© a Quinn Martin production
Lots of you have been asking what you can do to help. This year's resolution is to affect change on The Angeles and take back OUR forest. I will have an online petition circulating soon. Thanks everybody.

Introduction:
I originally wanted to blog about my adventures in the San Gabriel Mountains. I have some good stories, like the time I took a donkey to Ralph's Supermarket. But then the Station Fire started. I realized that there is much that needs to be brought to the attention of the mountain going public. Most folks are kept in the dark about how the Angeles National Forest operates. I will raise issues that are important to me, which are hopefully important to all citizens, but if you have any suggestions for discussion here, I am willing.

Here's the big agenda: Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron. I've made a few smart remarks and cryptic comments about her. But now, with the backing of some knowledgeable and trusted friends, it is time for a concerted effort to have her removed from her post. Stay tuned for details. And if you have any information you would like to contribute, anonymously or not, email me at gregsweet4@yahoo.com

I will get to some of the stories, sooner or later. Also, I want to make it clear that I no longer work at Adams' Pack Station, that these words are my own, and that the pack station is not the source of my information - they don't want trouble.

Dear Mr. Pringle,

This is the letter I just sent in response to the [good] LA Times article by Paul Pringle...

Thank you for exposing the internal memo about cutting fire suppression costs on Region 5 of the National Forest system. This sheds more light on what we have already known - that there is a lack of suppression spending on the Angeles National Forest. Attached is a letter to Jody Noiron[here], Forest Supervisor, signed by six local members of Congress requesting answers to why the retention rate for fire fighters is so low on the Angeles; the date is July, 3 2007. The letter cites the cost of living being so much higher in Southern California than in most of The Country, and the relatively low pay. It does not show an awareness of the concerted effort to eliminate affordable housing owned by the Forest Service.

But the true ignorance of the letter is in what is scaring away the firefighters: Jody herself. She is, by all accounts, the nastiest person one would ever want to work for. She is responsible for most of the experienced and knowledgeable firefighters leaving The Angeles, and this is the crux of the problem. Until a few years ago it may have been sufficient to use only Forest Service resources in the first two days of the Station Fire, as directed by the memo, but with so many old-timers having left for consulting opportunities, and refusing to collaborate with Jody Noiron, The Angeles is left with crews and commanders that are completely unfamiliar with the San Gabriel Mountains and how they burn. The "mistakes" on the Station Fire would not have been made by seasoned San Gabriel Mountain firefighters.

There is much more to this story, and the story of The Angeles on the whole, and they warrant investigation. The letter you published merely deflects blame from Jody Noiron, and I expect to see some "removals" by her in the attempt to do the same.

Also attached is the letter to former fire chief Don Feser [here], which exemplifies Jody's attitude, and which led to Don's resignation

Feel free to email me for further investigation at gregsweet4@yahoo.com

Seriously & Hopefully,
Greg Sweet
San Gabriel Mountain Blog

2 comments:

Sally Feser said...

You are so right on! Don had just completed a grueling assignment as the Incident Commander of the Esparanza fire and all this witch could do was add additional grief to an already painful situation. When are people going to wake up and get rid of this menance to society--one the government MUST support or why else is she continuing to be allowed to terrorize employees through abuse of power. Our officials need to do their jobs and rid us from this horrific and fungus of a person.

Greg Sweet said...

Thank you, Sally! Your comment came at exactly the right time. You helped me make a decision about what to post next on this blog.