U.s. Forest Service Now Says Marijuana Farm Probably Not Cause Of Rim Fire

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US CA: Pot Farm Probably Not Cause Of Rim Fire

 

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URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n453/a09.html

Newshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm

Votes: 0

Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2013

Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)

Copyright: 2013 Los Angeles Times

Contact: letters@latimes.com

Website: http://www.latimes.com/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248

Authors: Ari Bloomekatz and Joseph Serna

 

POT FARM PROBABLY NOT CAUSE OF RIM FIRE

 

A U.S.  Forest Service official said Wednesday that the massive Rim fire burning into Yosemite National Park was probably not caused by an illegal marijuana farm, despite earlier comments made by a local fire chief.

 

"That was only one of many rumors," said Jerry Snyder of the U.S.  Forest Service.

 

Full containment of the 370-square-mile Rim fire isn't expected for two weeks and investigators aren't sure what started it.  The rumor that marijuana growers may have been involved began when Twain Harte Fire and Rescue Chief Todd McNeal told a community meeting that the blaze was definitely human-caused.

 

On Aug.  23, McNeal said the fire started in a section of the Stanislaus National Forest inaccessible by foot or vehicle and it was "highly suspected" that an illegal "marijuana-grow type of thing" had sparked the blaze.

 

But Snyder said investigators have not found evidence that marijuana was grown in the area where the fire probably started Aug.  17.

 

There would also have been no access for illegal growers, Snyder said, and there was no probable water source evident.

 

"Most of these gardens ...  they need to be able to get in there ...  and there are no roads in this area," he said.  "You need a water source....  This fire started considerably above the river."

 

The fire, 80% contained, has destroyed 111 buildings, including 11 residences, and has cost $72 million to fight. 

MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom