Scouts settle lawsuit over wildfire

The Great Salt Lake Council of the Boy Scouts has settled a lawsuit filed by the state of Utah over a 14,000-acre wildfire in rural Summit County.

The settlement was disclosed this morning by the Utah Attorney General's Office. The Boy Scouts agreed to pay $330,000 to the state and plant more than 9,000 tree seedlings on state land that was scorched by the fire.

"They will institute education programs for Scouts and Scout leaders designed to prevent future fires," said assistant Utah Attorney General Michael Johnson.

The lawsuit was filed in 2004 against the Boy Scouts of America and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It mirrors a federal lawsuit filed at the same time seeking more than $13 million in damages.

According to the lawsuits, a group of about 20 Scouts from an LDS Church ward in Peoa were camping overnight for a merit badge for wilderness survival in 2002. The Scouts were left in the care of a pair of 15-year-old Boy Scout counselors who left the boys to sleep in a tent because "it looked like it might rain," the federal lawsuit alleges.

Despite a fire ban in place, authorities said the Scouts started numerous fires that were even outside designated fire areas. The counselors knew about the fires, the lawsuits claim.

"No reasonable quantity of water was present to suppress the Shelter 11 Fire, either where it was built, or if it escaped," the federal lawsuit said. "No reasonable type nor quantity of tools or fire-fighting equipment were available to suppress the Shelter 11 fire nor keep it from escaping."

After the Scouts broke camp on June 28, the fire flared up and spread — burning 14,208 acres of federal, state and private land in Summit County.

In a twist, the Boy Scouts of America pointed the finger at "unknown Scouts" saying the fire was started "on their own time."

With the settlement, the LDS Church has been dismissed now from both lawsuits. A federal trial was scheduled to start this week in the U.S. government's lawsuit against the Boy Scouts. Instead, it was abruptly cancelled with no new date set. There is speculation that the federal government is also in settlement talks. However, the U.S. Attorney's Office said no settlement has been reached.

In a statement, Great Salt Lake Council spokesman Kay Godfrey said they will initiate a training program at all of their long-term facilities and day camps.

"We are pleased to have settled this issue and are looking forward to partnering with the state on these important matters," Godfrey said.

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