Congress blasts FS chief for Thirtymile

By Lee Hicks

Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth has come under fire in Congress for the agency’s safety failures that contributed to the deaths of four young firefighters in the Thirtymile blaze last July.

Members of the Senate’s public lands and forests subcommittee grilled Bosworth over why safety rules were broken, repeating problems found in the 1994 Storm King Fire in Colorado that claimed 14 lives.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the subcommittee he chairs wants to see "a new direction" for the agency. He and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said they would like to have Bosworth appear before the subcommittee every 60 days to report on progress.

Cantwell said it appeared the Forest Service has "recycled" recommendations from the Storm King Fire in its investigation report of the Thirtymile incident. She said the agency has failed to implement them since Storm King.

In prepared remarks for the subcommittee, Rep. Doc. Hastings, R-Wash., questioned why the Forest Service apparently underestimated the potential ferocity of the Thirtymile Fire.

Hastings acknowledged that some fires "are just so bad that no amount of preparation can prevent major disasters." But, he said, "should a full-scale breakdown in communication, training and management occur, the responsible officials must be held accountable."

A Forest Service investigation determined that many safety rules were broken, including failures to post watches and establish a safe zone. Fatigue from lack of rest and sleep and significant communications problems were also cited.