San Diego. By the time it was brought under control, it had burned through 56,500 acres of land, turning 37 homes, 116 barns and other outbuildings, and 161 vehicles into cinders, for an estimated $10 million in damage. Between 500 and 1,000 people were evacuated, and 24 firefighters injured.
 
Fighting the fire took almost 2,700 firefighters, 17 helicopters and 10 air tankers, with the final cost estimated at $21 million.
 
<mailto:ptpeet@nyc.rr.com>Preston Peet
ptpeet@nyc.rr.com
Editor drugwar.com
Editor at Large High Times mag/.com
 
http://www.hightimes.com/htsite/new





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