[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 22 (Monday, June 4, 2007)]
[Page 691]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Briefing on the Georgia and Florida Wildfires in 
Brunswick, Georgia

May 29, 2007

    I've just had an extensive briefing on the fires here in Georgia and 
Florida. You can see on the map back there, the fire covers a lot of 
area. A lot of timberland is being burnt down. A lot of people's 
livelihoods are being affected. A lot of good country is being 
destroyed. And a lot of good people are fighting the fires.
    First, I appreciate very much the folks that have put a strategy in 
place to deal with these fires. They're doing their very best to contain 
the fires. But the best solution, of course, would be if the weather 
patterns change. And until that, they're going to be fighting these 
fires. And we've got a lot of brave men and women on the frontlines 
doing it.
    Secondly, I got a briefing from the local officials about what the 
Federal Government ought to continue to do. Right now, the coordination 
is good, in terms of fighting the fires. The question is, can we help 
them even more? And so we'll take back the recommendations to 
Washington. Secretary Chertoff will look very carefully at the 
recommendations, and then work closely with Senator Chambliss and 
Senator Martinez about what we can do to help the good people down here.
    It's a very difficult period for the people, particularly in 
southeast Georgia and north Florida. A lot of lives are being affected. 
I've come down to let the people know that we are concerned about their 
livelihood, that I'm fully aware of the nature of these fires, that we 
strongly support the efforts being done here to fight these fires, and 
we wish the people all the best.
    In the meantime, we'll be analyzing ways that we can help even 
further. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 10:27 a.m. at Airport Fire Station Number 
Five at the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport.