CO- President Obama en route to fire incidents in Colorado

[BDFfire]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/o...212538465.html

[RIV F005]

Whether you like it or not, with his pen, he will release many millions of dollars to help control the fire (salaries), and relief efforts. The Stafford Act has helped out so many in times of disaster. This may also loosen the purse strings for additional out of area resources to respond.

[arff]

Whether you like it or not, with his pen, he will release many millions of dollars to help control the fire (salaries), and relief efforts. The Stafford Act has helped out so many in times of disaster. This may also loosen the purse strings for additional out of area resources to respond.

Let us hope it will release big purse strings to help out all the states with fires that are understaffed.

[milehighbar]

If RM or GB have any fires that are understaffed, all it takes is one phone call from the POTUS and a significant amount of additional federal resources would be enroute.

This should be an interesting visit. I think it's his first to a wildfire as President (I could be wrong on this). I hope in additon to meeting with fire victims, state and local FFs, I hope he takes time to meet with his Federal Wildland Firefighters.

[rmm]

Alas, whereas more resources may be assigned to the fires that lack staffing, it is a mixed blessing. I've been on fires where the camp had to be completely taken down and set up again in a different configuration or moved due to safety concerns about the visit. At the same time, we've had radio channels blocked or scrambled during VIP visits. None of this is conducive to being able to continually provide support for the firefighters on the line or to firefighter safety itself.The logistics folks back at camp are too busy busting their butts moving things around to keep Sercret Service happy (and that is not an option, you will do as you are told) and then are worn down from all the work of trying to fix up camp and supporting the troops at the same time. Hopefully any radio issues will be worked out WELL ahead of time. However, if the end result is truly NEEDED help (and often MORE help isn't needed other than from Mom Nature) and not just a photo op or political ploy, it may be well worth it. I'm not questioning Obama's intentions any more than any other VIP. HE is likely very concerned, but I do have to say that I've appreciated it when the VIPS do not spend time on the ground. It can be quite an adverse impact also.

[arff]

A flyover with media activities at an airport would be alot more productive for most people in camp or on the fire.
Observed this at Witch Fire in SoCal when president flew into high school football field causing repairable damage to field and surrounding areas. All the time under the watchful eyes of shooters and their long guns from above. Not being allowed to do anything that looked threatening (no computers, careful of cell phones, do not open doors on engines or water tenders, basically, just sit or walk around in the clear while on lockdown ).

It does disrupt the activities of the fire, including flight operations, and not to mention if on the road he disrupts the flow of traffic in a community already in great distress.

Some people like having the focus of the president on their concerns, if it can just be done without stopping the actions of the incident it would be better for those working.

Just an observation, not politics.

[oceanfire]

Stay home and send money....... Politics have no place in disasters....Next thing you know Romney will be touring the area.....My opinion stay home, and send the money and keep it coming.....These forests are hurting and need serious dollars for healthy forest management ie. dealing with over growth and beetle kill....... This is no time for a photo op...

[riversideff]

Stay home and send money....... Politics have no place in disasters....Next thing you know Romney will be touring the area.....My opinion stay home, and send the money and keep it coming.....These forests are hurting and need serious dollars for healthy forest management ie. dealing with over growth and beetle kill....... This is no time for a photo op...

I agree but with this being an election time they will exploit it , wrong thing to do a dog and pony show to try and win votes. My 2 Cents, be safe Colorado.

[milehighbar]

Sure there is a level of politics when Presidents visit diaster areas. And yes, it's a swing state. I'll give ya all that.

However our President is coming to also say thanks to Firefighters and to console some fellow Americans who no longer have a home. It's what Presidents have been doing for a couple centuries. And yes, Colorado will receive millions in federal dollars for firefighting and recovery efforts as they would with any Presidential adminsitration.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...f69896f8c1d129

[ScottR]

Poor Guy,, He's Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't,,