Ranch manager tied to top Trump appointee started 5,600-acre Idaho wildfire

“Boren then began to cite how the fire was a [sic] ‘A waste of taxpayer money.’” “Boren continued to indicate the fire, ‘Was nothing but good.’ He also started comment, ‘There are two lessons learned. One is to get a permit. Two, never cooperate with the government again.’ He continued by stating he would not allow government agents to have access through his gates. Boren commented this was to include, ‘Fish and game and [the Bureau of Land Management.’ He mentioned he has worked with Fish and Game on numerous projects in the past and ‘That would never happen again.’ Boren stated, ‘I was stabbed in the back.’ He told me this meant when he was first contacted by BLM to have ‘Two guys look at the fire.’ Boren told me he did not think they would take suppression action. He also commented the suppression crews did not listen to him and performed ineffective backfires, where all but one, ‘Jumped the line.’” While no structures were damaged in the blaze, it forced two elk hunters to abandon their camp.

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