Local opinion: Let's get facts before casting blame on North Rim fire

“Shoot first and ask questions later.”

That seems to be the stance of a recent LTE, which posed a series of questions about the management of the Dragon-Bravo fire, after declaring those responsible “criminally negligent” and demanding they be “prosecuted, fired and held financially liable for the cost of fighting the fire and the cost of rebuilding every single thing destroyed.”

Perhaps we should get answers to those questions first, before passing judgment on those involved.

As a 46-year resident of Arizona and an avid hiker, I’ve visited the North Rim multiple times, sometimes for extended stays in the area. Seeing the media reports and photographs about the destruction of the historic lodge and cabins has been devastating to me, and their loss is indeed a tragedy. Like so many people, I have magical memories of meals in the dining room with panoramic views of the canyon, and sunset vistas from the iconic Adirondack chairs on the patio. But what the media have failed to explain, and what, to me, is even more tragic, is that people have seen their homes burned to the ground.

For those of you who’ve never been, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is extremely remote. The nearest grocery store is about 90 minutes away. While the vistas of the Vermillion Cliffs are astounding, there are no cities or towns in the 90 miles between the Navajo Nation to the east and Fredonia to the west. Consequently, unlike Saguaro National Park employees who can live in Tucson and commute to work, National Park Service staff, and employees of the North Rim concessionaires (lodge, restaurant, mule rides) must live at the Park, or face a one-way commute of 90 minutes or more. Unsurprisingly, most live at the Park.

Over the years, I’ve become friends with NPS staff for whom the North Rim is their primary — and sometimes year-round — home. From media reports, it sounds like firefighters made heroic efforts to preserve people’s houses. As I understand it, some units were saved, but some employees lost everything…including, perhaps, their place of employment. Contributions to assist those affected by the fire should be directed to the United Way of Northern Arizona Crisis Fund.

As I grieve the loss of this special place, I am also disheartened by the finger-pointing to assign blame for the fire’s eruption. Let’s be clear – the initial responders to this fire were people who live in the region, and who love this place as much — or more — than I do. No one is more gutted by this fire than they are. As is always the case after a forest fire, there will be a critical incident review, and many of the questions posed by the LTE writer will be answered. Until then, it is premature to pass judgment.

I firmly believe those managing the fire made the best decisions they could based on the information and resources (personnel, equipment) available to them at the time. Perhaps the current administration’s cutbacks were a factor in those decisions, but the reality is, Congress hasn’t fully funded the NPS for years. Assigning all blame — and all accountability — to employees who have to live within those prescribed parameters seems unfair.

And if you care about America’s wildest, most scenic places, urge your Senators and Representatives to support our national parks. It may be too late to save the North Rim, but we still have the opportunity to preserve some of America’s most special places.