LOS ANGELES - U.S. Forest Service retirees claim an internal investigation into last year's deadly Angeles National Forest wildfire ignored critical errors.

The group wants a wider, independent probe into the handling of the blaze that burned about 250 square miles, killed two firefighters and destroyed 89 homes.

The agency's initial investigation found no tactical errors and it blamed hazardous terrain for the lack of a heavy air assault on the second day when the blaze took off.

Retired Forest Service fire management officer Larry Boggs calls it "a whitewash" and insists aircraft would have been effective.

Burbank Congressman Adam Schiff told the Los Angeles Times he plans to convene a panel of Los Angeles-area House members to hear testimony from the retirees.
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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com

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