Bush vows to stand by fire victims

US President George W. Bush assured victims of California’s devastating wildfires that Washington would help them battle the blazes and stick with them as they fight to rebuild their lives.

Bush, who took an aerial tour of some of the hardest-hit spots and drove and rode through a scorched neighborhood, brushed aside any notion that he raced here to make up for the sluggish response to killer Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“There’s all kinds of time for historians to compare” the way Washington reacted to both disasters, said the president, who told reporters he was there “to assess the needs, to listen to the concerns, and to respond.”

Bush also had a message to the survivors of fires that killed five people, destroyed 1,400 homes, displaced a half-million people, and charred 182,500 hectares (451,000 acres): “We’re not going to forget you in Washington.”

“We want the people to know that there’s a better day ahead; that today, your life may look dismal, but tomorrow life’s going to be better. And to the extent that the federal government can help you, we want to do so,” said Bush.

His comments came as he stood with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and firefighters and rescue workers near four burned-out homes in Escondido.

“These fires are going to go out because of the bravery of the people behind us, but there are still going to be needs and concerns,” he said.

On the way to California, US Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend told reporters aboard Bush’s Air Force One that disaster response efforts were going smoothly.

Before leaving the White House, Bush said he would “assure the people of California that the federal government will be deploying resources, assets, and manpower necessary to help fight these fires.”

“It’s a sad situation out there in Southern California. I fully understand that the people have got a lot of anguish in their hearts. They just need to know a lot of folks care about them,” he said.

California, Friday, AFP