I’m sure I’m not the only one who has spent many hours over the last 10+ days thinking about this fire and I wanted to put some of these thoughts on paper. There has been a lot of talk and finger pointing, and to be fair, I think that the best thing would be to have some honest and open dialogue. So, here are a few things that I think, or that I’ve thought, or that I think I’ve thought:
First I think it’s sad. That is our big backyard, and a lot of it will look like a testing ground for new and improved atomic bombs for years to come.
I think of all the favorites and firsts: fishing holes, hunting spots, picnics, dates, scenic views of the fall colors, campouts, family reunions, wood hauls, Christmas tree outings, scout camps, wild horse chases, and this is just my list. How many others follow the song “Where I drank my first beer, found Jesus, wrecked my first car…”?
I think of the irony. 15 or 20 years ago the forest was shut down to logging, all to maintain a habitat for the spotted owl. Grazing permits were cut (most by more than half) livelihoods were affected and families relocated, and now what? It’s like the tail wagging the dog right off a cliff. And it’s ridiculous.
I think too much is being said about who lit the match and not enough is being said about who built the bomb. Sure it was as dumb as tap-dancing in a field of land-mines, but it was still a mistake. A fire needs 3 things: fuel, oxygen, and a spark. Most of us lived blissfully in a state of naïve denial for the last 15+ years thinking it wouldn’t happen, couldn’t happen, or not even thinking about it at all. “All is well, Zion prospereth, All is well…” instead of being more active. At least I did. Rodeo-Chedeski didn’t change anything, why should the Wallow?
I think the absence of active management provided most of the fuel, and it’s not all the fault of the forest service. Land-use policy, government bureaucracy, rich environmentalists, and every sue-happy leach with no conscience all heaped their mountains of fuel on the mountain of fuel. The forest service often follows the path of least resistance; disgruntled loggers and ranchers versus the deep pockets of the liberal hippies. To some extent their hands are tied.
I think it is an oxymoron to call them the forest service. It is a bureau at best, full of bloated salaries and egos, so-called experts who spend more time drawing a check than they do working (some, not all). How many millions of dollars at 0% containment? What an exchange rate!
I think if they can build a fire line from Water Canyon to Mexican Haylake, they could have built one on Middle Mountain. And I don’t buy that it was too cold to burn fire line at night. If they needed more fuel, they should have siphoned the fuel from the thousands of parked vehicles and dozers in town and burned a line. Again: Oxygen+fuel+spark=FIRE! Don’t tell me they can’t because they did. And if their policy really is to let the fire burn, create work for their people, and try to save structures, then come out and say it.
I think there are a lot of chicken-littles in this world. Some of them probably think the fire started at the Bear Wallow Café and couldn’t locate the wilderness area on a map, yet felt qualified to invent updates and flood facebook.
I think that the crazy man predicting the end of the world might not be far off. This will go down as the biggest fire in Arizona History, over 600 square miles, and 600 miles away I’m experiencing flooding from the wettest Spring Utah has ever had since they began keeping moisture records.
I think I’ve written enough. My intent is not to point fingers and offend. This is what I think and my thoughts have been on fire. I’m not a fire expert, nor do I pretend to be (expert: ex is a has-been, and a spert is a drip under pressure). A Dr. Phil once said that idiots write on the internet so idiots can read on the internet. But I can’t stop thinking about it, and I can’t sit still. My backyard is on fire!
