$50 million in claims over escaped prescribed fire reportedly denied

Pautre Fire origin
USFS photo from the report on the escaped prescribed fire, the Pautre Fire, in North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Associated Press is reporting that the Department of Agriculture, in a letter signed by Department Secretary Tom Vilsack, is denying $50 million in claims filed by sixteen ranchers and landowners over a prescribed fire that escaped and burned 10,679 acres in North Dakota and South Dakota.

The “Pasture 3B” prescribed fire was planned to be 210 acres on the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands, but strong winds on April 3, 2013 caused by the predicted passage of a cold front pushed the fire across a mowed fire line into tall grass and ultimately burned 10,679 acres, (3,519 acres federal and 7,160 acres private). The wildfire, named Pautre Fire, was stopped at 11 p.m. that night.

In explaining the denial, Secretary Vilsack said the Forest Service relied on forecasts from the National Weather Service in Rapid City, South Dakota, that ultimately proved inaccurate.

In February, 2014 the US Forest Service released a report about the fire, called a “Facilitated Learning Analysis. The issues listed by the document included:

  • Improved weather forecasts are needed.
  • Consider additional research on methods to predict effects of drought on fire behavior in grass fuel models.
  • The nearest remote automated weather station (RAWS) is more than 90 miles away.
  • The project was conducted at the critical edge of the prescription.
  • Consider gaming out worst case scenario “what ifs” during the planning process, and discuss with participants during the on-site briefing.
  • There were problems with radio communications [note from Bill: I don’t remember EVER seeing a report like this that did not cite radio communications as being an issue].

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

6 thoughts on “$50 million in claims over escaped prescribed fire reportedly denied”

  1. Great

    Blame inaccuracies on NWS and weather forecasters

    Never blame the folks lighting one off and checking WX prior to ignition

    Sheesh…….own up and take responsibility and accountability. …the famous fire action words…

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      1. I understand what Tim is saying and I also believe that plowing up acreage would have bben very beneficial in controlling the fire.

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  2. Bill, in any emergency response, communications are usually the first thing to go FUBAR.

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  3. A “claim” is the first step in the process to get $ from the Government. After the claim is denied, the next step is to file a lawsuit, usually within 3 years. Then the fun begins: discovery, expert reports, depositions, negotiations, and eventually a court date.
    Let’s revisit this in 2020 – it will still be ongoing if the 16 ranchers and landowners really think they have a case.

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