Dispute over fire management continues

Some locals and officials that fought the East Fork Fire are still disputing what led to the fire’s rapid and erratic spread from a relatively small fire on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation Aug. 27 to a blaze that burned nearly 22,000 acres in the Bear Paw Mountains.

A lack of clear command and control caused by a shortage of available resources impacted the response to the fire, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Incident Commander Don Pyrah said at a meeting requested by local resident Bob Sivertsen, in the Timmons Room of the Hill County Courthouse Monday.

Coun...