Ranchers: Forest Service had 'zero support' for burn

On day two of the Pautre Fire that destroyed more than 14,000 acres of grasslands in northwest South Dakota, the biggest question ranchers were asking was, “Why?” “There’s a real big question here that nobody’s asking and that question is ‘Should it have been burned?’” said Tim Smith, president of the Grand River Cooperative Grazing District. “Their reasons, their methods were incorrect for this area. They had very poor judgment in what they did on that day. There were red flag warnings out — the temperature in Hettinger, North Dakota, was 71 degrees, highest in the state of North Dakota. The fire started 10 miles southeast of Hettinger, North Dakota”. A 130-acre controlled burn turned into a 14,000-acre wildfire when winds picked up. “The science behind what they’re doing is not applied to here,” Smith said. While there was no loss of structure or life — including livestock — Smith said enough grazing land was lost to feed 1,000 cow-calf pairs for an entire summer. The grazing association represents about 150,000 acres that can sustain 10,000 cow-calf pairs for a summer...more


In testimony on Capitol Hill today, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell emphasized the importance of collaboration in developing restoration projects on national forests and grasslands. FS Press Release 

As deputy regional forester for the Pacific Southwest Region, Tom facilitated collaborative approaches to wildland fire management, roadless area management, and other issues. As regional forester for the Northern Region, Tom strongly supported community-based collaboration in the region, finding solutions based on mutual goals and thereby reducing the number of appeals and lawsuits. FS web site 

As regional forester, I focused on community-based collaboration—on finding solutions based on mutual goals. That was my experience as regional forester, and that’s how I’ve served as Chief. Tidwell speech.

What happened to all that FS "collaboration"?  Does it apply to ranchers?

“The (U.S.) Forest Service and the association are supposed to work cooperatively to manage this land,” Smith said. “If you had 85 to 90 members in your association that were adamantly against burning, would you burn it? That’s the big question right there. They had zero support.” Numerous people, many members of the Grand River Valley Grazing Association, told Forest Service officials when asked that burning on Thursday would not be a good idea. “They called me about the burn, I said, ‘Don’t burn,’” rancher John Johnson said. “They said, ‘Well, why?’ I said ‘Cause we’re having a cold front moving in and when a cold front moves in, we have high winds. Don’t burn.’” The crews ignored the locals’ advice, citing their professionalism. “So now I’m asking whether they’re professional fire people or are they professional arsonists?” Johnson said.

Guess not.