Public deserves answers on wildfire

An Aspen Times Editorial

Get Editorial Feeds

Aspen, CO Colorado
April 30, 2008

Print Email

Roaring Fork Valley residents, and especially the people whose homes and lives were threatened by the April 15 wildfire near Carbondale, deserve to know how the blaze started.

Furthermore, we believe that charges might well be warranted against the person or people responsible. The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office has determined already that the County Road 100 fire wasn’t the result of arson or malicious intent, but all signs point to a case of extreme negligence or irresponsibility.

So we’re pleased that Carbondale Fire Chief Ron Leach plans to provide answers to the public about what happened that day. Leach promised last week that “the truth will come out as to what happened out there.”

Here’s what we know — or don’t know — so far.

Two days after the blaze roared through 1,000 acres of semirural neighborhoods and horse properties between Carbondale and the Catherine Store, the Sheriff’s Office announced the fire was not lit by an arsonist, and therefore, according to spokeswoman Tamra Blackard, “no criminal charges are being contemplated at this time.”

The Sheriff’s Office gave its investigation report to District Attorney Martin Beeson’s department on April 22, and his staff still is reviewing it. Assistant District Attorney Jeff Cheney told The Aspen Times last week that he’ll consider whether a charge of fourth-degree arson might apply to this case.

We do know that the fire was deliberately set, the Sheriff’s Office has said, by someone burning wood and debris on a prior day. This “controlled burn” flew out of control on April 15 when embers from the debris pile were reignited and scattered by gusty, swirling winds.

The Sheriff’s Office has been tight-lipped about the precise location of the debris pile and the property owner involved. Presumably, the person who lit the fire simply intended to dispose of wood and brush, not to endanger homes and force the evacuation of 150 to 200 people. Nonetheless, it was unforgivably reckless for that fire to be smoldering two days later when the wind kicked up.

At this point, the possibility of any closure in this matter rests predominantly with the District Attorney’s Office. We hope Cheney and his boss, District Attorney Beeson, carefully consider charging the responsible parties.

In the meantime, we also applaud Fire Chief Leach’s pledge to get to the bottom of the fire’s origins. Whatever the criminal outcome, we live in an open society and residents — especially the neighboring homeowners — deserve answers.