- "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
|