SAN DIEGO -- The fires that raged through San Diego last month burned more than 6,000 acres per hour. It was cited as the most damaging fire in state history.

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Reports Assess San Diego County Fires

In San Diego alone, it destroyed more than 300 homes and forced more than 10,000 citizens to evacuate.

While the embers were still burning, Mayor Dick Murphy sent a letter to City Manager Michael Uberaga requesting an assessment of what happened.

The letter asked six questions:

What did we do right?
What did we do wrong?
What changes do we need to make in the city's fire codes?
Do we need any changes in our force composition?
Do we need any additional equipment?
Do we need to make any changes to the mutual aid system?

10News also learned that a similar request was made of top officials in six city departments, including: Fire, Police, Parks and Recreation, Water Department, Waste Water, and the Office of Homeland Security.

Those reports are due at the city manager's office by the end of business Tuesday. The city manager will then consolidate those reports into one and present it to the City Council and the mayor, 10News was told.

But this "boiling down" process bothers the firefighters union who said the city manager's office consistently waters down pertinent information.

For example, a report written by the fire chief in August 2002 and a January report from Fire Rescue noted major deficienies in equipment and staffing that "hampered the departments ability to safely and efficiently deliver services."

One report predicted a "decrease in employee safety."

Both reports predicted an increase in the "city's liability risk."

In the city manager's final report -- also released in January -- none of those concerns were mentioned, 10News reported.

Another time, a fire department report detailed eqiupment needs, and a "year-round helicopter" topped the list. In the city manger's final report to the City Council, that line was omitted.

View the proposed budget submitted by the Fire Department to the City Manager's Office.

View the edited proposed budget from the City Manager's Office to the City Council.