Rethinking Fire Policy in the Tinderbox Zone - New York Times

Rethinking Fire Policy in the Tinderbox Zone - New York Times: "WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 — Michael Chertoff, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, expressed anger and dismay Saturday over a fake news conference held by the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the California wildfires, and vowed disciplinary action. In an interview at the department’s headquarters, Mr. Chertoff declined to say whether he planned firings. But he said he had “directed that appropriate disciplinary action” be taken. He called the event “extraordinarily dumb and inappropriate” and “a classic display of boneheadedness.” During the “news conference,” FEMA’s deputy director, Harvey E. Johnson, took easy questions from staff members posing as reporters. FEMA officials had given short notice of the event. Homeland Security officials said they had no idea that the event had been staged. One employee recalled thinking that “it seemed to be going really well.”"