Congress honors local firefighters

By: WYATT HAUPT - Staff Writer | Friday, November 7, 2003 10:49 PM PST ∞

Southwest County Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Temecula, announced this week that Congress unanimously approved a resolution honoring the hundreds of firefighters who battled a series of deadly blazes in the Southern California region.

House Resolution 425 passed Wednesday.

"I am particularly proud of the incredible effort made by firefighters to save the town of Julian in my district. Through an incredibly heroic effort, firefighters were able to save the town and the lives of dozens of people who were trapped by the fires," Issa said in a statement.

Issa was referring to the Cedar fire. That firestorm tore through 280,293 acres and killed 14 people and destroyed 2,232 homes, making it the most destructive fire in the history of California, data compiled by local and state agencies showed.

San Diego County was also rocked by three other blazes in the last few weeks ---- the Camp Pendleton, Otay and Paradise fires. The Camp Pendleton fire scorched 9,000 acres, while the Otay fire burned 46,291 acres, including one home.

The Paradise Fire charred 56,700 acres, killed two people and burned down 221 homes in the Escondido and Valley Center areas. In Riverside County, the Mountain fire near Lake Skinner destroyed 9,742 acres, including 16 homes.

Issa represents the 49th Congressional District, which spans North San Diego County and Southwest County, including Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore and Temecula.

Road improvements ahead

One of the final pieces of legislation approved by Gov. Gray Davis last month was a bill authored by state Sen. Jim Battin, R-La Quinta, that paves the way for cities and counties to gain access to money for improvements to local roads as well as other necessary work.

Senate Bill 621 will allow those jurisdictions to tap into a special distribution fund that American Indian gaming tribes have been paying into during the last two years for the purpose of dealing with impacts caused by casinos in their areas. While the tribes have paid nearly $88 million into the fund, a program had not been set up to oversee the distribution of that money, Battin said.

Cities and counties with tribes that have paid into the account will now have access to multi-year state grants for road improvements, water projects and public services, such as police and fire. The largest portion of the grants will be doled out based on the "geographical nexus" with individual tribal casinos.

Cities and counties that border tribal casinos will receive the largest share of the grants. As a result, Riverside County will receive between $8 million and $10 million annually.

"The money has been there. We just needed a system to allocate the funds," Battin said in a statement.

Battin represents the 37th Senate District. The district stretches from the Coachella Valley to Southwest County, including Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Quail Valley, Romoland, Sun City and Winchester.

Legislative conference on tap

The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2003 Legislative Conference from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the The Diamond, Diamond Club, 500 Diamond Drive, Lake Elsinore.

Guest legislators include Issa, Battin and state Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta. Also expected to attend the event are Assemblymen John Benoit, R-Palm Desert, and Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta. Tickets are $30 per person and include lunch.

Diners have a choice between prime rib au jus and herb-grilled salmon fillet. Reservations must be made no later than Monday. For information, contact the chamber at (909) 245-8848.

Contact staff writer Wyatt Haupt at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2615, or whaupt@californian.com.