Florida's red tape contributed to fire devastation, residents say

On the eve of President Clinton's tour of fire-ravaged Florida, fingers were being pointed by homeowners who say red tape may have actually contributed to the devastation.

The critics said the state hinders controlled burns, where shrubs and trees are torched to remove potential fuel for wildfires. Some contend the burns might have helped when the drought-stricken state erupted in flames in May."Every landowner wants to do more controlled burns, but they have tied our hands with regulations," said Betty Jo Strickland, whose family owns nearly 14,000 acres in hard-hit Flagler County. "We control-burned for 50 years, but last year they said we couldn't burn at night, which is the safest time to do so."

Since late May, more than 484,000 acres have been scorched and at least 350 homes and businesses destroyed from the blazes, caused in part by searing temperatures and a lack of rain.

It has cost officials more than $104 million to fight the blazes, which have caused about $276 million in damage. Three people died, and an estimated 100 were injured, most of them firefighters.

Thousands of residents in Flagler, Volusia and Brevard counties fled their homes last week as the wildfires closed in on their communities, but most have returned. Clinton was to tour Volusia County Thursday.

Strickland's extended family lost more than 5,000 acres of timber they could have saved themselves, she said, if new state restrictions had allowed preventative burning before the summer.

"People didn't want the smoke in their neighborhood, but I bet they didn't like to evacuate or have their homes burning," she said. "The state backed the individual over the people, and they have to take responsibility in a big, big way."