Shriners File $20M Suit Against BLM for Chariot Fire Losses

NBC SanDiego ^ | June 13th, 2014 8:46pm | Andie Adams

[blueplum]

A San Diego County Shriner group is seeking $20 million from the federal government, claiming it is responsible for the destructive brush fire that burned their Mount Laguna camp last July.

The Al Bahr Shriners filed a complaint against the Bureau of Land Management Friday to recoup losses caused by the Chariot Fire.

That blaze scorched 7,055 acres and destroyed or damaged 150 structures at the Al Bahr Shrine Camp, which included an 87-year-old lodge, two dormitories, five rental cabins and a dining hall, the complaint says.

Last month, Cal Fire announced investigators had determined the cause of the Chariot Fire: a BLM vehicle.

According to the court complaint, BLM employee Jason Peters – who is listed as a defendant in the suit – negligently failed to clear debris from underneath the Jeep he was driving while on duty on July 6, 2013.

The vehicle ignited brush stuck in its undercarriage, and as Peters drove on and off road near Highway S2, the fire ignited material in at least four “general origin areas,” the complaint says.

:snip:

The plaintiffs claim the BLM is responsible under California Health and Safety Code, which says if a person willfully or negligently allows fire to spread to the property of someone else, either privately or publicly owned, then that person is liable to the owner for any damages.

[blueplum]

suing the Bureau of Land Management for negligent management sounds interesting

[SgtHooper]

Good luck.

[SatinDoll]

I hope the Shriner’s win.

[Principled]

Sue them 1000 times. Maybe discovery turns up the lost Lerner emails.

[blueplum]

I do too. And I hope more sue.

[Myrddin]

I spent a weekend there in 1974. Aside from the
ice cold shower, it was a very nice facility.

[Carry_Okie]

I have been advocating this for decades. It takes three things to make a fire, air, ignition, and fuel. Air we can't do anything about. Ignitions happen naturally. The only thing we can control is the fuel.

So, why do we go after the source of ignition as "the cause" of the fire? Guess who are the biggest fuel owners around?

Governments.

This is an action that is long overdue.