Group claims 'political arson' in fire

By Jim Fisher, Correspondent

A Portland-based wildlife organization claims that the 2003 Booth Fire that burned in the Cascade Mountains west of Sisters was caused by "political arson" timed to coincide with a scheduled visit of President George W. Bush to Central Oregon.

Investigators stand by their finding that both the Booth and Bear Butte fires, which burned together to form the 92,000-acre B&B Complex Fire last year, were sparked by lightning.

The Oregon Wildlife Federation (OWF) on Friday, October 29, issued a report of their independent investigation of the Booth Fire. That report stated, "Findings of OWF's investigation conclusively indicate that the Central Oregon Arson Task Force (COATF) investigation is seriously flawed and that the Booth Fire was most likely caused by political arson and not lightning."

In their report, OWF claims that there was motive, opportunity and capability for someone to start the fires to dramatically demonstrate the need for the Healthy Forest Initiative.

OWF based their conclusion on several key points. OWF's independent analysis of lightning strikes that were recorded days before the fire was detected showed no strikes in the fire origin site and weather records showed that most strikes were east of the Cascades at that time. In addition, the area had received little moisture to keep a fire smoldering for 15 days as claimed.

OWF also visited the site and interviewed a number of witnesses to the fire.

"If a fire is not lightning-caused, it is man-caused," the report stated. The report concluded that since there was no indication that it was an accidental human-caused fire it was determined to be arson.

COATF coordinator Randy Wight stands by that group's earlier report that determined the Booth Fire was a holdover lightning-caused fire that started north of Highway 20 on the Santiam Pass about two weeks before the Booth Fire was reported on August 19, 2003.

"Oregon Wildlife Federation was making these claims before our investigation was completed and again in a news conference after we released our report," Wight said on Monday. "As we made our investigation, we invited anyone with information on the fire to come forward. If OWF believes a crime was committed, they should be talking to law enforcement agencies."

COATF is a coalition of fire investigators from federal, state, and local government agencies in Central Oregon formed in 1988. Since then, its investigations have led to the convictions of people responsible for at least 63 arson fires. Wight is a retired captain from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and continues to serve as coordinator of COATF as a volunteer.

OWF stated that their limited resources allowed them to investigate only the Booth Fire. The Booth Fire was reported about 3:30 p.m., two and a half hours after the Bear Butte Fire was reported 15 miles to the north.

The fires eventually burned together to form the B&B Complex Fire. That fire burned for 36 days on both sides of the Cascades before being contained. The fire caused two evacuations of the Camp Sherman area and closed Highway 20. About 2,400 firefighters fought the fire, which cost nearly $39 million to control, plus causing economic losses to the Sisters area and major losses of timber and other forest resources.

The fires were reported several days before the arrival of President Bush to speak on his Healthy Forest Initiative at Camp Sherman. That proposal, later adopted by Congress, called for the thinning of forests and removal of dead and dying trees. Because of the fire, the President's travel plans changed and he spoke at the Deschutes County Expo Center.

After their on-the-ground examination of the fire origin site, OWF agreed with the COATF report that an abandoned campfire likely was not the start of the fire. OWF noted that while no fire detonation devices could be found at the site, it would have taken only a match and dry needles to start a fire.

OWF also said that they interviewed a number of people in their investigation including Rebecca French, a resident of Squaw Creek Canyon and former wildland firefighter.

She first saw the two smoke columns from her home. Later, while visiting the fire camp at the Sisters Rodeo grounds, she heard comments about detonation devices being found on the scene. French said COATF members did not interview her.

Wight originally stated that he would attempt to interview French to learn if any new information could be obtained.

"That was before I had read all of the OWF release. It now appears that the information she has is second-hand and does not offer any substantial evidence to the investigation," he said.

COATF's report concluded that the fire was started by a holdover lightning strike.

The area was considered extremely remote, it would have been physically difficult for anyone to reach the area, and there was no easy escape route for anyone in the area. Their investigation team also found the probable tree that was struck by lightning which splintered and spread pieces over the ground.