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Bush Surveys Calif. Wildfire Devastation

By SCOTT LINDLAW
.c The Associated Press

ALPINE, Calif. (AP) - President Bush on Tuesday walked the remnants of a Southern California community devastated by wildfire, comforting residents he said were resilient despite being ``crushed by the material loss.''

``A lot of people in this neighborhood lost all their possessions, but the spirit is strong,'' the president said. ``America has got some wonderful citizenry who just refuse to be defeated.'' He praised residents for pulling together at a time of great loss, saying, ``The worst of nature can bring out the best in our fellow human beings.''

The president flew from his Texas ranch to this fire-scorched area of California as firefighters neared containment of the state's largest-ever wildfires. They have killed 22 people, destroyed nearly 3,600 homes and blackened more than 743,000 acres of brush and timber.

Bush also stepped into the aftermath of California's recall election. Gov. Gray Davis and Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger joined him in Marine One, the presidential helicopter, for a tour of fire damage and at a briefing by fire officials.

White House officials ensured that the president alone was seen consoling fire victims. Davis and Schwarzenegger were sent on their own tour while Bush hugged residents of Harbison Canyon, 28 miles east of San Diego, amid a breathtaking tableau of destruction.

Little more than chimneys, foundations and the incinerated shells of cars remained. The acrid smell of air hung thick in the air.

Frank Peters and Karen Hayes guided Bush through the ruins of their home, where two sewing machines and an air conditioner sat, melted and mangled among the rubble. Bush hugged the two residents and ruffled the hair of their children, Shannon and Sean.

Some residents lining the canyon roads seemed shell-shocked, taken aback by the president and those accompanying him through their obliterated community. But others seemed in good spirits, laughing and waving as they snapped pictures of the White House procession.

One woman flipped open her picture phone and photographed Bush and other residents posing in front of the ashes of a home.

Bush went from one wrecked home to the next, introducing himself as simply ``George Bush'' and shaking his head as he approached residents.

``I see tragedy and heartache,'' Bush told reporters during his tour. ``However, I see a strong spirit which exists here, I see people who are resolved to rebuild their lives.'' The president said he met ``some families here that are, obviously, crushed by the material loss,'' but he praised their resiliency.

At the height of the fires last week, California was spending an estimated $9 million a day fighting the wildfires. The total cost of fighting the blazes could reach $200 million.

Bush had declared five counties in Southern California federal disaster areas, which can clear the way for aid for individuals and businesses.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration have written checks for nearly $7 million in grants and loans, the White House said.

Bush carried no new aid to the state Tuesday in a three-hour visit, his 10th to California.

``No, what I do is I answer questions as to whether or not the help that is available is being delivered,'' Bush said. He said residents had given high marks to the federal efforts.

``I've seen the truth of the devastation of a fire. That's evident. Now I want to know whether or not the help that is available is being expedited and made available,'' Bush said.

Those fighting the fires described their efforts to the president, Schwarzenegger and Davis in a ``war room'' established for Bush's visit.

From the air, Bush saw the evidence of the firefighters' efforts. Undeveloped hills were blackened for mile after mile, and even the runway where Bush touched down was burned. But the flames stopped at housing developments in almost all areas.

``I think when people realize the scope of the fires, the historic nature of these fires, they'll realize what a superhuman effort you all put in to save lives,'' Bush later told firefighters. ``This is, to me, an ultimate act of sacrifice.''

Bush's California swing closed out a seven-day trip away from Washington. Bush raised re-election money in several cities, delivered an economic speech and spent six nights at his ranch.

11/04/03 17:13 EST