Posted on 06/14/2002 4:30:05 PM PDT by Glutton
WINTHROP, Wash. (AP) - The wording on a U.S. Forest Service memorial to four firefighters who died in the Thirty Mile fire last summer is unpopular with some surviving family members.
``One of the things we're having trouble with is, the Forest Service is making these kids look like heroes,'' said Barbara Weaver, the mother of Devin Weaver, one of the firefighters killed July 10.
``Their lives were taken from them. They were not out there trying to save somebody's life.''
``They were led down a dead-end road and sat there to do nothing - that's the story,'' Weaver told The Wenatchee World.
The $32,000 memorial is under construction in the Chewuch River canyon where her 21-year-old son, Karen FitzPatrick and Jessica Johnson, all of Yakima, and Tom Craven of Ellensburg, died in their emergency fire shelters as the inferno swept over them.
An Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation determined the Forest Service willfully disregarded the safety of its employees on the fire, and an internal Forest Service investigation showed fire bosses and managers ignored numerous signs of danger and broke basic firefighting safety rules.
Eleven Forest Service employees have been recommended for disciplinary action for their performance during the fire on the Okanogan National Forest. But the agency has refused to identify the employees.
``There's what really happened, and then there's how the Forest Service covers it up,'' said Kathie FitzPatrick, Karen's mother.
The memorial's bronze plaque is set in a 4-foot-tall, tear-shaped rock wall with a stone bench on one side.
It says: ``On July 10, 2001, high temperatures, low humidity and severe drought conditions caused an abandoned cooking fire to ultimately erupt into a devastating firestorm that swept up the Chewuch River valley, trapping 14 firefighters and 2 campers.
``Four dedicated firefighters perished in a valiant effort to battle the Thirtymile Fire.''
Devin's father, Ken Weaver, said he has no objections to the memorial, except for the last line.
``There was no valiant effort. There was incompetence and criminal negligence,'' he said.
Weaver said he hasn't decided if he'll attend the dedication next month.
``I don't mind them memorializing my son. The problem is, half of their motive is to spin this into this heroic, American flag waving, died for his country theme, which casts the scrutiny in a completely different direction.''
He also said he doesn't necessarily want to see the place where his son died.
``There's nothing but tears up there for me,'' he said.
A private memorial service for family and friends only will be held at the site on July 10. On July 11, a public ceremony will be held at the Eightmile Ranch.
FitzPatrick said when the Forest Service sent her the draft description for the memorial plaque, it sounded too much like the campfire simply exploded all at once, suddenly trapping everyone.
``They were in that canyon all day,'' she said.
Some firefighters were concerned it was too dangerous hours before it swept up the valley, she said.
``You might as well have them walk the plank into a volcano,'' she said.
The Forest Service agreed to add the word ``ultimately,'' making it more accurate, she said.
``We can live with it, I guess,'' FitzPatrick said.
Debbie Kelly, spokeswoman for the Okanogan National Forest, said the Forest Service sought input from families before beginning the memorial, and did not hear these criticisms at that time.
Some of the wording for the plaque was changed based on comments from the families. She believed the families were pleased with the memorial.
``I think they have strong feelings, and it changes over time with what they're going through,'' she said.
The memorial is also for the public and Forest Service employees.
``It really has affected employees also, so it's partly for them to remember those people who died,'' she said.
WHAT?!!! The forest service screwed up and we gave them $32,000 more for a memorial? Why don't they fire the forest service administrator that made the mistake and permanently cut that job!
Sheesh!!!!!!!
I live in Yakima,this was a major cluster.
These kids died because of bad decisions,they are victims of stupid leadership,should be a tribute to volunteers lost needlessly .
Most people don't know how carbon monoxide can get to you while fighting fire. Take your top running/hiking speed and cut it by two thirds.
Seems to me there are items in public domain which would solve that mystery.....daily duty rosters, equipment checkout sheets, radio logs, payroll records etc........or so it would seem to me.
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