Federal officials on Tuesday were planning to interview a Grand Junction boy blamed preliminarily for starting a fire that destroyed the Dewey Bridge in Utah.
The Bureau of Land Management called in a specialized fire investigator from Salt Lake City to nail down the cause of the blaze and planned to question relatives of the boy in Grand Junction, said Lynn Jackson of the Moab Field Office of the bureau.
“They were all pretty traumatized that night” and investigators opted to put off an interview, Jackson said.
The BLM will make a report to Utah’s Grand County, which owns the bridge, later this week, he said.
If the report blames the youngster, there’s not a clear answer about what will happen, officials said.
The Grand County Sheriff’s Department listed the cause as a 7-year-old boy playing with matches downstream from the Dewey Bridge, which crosses the Colorado River about 28 miles north of Moab, Utah. Flames from the fire started near a BLM camping and boat launch area and raced upstream on Sunday afternoon, charring much of the bridge before firefighters arrived.
Federal agencies have a “fairly aggressive policy of going after people who set fires” on federal land, but Jackson said he didn’t know whether it would apply in the Dewey Bridge blaze.
Grand County is most immediately concerned with clearing the river of debris in anticipation of the approaching rafting season, said Gene Ciarus, chairman of the Grand County Council.
“It’s not the county’s idea to take vengeance on anyone,” Ciarus said.
Once the immediate cleanup from the fire is complete, a job that Ciarus expects to be complete by late today, the county will have to decide what to do with the skeleton of the old bridge, the towers on either side of the Colorado River and heavy cables connecting them.
Rebuilding the bridge wouldn’t restore its historic authenticity, Ciarus said.
The bridge also isn’t needed for the Kokopelli mountain-bike trail because the Dewey Bridge was a pedestrian bridge off the main route, which follows the existing highway bridge on Utah State Route 128, he said.
Once the immediate needs for cleanup are completed, the county will begin tackling the future of the Dewey Bridge, he said.
Comments
By Jessica
Apr 30, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
I just wonder if some of you would be so casual about this boy starting a fire if it was your house burning down?
I just want to know where this boy got the matches?
The child is 7. According to some that is too young to know any better... Well, if he is too young to know better than maybe he shouldn't be off exploring alone.
By Adrienne
Apr 25, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
I'm coming in on this at the tail end, for a friend just told me that he had passed by the bridge and it was burned - but I'm sure saddened by some of the hatred that I see here in some people's words. Whoa, no wonder we humans have been involved in wars all of our history! No 'thing' warrents this kind of anger and hatred. My gratitude goes out to those who seem to sense the need for some compassion.
Besides, I too thought that probably the BLM workers accidently burnt down the bridge when they were burning slash as they have been, all up and down the river...?
By Kristi
Apr 18, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
I am really saddened to hear about the Dewey Bridge being destroyed by fire. :( I had a chance to visit the bridge in June 1992. My folks and I came to visit my grandma who lives in Grand Junction. One of the places she took us was on Hwy 128 to Moab. We stopped at the Dewey Bridge to take photos.
By ba
Apr 18, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Hi folks -- This is a huge loss to the community. I too donated money to the restoration and would do so again. I am not a pyrotechnical expert, but for starters -> there is virtually no brush available for said brush fire. Then, how does one get a three hundred foot span to burn, all at once -> without accelerants?? I think the seven year old is getting a bad rap. ba
By Scott
Apr 10, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
I am deeply saddned by this simply avoidable incident. My wife and i frequently visit the dewey bridge as it is a great rest stop before our final decent into moab, i have enjoyed this historical landmark for about 8 years, every year. I feel a deep emptyness, i don't want to seek revenge, just a stiff repremand so this may be a warning to others. Teach your kids RESPECT, respect for life, respect for others, and respect for our environment.
By John
Apr 10, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
Well Mike I don't care if you think I am a dumb or not. I think any kid who sneaks matches and starts a fire that could have cost lives etc. deserves whatever anyone wants to call him. Why don't you write a congratulatory note and praise him? I certainly think you would be within your rights even if I thought you were a dumb
By Mike
Apr 9, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
Yes, parents need to held responsible for the actions of their children. Why wouldn't they be responsible?!? But, come on John. Where do you get off calling a 7 year child that you most likely know nothing about a "brat". That would be like me calling you a dumb **** when I don't even know if you are dumb.
By John
Apr 9, 2008 7:40 PM | Link to this
Who ever thinks the parents are not responsible morally and financially for their neglect which cost our community an important landmark are the exact reason this happened will happen again somewhere else. Parents need to learn that there are consequences for neglecting their children and then maybe their children will learn.
What if someone was killed responding or by the persons responding to this incident? What if someone is killed trying to clean up the mess? Whose fault would that be? a\Accidents don't just happen there is always a cause. The parents neglect of this little brat are the real culprits.
By Titus
Apr 9, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
KUDOS K
It is high time people start learning to teach their children that everything you do has consequences; be it good or bad . I really don't think anyone is saying beat the child, hang the parents, simply that the parent should hand him some work gloves,a rake and shovel and tell him he needs to help clean up his damage. And the parents part, should be to maybe make a resonable financial contribution to the fire police, that could be used for much needed equipment.
Obviously what's been done is done. There is no amount of money that can replace something of historical value.
Signed Sad in New York.
By K
Apr 9, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
Nice ad hominem argument, Jerry.
Why not hold the boy and his family responsible by requiring community service in Moab, so he can see and comprehend firsthand the consequences of his actions? He's a child, and hence the punishment should be appropriate for a 7-year-old.
While it might feel good to gather an angry mob and cry for the parents'/child's head on a plate and demand jail time or hefty fines, it wouldn't be a fitting punishment or something that would make the best of a bad situation for all involved. It won't bring the bridge back, but it would mean that the boy and family would have to take ownership for their actions in a way that would have a positive impact in the community he changed forever.
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