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John Hollenhorst reporting A fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is among the hottest fires in the nation right now. It has already burned nearly 60,000 acres and is forcing evacuations.
Among the evacuees are the famous mules that take tourists up and down the canyon.
The calendar, says summer has barely started. But, the year's fire season has already made it's mark.
Steve Rich of Salt Lake says the blackened landscape here has been heartbreaking for his family. His ancestors pioneered the area almost 150 years ago. He and many other locals tried to stop what happened.
The Rich Family owns the Jacob Lake Inn, gateway to the Grand Canyon's North Rim. Their restaurant, lodge and gift shop is five miles from where the fire started almost three weeks ago.
Steve Rich, Jacob Lake Inn: "The fire was this big. They decided to let that thing burn. And we begged them to put it out."
But National Forest officials let it burn because it was in an area earmarked as overgrown with fire fuel.
Brian Steinhardt, Kaibab National Forest: "So this area has needed fire for quite some time. Absolutely."
For two weeks Forest Rangers watched it and tended it to mimic nature.
Brian Steinhardt, Kaibab National Forest: "This is a lightning caused fire. We were managing it for the resources benefits. We were allowing fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem to restore its forest health."
But last weekend it exploded out of control into areas that were supposed to be protected as habitat for rare wildlife species. It came within a mile and a half of the Jacob Lake Inn and then veered away. Steve Rich says it was allowed to burn, even though the forecast was for wind and hot weather.
Steve Rich, Jacob Lake Inn: "I mean it was no secret. It was why all of us were going 'no! No! No! Don't do it!' I mean if you talk to any of the locals in town they all thought they were insane and told them so!"
Rich considers the result an environmental disaster. The Forest Service defends it.
Brian Steinhardt, Kaibab National Forest: "Aspen will come in now and regenerate, provide shade cover for new trees. In 2 to 300 years it's going to look like it did right now. People have to stop thinking in our human lifespan. We're a blip on the radar screen here."
Rich wants a change in policy: no managed fires this time of year.
Steve Rich, Jacob Lake Inn: "They have a terrible, abysmal record controlling fires all over the west during the hot summer." Rich and others believe the forest service deliberately accelerated the fire with drip torches. National Forest officials strongly deny that and say they only use torches to take away fuel and contain the fire.
But the fact the suspicion exists, shows how strong the feelings are around here.
