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JUNE 12, 2001

A report on last year's devastating Cerro Grande fire will be issued today and recommends against disciplining key New Mexico employees, according to a draft obtained by the Albuquerque Journal.

Instead, the National Park Service blames bad policies and faulty judgments for the blaze which burned 7,000 acres of tribal land and countless more of private and federal property. It urges more fire training at the Bandelier National Monument, where the "controlled burn" was started.

Park Service officials have battled accusations they should have known not to start the blaze.

Rep. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) said he is not happy with the report because it appears to hold no one accountable.

Get the Story:
Report Clears Employees in Cerro Grande Fire (The Albuquerque Journal 6/12)

Relevant Links:
Fire Jobs, BIA - http://fire.nifc.nps.gov/bia/firejobs/firejobs1.html
BIA Wildfire Management - http://fire.nifc.nps.gov/bia
National Fire Plan - http://www.fireplan.gov
National Interagency Fire Center - http://www.nifc.gov/index.html

Related Stories:
Fire burning on Jicarilla Reservation (6/11)
Norton promotes Indian Country fire efforts (6/8)