Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2002
Source: North County Times (CA)
Copyright: 2002 North County Times
Contact:  http://www.nctimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1080

DEA TAKING OVER PINES FIRE CLAIMS

JULIAN -- Pines Fire victims' claims will be processed by the Drug 
Enforcement Administration and ultimately reviewed by the Department of 
Justice before any payment is made to them, authorities said Tuesday.

The announcement came as a surprise to fire victims and to county 
Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who said families had expected the National Guard 
to handle their claims. The National Guard started the fire July 29 while 
on a drug surveillance mission and has been working with the families in 
the days since.

The announcement of the process, which came Tuesday afternoon, was a 
surprise to Pines Fire victims and to many involved, including the local 
Drug Enforcement Administration office.

Donald Thornhill Jr., DEA spokesman for the San Diego office, said he was 
told of the policy about 4 p.m. Tuesday and had to wait until Wednesday to 
get information from the headquarters office in Washington D.C.

Yet Thornhill said he would like the victims to be assured that they "care 
about these people and we're doing our best to get them paid."

Thornhill said the process is standard procedure as part of the Federal 
Torts Claim Act and some claims were forwarded by the National Guard two 
weeks ago. He said he's been told that headquarters is trying to expedite them.

"This will not be some long, protracted process," Thornhill said.

Jacob said the news yesterday caught everyone off guard. She said she is 
trying to rally Washington, D.C., contacts to lobby the DEA to pay the 
victims quickly.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens