Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is urging for an independent federal investigation regarding the handling of the Dragon Bravo wildfire, which has consumed more than 5,700 acres as of Monday.
The wildfire, ignited by a lightning strike on July 4th, has significantly damaged the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
In a statement released on Sunday, Hobbs expressed a strong desire for clarity from the federal government on why the fire was initially managed as a controlled burn rather than subjected to more aggressive firefighting tactics.
“This is a devastating loss and Arizonans deserve answers. I think we need to ensure that we’re holding the administration accountable to addressing these concerns once the fire is managed,” Hobbs stated on Monday.
The governor mentioned that she has encountered considerable speculation regarding the potential impact of cuts to the federal Department of Government Efficiency affecting national parks and other agencies.
While she refrained from speculating on the implications of these cuts, she underscored the necessity for sufficient federal resources and support.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes voiced concerns about the potential consequences of federal budget cuts on the wildfire’s impact.
“I have to wonder whether some of the cuts to the Forest Service or to the National Park Service or to our hotshot crews, that we have been trying to prevent through our lawsuits, played into this,” Mayes remarked on Monday.
For the moment, Hobbs stated her primary focus is on containing the wildfire.
Looking ahead, she expressed a desire to identify any missteps that may have occurred in the management of the fire to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
“Arizona is at increased risk for these wildfires and intensity, and we’re at the mercy of the federal government who made these decisions that now have hugely impacted Arizonans,” Hobbs added.
She highlighted the long-term closure of the North Rim, explaining its ramifications on the local economy, jobs, and tourism.
Next week, Governor Hobbs is scheduled to meet with officials from the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., to engage in discussions about the fire’s management.
So far, she has reported receiving some resistance from the department regarding her inquiries.
Echoing the call for a federal investigation, Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly emphasized the need for answers concerning the decision to manage the fire as a controlled burn amid extreme weather conditions.
In a joint statement, the senators expressed concern that the treatment and response decisions could have exacerbated the wildfire’s spread in northern Arizona.
They also posed questions to the Department of the Interior related to future fire prevention plans and the resources currently deployed.
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