Town Elects to Defy Feds and Save Itself

Insight Magazine ^ | July 22, 2002 | Sean Paige

[WaterDragon]

Showing the kind of true grit and rugged individualism for which Westerners are legendary, citizens of the small Arizona town of Clay Springs, stood, fought and survived one of the worst wildfires in the state's history in June. But in doing so, they had to break the law -- their heroism came in defiance both of federal orders to retreat and of firefighting tactics that some in Arizona have called too timid.

Events in Clay Springs don't suggest that federal officials necessarily were wrong in abandoning the town, or that the town's citizen's were justified in breaking the law by bulldozing parts of a national forest to save their homes. Had the town's 26 "heroes" perished in the flames, their actions certainly would have seemed foolhardy.

But the saga does illustrate the frequently conflicting imperatives of local versus federal government and the differences in their ability and willingness to act in a crisis. The town's actions not only are being held up regionally as an example of human ingenuity and bravery in confronting ferocious forces of nature, but also when confronting the indifference and indolence of government bureaucracies.

As Arizona's now-famous "Rodeo-Chediski" fire neared the town, two dozen regular or deputized members of its volunteer fire department (now known as the "Clay Springs Renegades") reportedly disobeyed federal fire commanders. They sneaked past roadblocks set up by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and used bulldozers, chain saws and fire hoses to save all but three homes in the community. To save the town, the Renegades had to bulldoze a seven-mile-long firebreak through tinderbox national forest, something the National Forest Service couldn't have done without conducting years of exhaustive environmental analysis and jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

Federal firefighting officials justifiably are reluctant to put the lives of firefighters needlessly in jeopardy, but they have been stung by suggestions of some in the state that they've been less than aggressive in defending certain communities. The officials called the town's act of rebelliousness reckless, irresponsible and possibly illegal. "In an emergency situation, it can't be a democracy," the leader of the federal incident-management team told one newspaper. "Somebody's got to be in charge. And true heroism comes through standing together. This little community tried to maintain its identity to a fault, to a detriment."

To the detriment of the "team" perhaps, but not, alas, the town. "I'm sure we did everything against their rules, but our homes are safe," said one of the town's residents, who used a borrowed bulldozer and what he'd learned about firefighting from a single community-college course to clear tinderbox forests from around his hand-built log house. No word yet on whether the participants will face federal or state charges for running the roadblocks and disturbing the forests. "I'm going to take full responsibility for everything that was done," one Renegade told the Arizona Republic. "If I get thrown in jail, I'm still going to think I did the right thing."

[texson66]

The more the Feds "help" at the local level, the less Freedom Americans have. More power to the Clay Springs folk!!!

[rellimpank]

--good for them. As I have said before, during the week and a half that the media told us about the danger to Show Low, a couple of dozers could have cut a quarter mile wide firebreak around the whole town--

[BooBoo1000]

Hoorah for the Locals, they would be better of if they had never seen a Government Official in any capacity.

[sauropod]

index ping

[Isle of sanity in CA]

To the detriment of the "team" perhaps, but not, alas, the town.

This is a great illustration of the problems that come along with 'big' government. The locals and the feds can't be a 'team' because they don't share the same goals.

The townspeoples goal: Save the town (duh)

The feds goal - don't do anything aggressive that you'll have to answer for if something goes wrong.

[Chad Fairbanks]

But... but... but... "Somebody's got to be in charge..."

Anyone want to guess who, exactly, he meant by that????

Damned feds...

[Siobhan]

The citizens of Clay Springs have it exactly right. Do what it takes to protect your homes. The Founding Fathers would have saluted them.

[FreedomFriend]

Does anyone think that all of the wildfires occuring within the past few years is more than a coincidence? Does anyone think that it's much like the ESA, a tool being used to move people off the land? Or is it simply the fact that the feds are prohibiting local officials from fighting the fires? Is it environmental policies that have prohibited fire breaks?

You decide.

[FreedomFriend]

How many third party candidates have you seen in debates, a good percentage of polls, in the news, etc.? Furthermore, haven't you noticed how promotive of big government the Republicans are becoming?

[FreedomFriend]

Whoops. That was meant for another thread.

[Badray]

"The Founding Fathers would have saluted them."

As do all freedom loving people.

[inquest]

Exactly. I had to laugh when the article mentioned "the true grit" of the West, as if this is just supposed to be a local phenomenon, unworthy of our more "cultured" types. I'm definitely not out to belittle westerners, and indeed I salute them, too. But hel-lo! This isn't just "western" heritage that we're talking about; it's American heritage - you know, American Revolution, Boston Tea Party, Whisky Rebellion - any of that ring a bell with these people?

I guess we're not supposed to talk about that stuff.

[Siobhan]

The forest fires have reminded me of the Clearances in Scotland when so many were forced off their land. But there is more to it but I can't quite put my finger on it.

[Fish out of Water]

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