An article in the Herald in 2018 stated that the taxpayers paid the bill for half the costs of fire suppression incurred fighting Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad-caused fires between 1994 and 2013 and gave numbers for five of 20 fires investigated. The railroad negotiated less costly settlements in all five cases cited. The Forest Service agreed to the settlements “in order to avoid the uncertainty and expense of litigation.”
In the article, the estimated cost for fighting the 416 Fire was stated as $40 million, yet the Forest Service has only asked for $25 million. We know there were other significant impacts to the local economy because our engine of industry was out of service for some time. Let’s not forget all the environmental and personal impacts.
I hope the railroad will take responsibility, insist on due diligence in its business organization and spare us all another summer like 2018.
And is it just me and Julie Meadows, or are the train whistles louder and longer now?
Christopher Meyer
Durango
