Sometimes doing the right thing trumps worries about liability, and in the aftermath of a fire whose damage may have been accelerated by poor public policy, it is good to see good public policy emerge.
Tree-removal pact draws statewide interest
Angora fire spurred the El Dorado-Cal Fire plan.
By Cathy Locke - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, August 18, 2007
An agreement between El Dorado County officials and Cal Fire over removal of hazardous trees in the aftermath of the Angora fire has set a new protocol that is being noticed around the state.
Though voicing concerns about potential liability, the Board of Supervisors earlier this week praised the cooperative efforts of county and state agencies to expedite removal of debris resulting from the Angora fire near South Lake Tahoe. With parcels cleared of debris, property owners can begin rebuilding.
The fire, which began June 24, burned 3,100 acres and destroyed more than 250 residential structures.
"It's incredible to watch the cleanup after the Angora fire," said Supervisor Norma Santiago, who represents the South Lake Tahoe area. "We've changed the way government works."
