As two major California wildfires continue to spread rapidly, one politician is questioning whether federal fire crews have a handle on the situation.
The Dixie Fire expanded 18,000 acres through Wednesday, topping 100,000 acres total. It will soon surpass the Beckwourth Complex to become California’s largest wildfire this year.
But it is the Tamarack Fire, which as of Wednesday night has charred over 50,000 acres with minimal containment, that drawing attention on Capitol Hill. Rep. Tom McClintock has asked the U.S. Forest Service chief why there appeared to be a lack of action to contain the Tamarack Fire in the Humboldt-Toyaibe National Forest earlier this month.
“When was the decision made to monitor this fire instead of immediately acting to suppress it? Why was this decision made?” the Elk Grove Republican asked in a letter Tuesday to Vicki Christiansan of the Forest Service.