The Associated Press
SPOKANE, Wash. — A former U.S. Forest Service crew boss was wrongly singled out when he was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of four firefighters in a 2001 wildfire, his attorney said Thursday.
Ellreese N. Daniels, who was charged last month but not arrested, appeared voluntarily in federal court where prosecutors accused him of being grossly negligent in failing to order his firefighters out of harm’s way as flames advanced on them near Winthrop.
Daniels, a seasonal U.S. Forest Service employee, was also charged with lying to investigators.
“We’re horrified the government has elected to file charges,” federal public defender Tina Hunt said after her client was released on his own recognizance.
She argued any claims against her client belonged in civil court, not criminal court.
“This case has far-reaching consequences for all people who fight fires and put themselves in danger every day,” Hunt said.
After the deadly blaze, a Forest Service investigation concluded fire bosses ignored numerous signs of danger, repeatedly underestimated the fire and allowed their only escape route from the dead-end canyon to be cut off. Nine employees and fire commanders were eventually reassigned from active duty, while others quit or retired. The Forest Service has never released specifics of the sanctions.
In the years since, the Forest Service and other wildland firefighting agencies have established minimum requirements for training and experience.
No one has been charged with starting the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an unattended campfire.