[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
[November 3, 1993]
[Pages 1890-1891]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on the California Fires
November 3, 1993

    Good evening. For just a few moments, I want to speak to you good 
people in southern California who are enduring in an agonizing tragedy 
with the spread of the wildfires. Whenever natural disasters like this 
strike one region of our Nation, all the rest of us try to pull together 
as one community, a family, to help those in need. That's what Americans 
do. And that's why the prayers and good wishes of all the citizens of 
our Nation are with the people of California. We're facing those fires 
together.
    This has to be a terrifying experience for children awakened at 
night by their parents and carried away from their homes before they're 
lost; for property owners, some of whom have faced down a wall of fire 
with nothing more than a garden hose in their hands and a prayer in 
their hearts; and especially, for the gallant,

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heroic men and women who are fighting these fires and risking their 
lives to save people and property from being consumed by the blaze.
    I'm especially grateful for the work of the pilots, many of whom 
have flown after dark into strong winds to drop water on the fires to 
contain their fury. Their actions and the work of countless others 
define the word ``courage,'' and we can never repay them for what they 
have done and what they are still prepared to do.
    In the fires which struck the southland, we've moved quickly to 
speed Federal resources and a strong Federal response to those places 
where it could do the most good in helping the State and local efforts. 
After designating several counties as major disaster areas, we 
dispatched Forest Service air tankers and Federal firefighters to the 
scene. At my direction, Mr. McLarty, the White House Chief of Staff, has 
coordinated the Federal response. The Director of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, James Lee Witt, traveled immediately to the scene of 
the fires, along with Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy and our General 
Services Administrator, from Orange County, Roger Johnson. We worked 
with Governor Wilson and his emergency director, Dick Andrews, as well 
as the leaders in your congressional delegation, especially your 
Senators Boxer and Feinstein.
    And until these fires are out, those in the inland empire, and the 
new ones tearing through the Santa Monica mountains, our work will 
continue, and we won't rest either. For these new fires, the Federal 
response has already begun. We're providing 37 air tankers, 100 fire 
crews amounting to 2,000 Federal firefighters, 86 fire engines, and 22 
helicopters.
    I've just spoken with FEMA Director Witt, and he assures me that the 
Federal efforts are well coordinated with the extraordinary work being 
done by private citizens and State and local government. I talked with 
Governor Wilson, and he said the same thing. Just a few moments ago, 
Director Witt announced my decision to provide $15 million to the 
California Office of Emergency Services to help pay for the State and 
local firefighting costs. This advance will be supplemented as further 
costs are identified in the coming weeks.
    I know this is a big burden for California with all your other 
troubles, and we ought to do what we can to help. I know, too, from 
dealing with natural disasters in my home State of Arkansas that these 
problems put unbearable strains on the budgets of State and local 
government as well as on private citizens. We're going to try to help 
communities shoulder their extraordinary expenses that they're facing 
through no fault of their own. As we provide this help, we'll monitor 
the situation closely so that we can do more when more is needed to be 
done.
    I know there are people who suffered losses who are upset and 
frightened about the future. I know there are families concerned about 
leaving their homes in the fire's path and moving to safety, perhaps 
spending the night in a shelter. I know there are public safety officers 
and firefighters who are exhausted from their exertions. And I know 
there are children who are frightened.
    For them especially, but for all of you, I know words alone will not 
heal your hurt or make you whole. But I hope you will take some solace 
in knowing that your country is concerned about you and that I am 
closely following the work being done to protect you. I hope you are 
sustained by the knowledge that communities in California are pulling 
together and neighbors are helping each other. This is what our great 
country is all about.
    Have faith, and take heart. Soon the tragedy will pass, and the 
recovery will begin. And as this happens, and you know that it will, you 
will be in the prayers and hearts of your fellow citizens. You are not 
facing these fires alone.
    Thank you, and God bless you.

Note: The President spoke via satellite at 8:45 p.m. from Room 459 of 
the Old Executive Office Building to the southern California community.