Here is an excerpt from an article in the Missoulian about the prescribed fire on the Helena National Forest that escaped and burned over 2,000 acres:
CANYON CREEK – As crews dug into the Davis fire on Saturday and the firefighting price tag rose above $500,000, the U.S. Forest Service continued to dig into the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s prescribed burn that raced out of control on Thursday.
Three investigators were tight-lipped Saturday as they headed up a narrow road that follows Gould Creek, traveling to the site of the 2,170-acre wildfire that is about 8 miles southeast of Lincoln. They declined to say what their objectives were other than they were on a “fact-finding” investigation.
Nancy Peak, agency administrator [Forest Supervisor] for the Helena National Forest, said on Saturday that she had just gotten the plans for the prescribed burn and that it will be reviewed by an outside, independent board that will include members from other state and federal agencies.
Along with looking into whether it was appropriate to go ahead with the fire, which was started shortly before a “fire weather watch” turned into a “red flag warning” – meaning conditions are prime for wildfires – they’ll also review whether anyone was monitoring the fire Wednesday night. There have been conflicting reports as to whether it was left unattended.
“If they felt a need to leave somebody there, they would do it, but it’s not a requirement for a prescribed burn,” Peak said.
That fact angered some at an informational meeting Thursday night, who noted that they can be ticketed for leaving an unattended fire in a fire ring, and that private property owners not only were banned from burning for a week before the fire, they’re required to extinguish fires fully.
“My fires have to be dead out before I can walk away from them,” said private forester John Ottman, who’s been clearing dead trees on a nearby property. “Why wasn’t the Forest Service forced to have it out before the red flag warning hit?”
Peak said she understands the frustration at the apparent double standard.
“That’s one of the questions we will answer through the review,” she said.
[…]
About half the burn was completed in the spring, and the plan was to finish the job on Wednesday, authorized by Lincoln District Ranger Amber Kamps. Crews had a bit of trouble lighting the prescribed burn Wednesday morning, under clear skies and cool temperatures, but eventually got it going. They stopped ignitions once the red flag warning was issued as temperatures climbed into the 90s in the Helena valley and the winds started blowing strongly.
Cascading embers started small fires outside the prescribed burn’s perimeter, but they were extinguished. However, for reasons that haven’t been explained, at least the majority, if not all of the crew, left for the night without fully putting out the fire.
They returned early Thursday morning with 65 people, nine engines, three water tenders and a helicopter, but by 1 p.m. it had escaped their efforts and grew from 20 to 100 acres in an hour. By 8 p.m. that night, it exploded to 2,000 acres.
Kamps remains the Lincoln District ranger, but Peak said she has taken over the agency’s administrative role for the fire.
“I’m working with her,” Peak said.
Thanks Dick
