Below is an excerpt from an article at King5 in Washington state:
KING 5 News has learned that the [Washington] Department of Natural Resources has demoted the manager in charge of the controversial firefighting operations at this summer’s wildfires in Central Washington.
Albert Kassel’s removal as DNR’s Resource Protection manager “…reflects DNR’s current leadership needs within the agency,” spokesperson Sandra Kaiser said in a statement issued to KING 5 Friday.
DNR was roundly criticized for what Okanogan County leaders – and many citizens say – was a weak initial response to what became known as the Carlton Complex fires. Four fires merged into a firestorm that scorched more than a quarter million acres and destroyed 300 homes.
In its statement, DNR said that “(Kassel’s) change in position is not connected to any specific event or action.” Kaiser specifically denied that the demotion is due to Kassel’s handling of the Carlton Complex fires.
However, Kassel’s reassignment to a wildland fire investigator’s position will cost him $1,461 per month in salary. His monthly pay rate is now $6,205 per month…
After the 2012 fire season DNR Fire and Aviation Division Manager Joe Shramek was reassigned, and now the same thing happens to Albert Kassel. While having very different styles both we’re effective leaders who had – and have – the respect of the NW interagency wildfire community. For all of the things that the DNR does well supporting F&AM Division Managers after a tough fire season isn’t one of them.
Pat Kelly
Here’s some food for thought. Suppose Kassel initially refused Goldmark’s directive to pay Gebbers Farms because costs/hours couldn’t be verified, and it VIOLATED DNR POLICY . As a result he was demoted. However Sir Peter Goldmark will have plausible deniability!
Look at the itemized billing for the fire payment to Gebbers, bonuses, Generators, saws, pumps… Can you say GROSS MISAPPROPRIATION OF STATE FUNDS.
There needs to be a total, unbiased audit, and further investigation.
Kassel is being used as a scapegoat/thrown under the bus. Why not remove the NE Region manager, Torgeson, he’s lied on camera about the payments/need. What about district manager in the area the fire occurred. THIS story is far from over.
Someone from the DNR had to be sacrificed and Kassel was the one but it’s a win/win for him. Kassel is still making $6200 a month and probably doesn’t have any supervisory responsibilities. The problem is, as a full time wildland fire investigator who might investigate fires maybe three months a year, at best what is he going to be doing the rest of the year? Since 90% of the wildfires in Washington state occur in eastern Washington and Kassel is based in Olympia doesn’t make sense. What really needs to be investigated is the cozy relationship between Land Comissioner Peter Goldmark and one his major campaign donors Gebber Farms. Gebber Farms was reimbursed at least hundreds of thousands of dollars by the DNR for fire fighting efforts primarily protecting their own land during the Carlton Complex. Kassel is being used as a scapegoat-he wasn’t even part of the incident management team during the suppression efforts.
Gotta have a fall guy to redirect WA DNR missmanagement.
Left me with more questions than answers.